Senator Robert Black says a new national soil strategy could reshape conservation, land-use planning and research priorities.

Canada’s seed sector has a rare opportunity to influence federal policy at a foundational level, according to Senator Robert Black, who last week in Whitehorse urged seed growers to help shape a national soil strategy already gaining momentum in Ottawa.

Speaking virtually to the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association annual meeting after weather prevented him from travelling to Whitehorse, Black said healthy soil has become one of the Senate’s top agricultural priorities — and the seed sector will have a critical role in ensuring that strategy delivers results on farms.

“We don’t have another 40 years,” Black said, referencing projections from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization that as much as 90 per cent of the world’s soils could be degraded by 2050 if current trends continue. “A national strategy is just the beginning, but it’s a necessary step to safeguard our soil now and for generations to come.”

Soil Moves From Agronomy to National Policy

Black outlined the work behind the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry’s landmark 2024 report, Critical Ground: Why Soil Is Essential to Canada’s Economic, Environmental, Human and Social Health, which followed an 18-month study involving 153 witnesses, 74 written submissions, farm visits and international consultations.

The committee’s central conclusion was straightforward: Canada’s soils face mounting pressure from climate change, extreme weather, pollution and urban development, making long-term protection a national priority.

Among its 25 recommendations, the report calls for Ottawa to designate soil as a strategic national asset, develop a long-term soil protection strategy, strengthen farmland preservation, encourage regenerative practices and accelerate adoption of new technologies.

For the seed sector, Black said many of those recommendations reinforce work already underway.

He pointed to innovations including precision agriculture, soil sensors, satellite imagery, moisture probes and modern seeding equipment that improve both soil health and farm profitability. While many producers have embraced these tools, he acknowledged that cost and inadequate rural broadband remain barriers to wider adoption.

Government Already Acting on Senate Recommendations

Black said Ottawa has responded positively to most of the committee’s recommendations.

The federal government supported nine recommendations outright, supported 13 in principle and acknowledged the remaining three.

Building on that work, Black introduced Bill S-230 in 2025, legislation requiring the federal government to develop a national strategy for soil health protection, conservation and enhancement.

The bill passed unanimously through the Senate in March and is now before the House of Commons. At the same time, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced it would begin developing a national agricultural soil strategy immediately, working alongside provinces, territories, Indigenous organizations, producers and industry groups.

“To hear that the government not only supports the bill but is ready to move forward before it’s legislated is not only fantastic news for the industry, but it’s a great example of how important the Senate of Canada is to Canada’s democratic process,” Black said.

The strategy is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

Protecting Farmland Becoming Next Priority

Beyond soil health itself, Black argued that protecting agricultural land is becoming an equally urgent policy challenge.

He said productive farmland continues to disappear under housing, industrial projects and infrastructure development, often without adequate consideration of its long-term value for food production.

The Senate report recommends governments at every level strengthen farmland protection through land-use planning, a recommendation the federal government supported in principle.

Black told delegates he is increasingly focused on agricultural impact assessments and preserving productive farmland as Canada pursues major nation-building projects.

“We need to work on that,” he said. “Please help me on that issue as well.”

Seed Sector Invited Into Food Security Conversation

Black also encouraged organizations across the seed sector to participate in the Senate’s ongoing study on food security and food sovereignty, saying committee members continue to seek practical input from across Canadian agriculture.

“If there are things you think we should know about within the studies that we’re undertaking, just get on the horn and let us know,” he said. “If you’ve got things that we need to know about, it’s important that you do so.”