The foundation of productive, resilient, and sustainable agriculture, healthy soils create living ecosystems that support plants, animals, and people.
Strategy 10.1 Encourage the adoption of climate-smart and healthy soils practices to bolster California’s lands against the impacts of climate change.
- 10.1.1 Coordinate state agency efforts to improve soil health.
- 10.1.2 Facilitate the adoption of climate-smart and healthy soils practices by farmers, ranchers, and private landowners.
Strategy 10.2 Create and standardize methodologies for measurement and tracking of soil health properties in connection with soil health practices over time.
- 10.2.1 Adopt long-term indicators to measure and monitor the impact of healthy soils practices over time.
Strategy 10.3 Expand inclusivity of soil health programs.
- 10.3.1 Create quantification methodologies for holistic soil health and Traditional Ecological Knowledge practices for expanded eligibility under the Healthy Soils Program.
Strategy 10.4 Promote technical assistance for healthy soil practices to ensure successful implementation.
- 10.4.1 Utilize technical assistance to help growers understand their soil and crop nutrition requirements and make smart growing decisions regarding fertilizer use.
- 10.4.2 Coordinate with technical assistance providers to promote and disseminate information on regionally appropriate crops and agricultural practices.
Strategy 10.5 Ensure the availability of high-quality compost for agricultural operations statewide.
- 10.5.1: Develop a Statewide Compost
- 10.5.2 Support local jurisdictions’ investment in organics diversion infrastructure including food and green waste processing.
- 10.5.3 Provide guidance for best practices in production, selection, and application of safe, fully-finished compost.
- 10.5.4 Continue state agency coordination to clarify on-farm composting and food safety regulations.
- 10.5.5 Identify compost and digestate research gaps and support research to address gaps.
- 10.5.6 Support soil health and circularity for green school yards.
- 10.5.7 Partner with California Native American Tribes to create circular systems.