Land and soil health in Canadian agriculture

This fact sheet provides data on the distribution of agricultural land in Canada and the relationship between farming intensity, biodiversity, and soil health.

• Agricultural land accounts for approximately 7% of Canada's total area, which is a landmass larger than the province of Alberta.
• The majority of Canada's agricultural land, specifically 82%, is located within the Prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
• While biodiversity and wildlife on farmlands contribute to soil health, natural pest control, and crop pollination, the rising intensity of Canadian farming is negatively impacting soil health and the ability of agricultural lands to support wildlife.
• Prioritizing soil health and biodiversity can lead to increased resilience against floods and droughts, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and a decreased reliance on synthetic inputs.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). Land and soil health in Canadian agriculture. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-12/sustainable-food-systems-soil-health.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Land and soil health in Canadian agriculture. n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-12/sustainable-food-systems-soil-health.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Land and soil health in Canadian agriculture |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-12/sustainable-food-systems-soil-health.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentndland, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Land and soil health in Canadian agriculture}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-12/sustainable-food-systems-soil-health.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }