Welcome to part 12 of our mini series promoting #WorldSoilDay that is taking place today, 5th December 2021. Here we look at soil preservation being essential for food security and our sustainable future. This is part of our series on Growing Sustainably.
You can find all content in this mini series at Mini Series: #WorldSoilDay 2021 Salt Affected Soils.
If you already know that you have the power to improve soils and help climate change by making conscious buying decisions, here are the options:
- Check out #VoteWithOurMoney with 6 Steps to Help Stop Climate Change
- Try the Sustainability Roadmap with 40+ Solutions to Climate Change
- Use the Company Directory to Help You Grow, Eat, and Live Sustainably
If you want some more facts before making any decisions, let’s get into the details:
The source of content for this article is fao.org/resources/infographics/infographics-details/en/c/278954/.
Part 11 of this mini series covered Soils Storing and Filtering Water. This time we’re looking at soil preservation being essential for food security and our sustainable future.
Soil is a non-renewable finite resource, meaning its loss and degradation is not recoverable within a human lifespan. As a core component of land resources, agricultural development, and ecological sustainability, it is the basis for food, feed, fuel, and fibre production, and for many critical ecosystem services. It is therefore a highly valuable natural resource, yet it is often overlooked.
The natural area of productive soils is limited – it is under increasing pressure of intensification and competing uses for cropping, forestry, pasture / rangeland, and urbanization, and to satisfy demands of the growing population for food and energy production, and raw materials extraction. Soils need to be recognized and valued for their productive capacities as well as their contribution to food security and the maintenance of key ecosystem services.
2050 The Challenge
- Global population will exceed 9 billion.
- Increased demand for healthier and nutritious food will only be met if agricultural production increases 60% globally.
- Soils are under pressure of intensification and competing uses of forestry, cropping, pasture & urbanization.
Our Soils Today
33% of global soil is moderately to highly degraded through erosion, salinization, compaction, acidification, chemical pollution, and nutrient depletion, which hampers soil functions and affects food production.
83% of rural people in Sub-Saharan Africa depend on their land for livelihood. 40% of Africa’s soils are currently degraded.
In most countries there is little opportunity for expansion of arable land.
Saving Our Soils
Sustainable soil management increases soil organic matter content, keeps soil surface vegetated, uses nutrients wisely, promotes crop rotations, and reduces erosion.
Sustainable soil management can lead to an average crop yield increase of 58%!
We can save our soils by encouraging the transition to regenerative agriculture with:
- Inclusive policies and governance
- Targeted soil research
- Efective education and extension programmes
- Investment in sustainable soil management
- Stopping soil degradation
- Restoring degraded soils
- Soil information systems
You Can Improve Soils and Reverse Climate Change
I realised that the decisions I make when buying healthy food, give me the power to help climate change, encourage farmers to switch from degenerative to regenerative agriculture, and improve the health and happiness of my family.
Advocating for regenerative agriculture can seem completely removed from our day to day lives, however, the questions we ask in food shops, the healthy food we buy, and the conscious choices we make are all reminders that we have the power to improve our future and the health of planet earth.
Check-out our 10-part mini series on Conscious Buying Decisions to Help Climate Change with an article going live every week starting from 18th November 2021. You can also get the audio version by subscribing to our podcast or the video version by subscribing to our YouTube channel.
About World Soil Day 2021
Soil salinization and sodification are major soil degradation processes threatening ecosystem and are recognized as being among the most important problems at a global level for agricultural production, food security, and sustainability in arid and semi-arid regions. World Soil Day 2021 (#WorldSoilDay) and its campaign “Halt soil salinization, boost soil productivity” aims to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being by addressing the growing challenges in soil management, fighting soil salinization, increasing soil awareness, and encouraging societies to improve soil health.
Find Out More at UN FAO World Soil Day
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Suggested Reading
If you like the topic of this mini series, you might be interested in these reading suggestions with links to each book on Amazon.
Find Kiss the Ground by Josh Tickell Here on Amazon*
Find Soil Will Save Us by Kristin Ohlson Here on Amazon*
Find Soil, Grass, Hope by Courtney White Here on Amazon*
Find Dawn Again: Tracking the Wisdom of the Wild by Markegard and Doniga Here on Amazon*
Find Diet for a Hot Planet by Anna Lappé Here on Amazon*
Find Growing a Revolution: Bringing Our Soil Back to Life by David Montgomery Here on Amazon*
Want to Continue Your Journey?
Where Next?
There is so much inspiring information to give you ideas of how to help climate change by growing, eating, and living sustainably, you can:
- Read Our Articles
- Sign-Up to Our Free Email Newsletter
- Get Started and Vote with Your Money
- Try the Sustainability Roadmap
- Use the Company Directory
- Support Nafford Junction
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If you are passionate about helping climate change, please consider supporting Nafford Junction, you can:
- Become a Patron to Give Regular Contributions
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- Create for Us and Publish Thought Provoking Content
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- Go to NaffordJunction.co.uk/support
Sources Used to Create This Piece
Production Notes
This was produced by me, James Walters, as a personal project to help stop climate change by inspiring others to grow, eat, and live sustainably.
Any advice given is the opinion of those involved and does not constitute medical, financial, or legal advice.
* We include links we think you will find useful. If you buy through those links, we may earn a small commission. It’s one way to support our work and to inspire as many people as possible.