Objective
Self-assessment of soil quality through an online rating system aimed at helping farmers understand and improve their soil health practices.
Description
The Soil Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) is a non-financial, advisory governance body established in the State of Colorado, USA, as part of the Colorado Soil Health Program (CSHP). Institutionalized by state legislation, notably through House Bill 21-1181, it aims to formally and sustainably integrate the participation of agricultural producers and ranchers, conservation districts, water users, and other stakeholders concerned with soil health into the direction and implementation of the program. The SHAC relies primarily on voluntary participation, consultation, deliberation, and information sharing. It does not employ coercive mechanisms or provide financial compensation to members. Although participation is voluntary, the committee's operations are formally regulated: its composition is defined by legislation, and its members are appointed through institutional procedures, including by the Commissioner of Agriculture and the State Conservation Board. Terms are staggered, which promotes the committee's continuity as a permanent governance body. Its primary function is to advise the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) and contribute to the implementation of the Colorado Soil Health Program. Its responsibilities include making recommendations regarding program development, reviewing and approving or rejecting grant proposals, evaluating the results of soil health initiatives, reviewing cooperative agreements, and gathering input and needs from stakeholders. The committee thus serves as an institutional link between the state administration, agricultural producers, and other stakeholders.
Country
United States
Ladder
Local
Nature
Non-financial
In which law/program is this instrument included?
STAR + Colorado Soil Health Program (2021)
Source: Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), Colorado Soil Health Program – Soil Health Advisory Committee (SHAC). Photographer not indicated.
From a governance perspective, the Soil Health Advisory Council (SHAC) seeks to improve participation, representation, coordination, and the legitimacy of public decisions. Its composition aims to reflect the geographic, demographic, political, and productive diversity of Colorado, notably by including different types of producers, representatives of conservation districts, water users, and representatives of Indigenous communities. This mechanism allows for the integration of the knowledge, experiences, and needs of stakeholders on the ground into CDA decisions, particularly regarding grant allocation and the promotion of voluntary agricultural practices that foster soil health and drought resilience. The SHAC can therefore be considered an instrument combining institutional frameworks, voluntary participation, self-regulation, consultation, and information strategies. Its long-term objective is to consolidate a permanent space for cooperation between the public administration and the Colorado agricultural community, in order to promote a more participatory, coordinated, and locally adapted implementation of the soil health program.
Territorial deployment of the STAR Plus program in Colorado
- Violet: participants already integrated into the program in 2022.
- Yellow: new participants integrated into the program in 2023.
- Colored or shaded areas: Conservation Districts participating in the program.
- Markers (pins): other "eligible entities", i.e. organizations authorized to participate in the implementation and local administration of the program.
Chronology of the instrument
