Evidence of meeting #77 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was change.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
Eva Nassif Liberal Vimy, QC
Now I would like to talk to Mr. Settle.
Can you list for us the adverse effects of climate change on soil quality in Canada. Is it possible to remedy it, in your opinion?
5:20 p.m.
Executive Director, USC Canada
I'll defer to Gen, just because she has the much more practical experience, but I think one of the things to keep in mind is—
5:20 p.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
Eva Nassif Liberal Vimy, QC
That is what you said just now. I am not saying it because I am a woman, but I am a feminist.
Go ahead, Ms. Grossenbacher.
5:20 p.m.
Geneviève Grossenbacher
There are a number of impacts on climate change. Some good studies have also been published on the subject, including one called “From Uniformity to Diversity” by IPES-Food. I have some copies with me and I can leave them with you.
Climate change certainly has many effects on soil biota, the micro-organisms in the soil. Hence the importance of protecting it even more. There are a number of ways of protecting the soil, but we really believe that the best practice is to increase diversity.
Earlier, we also talked about carbon in the soil. Carbon comes in different kinds. When we talk about working the soil, we are talking about surface carbon, which is important. But even more important is the carbon under the surface, meaning the carbon that is found at greater depth. How do we go about storing carbon there? By using plants with large root systems, perennials. In French, I think the word is—
5:20 p.m.
Geneviève Grossenbacher
Yes, that's right. Thank you. We need to use perennials. A lot of interesting research has been done on the topic. Plant diversity is really crucial. Plants provide the soil with different kinds of sugars and interact differently, hence the importance of biodiversity. Climate change has a direct impact on soil biota and the loss of biodiversity. In a nutshell, it is important to invest in diversity.
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
Eva Nassif Liberal Vimy, QC
My question is also about climate change. Perhaps Mr. VanderHout could answer it.
One of the priorities for the new Canadian Agricultural Partnership will be to help industry to use research and innovation to improve resiliency and increase productivity. Other priorities will be to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to climate change.
What potential do you see in those priority activities in improving resiliency in the agricultural sector?
5:20 p.m.
Member of the Environment Committee, Canadian Horticultural Council
I think you're talking about how we can improve our environmental performance, our carbon footprint, in the greenhouse sector. I think there are future possibilities for doing that. As a grower, my opinion is that the biggest opportunity for improving our environmental performance, in particular our carbon output, is humidity control. A lot of energy is used to manage humidity. Unfortunately, right now that technology is still emerging. When we talk about innovation in Canada, that could be a spot where there's an opportunity for us to be leaders internationally in the control of humidity, in the reduction of humidity in particular, in the greenhouse.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Eva Nassif Liberal Vimy, QC
Mr. Kruszel, what are the main concerns of your sector in terms of improving resiliency and adapting to climate change?
5:25 p.m.
Chairman, Soil Conservation Council of Canada
Do you want to know what my priorities are?
5:25 p.m.
Chairman, Soil Conservation Council of Canada
Improving the health of our soils would help us enormously in increasing their resiliency and productivity. We also need to see if it possible to promote zero tillage more, a technique that involves planting, without working and tilling the soil.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Jean-Claude Poissant Liberal La Prairie, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My thanks to the witnesses. Talking about agriculture is always interesting. I was a farmer for more than 40 years.
A farmer is a steward of the land, for sure. The most important thing for him is to pass on an economically viable business, with quality soil. Farming now uses a lot of technologies. But we still see growing resistance to herbicides and pesticides.
Is there currently a way of determining whether soil has degraded over the last 20 years?
5:25 p.m.
Chairman, Soil Conservation Council of Canada
You want to know whether there is a way to find out whether our soils have degraded in the last 20 years?
5:25 p.m.
Chairman, Soil Conservation Council of Canada
In our view, you would have to measure the organic matter in the soil. We are talking about its structural stability. Soil is made up of little pieces.
5:25 p.m.
Chairman, Soil Conservation Council of Canada
You have to see whether they dissolve immediately when they are put in water or whether they remain intact. If they remain intact, it indicates true stability and that is very good. However, if the soil has been worked a lot and lacks organic matter, the pieces dissolve in water immediately and become mud. So yes, in a word, it is possible to measure it.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Jean-Claude Poissant Liberal La Prairie, QC
So can you assess today the extent to which soil has degraded in the last 10 or 20 years?
5:25 p.m.
Chairman, Soil Conservation Council of Canada
Most farmers take soil samples and analyze the organic matter. At home, I have seen a 1% increase in organic matter since we began to go to zero tillage. It is quite incredible. Normally, you hope for an increase of 0.1% or 0.2% in two or three years, but, on my farm, I have seen an increase of 1% in 10 years.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Jean-Claude Poissant Liberal La Prairie, QC
I know how important crop rotation can be, but also tillage rotation. Have you looked at that issue before?
5:25 p.m.
Chairman, Soil Conservation Council of Canada
Our council is really trying to reduce tillage and working the soil. If we could find a zero tillage system for all crops it would be fantastic, but I have not yet found one for potatoes. Zero tillage does not work for potatoes. It is still difficult for vegetables, carrots for example.
There are ways to enrich soil to minimize the damage of all the work on it. You put in cover plants after the potato harvest. It is already being done in New Brunswick, in Prince Edward Island, and everywhere. You try to cover the soil with something living after the harvest. It helps us to replenish our soils.
