SCR 83, as introduced, Wolk. International Year of Soils.
This measure would declare 2015 as the International Year of Soils, and recognize the importance of healthy soils as a critical resource supplying an abundance of food, diverse habitats, water storage, and climate resiliency.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, For more than 60 consecutive years, California
2has been the number one agricultural state in the nation, producing
3more than 400 crop and livestock products and accounting for
4approximately 50 percent of the nation’s supply of fruits,
5vegetables, and nuts; and
6WHEREAS, Ninety-five percent of our food is directly or
7indirectly produced on our soils and the essential nutrients they
8contain; and
9WHEREAS, It can take up to 1,000 years to form one centimeter
10of soil, and, with 33 percent of all global soil resources degraded,
11critical limits are being reached, making stewardship an urgent
12matter; and
P2 1WHEREAS, According to the Food and Agriculture
2Organization of the United Nations, more than 805 million people
3across the globe face hunger and malnutrition, and future
4population growth will require an approximate 60 percent increase
5in food production; and
6WHEREAS, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the
7United Nations launched the International Year of Soils on World
8Soil Day, December 5, 2014; and
9WHEREAS, On January 6, 2015, the United States Department
10of Agriculture began its celebration of the International Year of
11Soils to highlight the importance of healthy soils for food security,
12ecosystems functions, and resilient farms and ranches; and
13WHEREAS, California has launched its Healthy Soils Initiative
14and is pioneering efforts to incentivize building soil organic matter
15and provide research, education, and technical support to facilitate
16healthy soils and ensuring interagency coordination and
17collaboration; and
18WHEREAS, Ensuring healthier soils by increasing the carbon
19content and soil organic matter can help enhance the long-term
20sustainability of California agriculture and its resiliency to climate
21change; and
22WHEREAS, Improved soil health increases soil’s water holding
23capacity and water infiltration rate, which can help optimize the
24management of California’s scarce water supply; and
25WHEREAS, Increasing soil health helps to improve food crop
26yields, help to increase soil fertility and the ability to hold plant
27nutrients and water, supports beneficial biological microbial
28diversity and populations, reduces soil erosion, and can be used
29to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases by sequestering carbon;
30and
31WHEREAS, The building of soil organic matter can be
32supported by several management practices, including, but not
33limited to, minimal soil disturbance, residue soil cover, the use of
34cover crops, and the utilization of compost; and
35WHEREAS, In 1997, the California Legislature enacted SB 389
36(Monteith), Chapter 331, Statutes of 1997, commemorating
37completion of the state’s most comprehensive soil inventory by
38designating San Joaquin Soil as the official State Soil; and
39WHEREAS, We recognize the essential role of all of
40California’s soils in supporting a thriving California economy and
P3 1healthy environment and ensuring a sustainable and food secure
2future; now, therefore, be it
3Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
4thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California
5hereby declares 2015 as the International Year of Soils; and be it
6further
7Resolved, That on the occasion of the International Year of Soils,
8the Legislature recognizes the importance of healthy soils as a
9critical resource supplying an abundance of food, diverse habitats,
10water storage, and climate resiliency; and be it further
11Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
12this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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