BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SCR 83|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SCR 83
Author: Wolk (D) and Galgiani (D), et al.
Introduced:7/16/15
Vote: 21
SUBJECT: International Year of Soils
SOURCE: California State Guild
DIGEST: This resolution declares 2015 as the International
Year of Soils, and recognizes the importance of healthy soils as
a critical resource supplying an abundance of food, diverse
habitats, water storage, and climate resiliency.
ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative
findings:
1)For more than 60 consecutive years, California has been the
number one agricultural state in the nation, producing more
than 400 crop and livestock products and accounting for
approximately 50% of the nation's supply of fruits,
vegetables, and nuts.
2)Ninety-five percent of our food is directly or indirectly
produced on our soils and the essential nutrients they
contain.
3)California has launched its Healthy Soils Initiative and is
pioneering efforts to incentivize building soil organic matter
and provide research, education, and technical support to
facilitate healthy soils and ensuring interagency coordination
SCR 83
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and collaboration.
4)Ensuring healthier soils by increasing the carbon content and
soil organic matter can help enhance the long-term
sustainability of California agriculture and its resiliency to
climate change.
5)Improved soil health increases soil's water holding capacity
and water infiltration rate, which can help optimize the
management of California's scarce water supply.
6)Increasing soil health helps to improve food crop yields, help
to increase soil fertility and the ability to hold plant
nutrients and water, supports beneficial biological microbial
diversity and populations, reduces soil erosion, and can be
used to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases by sequestering
carbon.
This resolution declares 2015 as the International Year of
Soils, and recognizes the importance of healthy soils as a
critical resource supplying an abundance of food, diverse
habitats, water storage, and climate resiliency.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:NoLocal: No
SUPPORT: (Verified8/14/15)
California State Guild (source)
Biosafety Alliance
Community Food and Justice Coalition
OPPOSITION: (Verified8/14/15)
SCR 83
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None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the author, "The United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has recognized 2015 as
the Year of the Soil, which brings to light the importance of
healthy soil and having soil organic matter (SOM) present.
Benefits such as plant growth, water retention, soil structure
and stability, and reduced erosion could be even greater if the
amount of SOM is raised from its current levels. Short and
long-term goals have been outlined in the Healthy Soils
Initiative Proposal, including: establishing research projects
to better understand carbon farming; subsidence reversal;
wetland restoration; drainage issues; and, providing education
and technical support to facilitate healthy soils. The general
public is not aware of how truly essential soil is to food
security or climate adaptation. Soil takes thousands of years to
only grow a few centimeters, and is being lost very quickly due
to erosion and modernization. With the global population
increasing, farmers will be using soil to grow food to meet the
needs of these people, and should be aware of how to minimize
soil disturbance. For these reasons, 2015 is being recognized as
the International Year of Soils, dedicated to campaigning for
healthy soil and educating people about its importance.
Prepared by:Melissa Ward / SFA / (916) 651-1520
8/18/15 17:18:18
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