Soil health and conservation is a hot topic in Canadian agriculture. The Soil Conservation Council of Canada is the only national organization working on soil conservation and Jim Totarchuk, Executive Director of the council, tells us about the council and its work.

In November 2021, the council held their virtual Summit on Canadian Soil Health 2021 with the theme “Healthy Soil – Healthy Planet”. They sponsor the annual Soil Conservation Week in April each year. That has often included a focus on the “Soil Your Undies” test for soil health which has garnered a lot of media and public interest. This “cheeky” test of soil biological health tests a soil’s ability to digest the cotton underwear. The Council also issues a soil health report card, assessing how different parts of Canada are doing on soil conservation. The council has also had a project on the go called the soil carbon road map, summarizing the science on soil carbon in agriculture. Since its founding in 1987, the Council has been the national voice to advance soil conservation in Canada.

More information:

Soil Conservation Council of Canada

Senator Rob Black on soil health

2021 Soil Summit

Soil Conservation Week

“Soil Your Undies”

Soil Health Report Card