1 week Ago
By Aimee Diamond Imagine strolling through the sunlit fields of the San Luis Valley in Colorado where crops once flourished but now stand barren and exhausted. Many farmers in this location and globally now accept this situation as their reality. Despite its critical role, soil remains neglected while quietly experiencing a severe crisis.
As soil health declines so does our ability to secure food resources. Soil is so much more than just the dirt under our feet: It’s the foundation of our agriculture system. The expansion of the human population alongside rising environmental stressors demands our realization that farming soil and land health extend beyond agricultural challenges to become essential societal responsibilities.
Current farming methods have increased production outputs while imposing significant detrimental impacts. Farmland has suffered increased erosion and biodiversity loss while losing nutrients because of heavy chemical use and over-tilling along with monoculture farming practices. Current farming methods harm soil structure and cut down essential organic matter needed for robust crop production.
The climbing global population will face food production challenges if future generations do not have access to healthy soil. The United Nations reports that one-third of the world’s soil is experiencing moderate to severe damage. Soil degradation represents both an economic and social emergency beyond its environmental impacts.
Farmers utilizing degraded soils must apply extra fertilizers and pesticides which exacerbate the initial problem and create a financially burdensome cycle for them. Colorado faces increased soil loss due to shifting climate conditions along with water shortages. Farmers in the San Luis Valley experience reduced crop yields because their soil quality deteriorates rapidly.
Soils that previously supported abundant communities now fail to produce basic crops which jeopardizes food supply and endangers livelihoods. Poor soil health has obvious global repercussions, including higher food costs, increased food poverty, and diminished productivity. Another essential element of climate resilience is soil health.
Healthy soils are a very helpful instrument in the fight against climate change since they frequently store carbon. Soils can store large amounts of carbon dioxide by growing organic matter through regenerative agricultural practices, which can assist in balancing emissions from other parts of the community. Indeed, some scientists contend that replenishing soil carbon levels could balance out up to 10% of global emissions annually.
Despite this potential, soil restoration receives only a small fraction of the attention and funding compared to other energy or transportation sectors. Addressing this gap is key to counteract the changing climate and global population. Furthermore, healthy soils retain more water, reduce runoff, and buffer against droughts and floods, which are becoming more frequent with a warming climate.
Extreme weather events are expected to increase in both intensity and frequency in the future, and the ability of soil to mitigate these impacts could make the difference between recovery and disaster for many. Thankfully, there are solutions. Regenerative agriculture emphasizes the maintenance of soil health and practices like no-till farming, cover cropping, and crop rotation can restore soil structure and also viability.
Agroforestry, the addition of trees or shrubs into farmlands, can also work to reduce erosion, improve biodiversity, and store carbon. Traditional practices such as composting and organic fertilization, techniques long used by Indigenous and small-scale farmers, provide time-tested ways to revamp soil health. So, what can we do? While much of the responsibility lies with the policymakers and farmers to make changes, individuals can take meaningful steps too: Support local farms: shopping primarily at farmers markets or choosing soil-conscious brands.
Reduce food waste. Every ounce of food wasted also wastes the soil, water, and energy it takes to produce it. Start composting at home to help return nutrients to the earth.
Advocate for soil health in policy. Voting for green initiatives can make a massive difference. Support local organizations.
Participating in community programs can be an important, yet easy way to get involved. Talk about soil. The more awareness we can build, the more we can take action.
The health of our soil is the health of our planet. Let’s protect it before it’s too late. Aimee Diamond lives in Boulder.
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