Land and soil health in Canadian agriculture

Agricultural land covers approximately 7% of Canada, with 82% of this land located in the Prairie provinces. While biodiversity on farmlands supports soil health and pest control, increased farming intensity in Canada is currently harming soil health and wildlife capacity. Improving biodiversity and soil health is noted as a way to reduce synthetic input needs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and increase resilience to extreme weather events like droughts and floods.

• Agricultural land accounts for roughly 7% of Canada's total area, and the vast majority (82%) of this land is situated within the Prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
• Increased farming intensity in Canada is negatively affecting soil health and the ability of agricultural lands to support wildlife, despite the fact that biodiversity and wildlife are essential for soil health, natural pest control, and crop pollination.
• Prioritizing soil health and biodiversity can lead to a decreased reliance on synthetic inputs, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and improved resilience against floods and droughts.

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} }