Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to table this petition today, which is signed by residents of Parksville, British Columbia, and created by Jasmine Tomczyk of Parksville.
The petitioners highlight that healthy soil, clean water and biodiversity are essential to food security, climate resilience, national sovereignty and the long-term sustainability of Canadian agriculture; that regenerative and agro-ecological farming practices can rebuild soil health, increase biodiversity, recharge aquifers, reduce erosion, capture carbon and prevent pollution from entering rivers, lakes and oceans; that regenerative food systems strengthen farmer livelihoods, support community well-being, enhance climate resilience and improve individual and public health; and that many farmers want to adopt regenerative practices but face financial, technical and transitional barriers without adequate public support.
Therefore, the petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to develop and fund a national regenerative agriculture strategy that prioritizes soil health, biodiversity, water protection and climate resilience; that provides long-term funding, incentives and technical assistance to support farmers transitioning to regenerative and agro-ecological practices; that integrates soil health, water protection and biodiversity outcomes into federal agricultural programs and climate policy; that expands farmer-led research, extension services and knowledge sharing on the regenerative practices suited to diverse regions of Canada; that strengthens policies to reduce soil erosion, pesticide use, agricultural runoff, nutrient pollution and plastic waste affecting freshwater and marine ecosystems; and that supports resilient and democratic local and regional food systems that improve food security, rural economies and community well-being.