Soil is a vital resource, it provides us with nutritious food and other products as well as with clean water and flourishing habitats for biodiversity. At the same time, soils can help slow the onset of climate change and make us more resilient to extreme climate events such as droughts and floods. Soils preserve our cultural heritage and are a key part of the landscapes that we all cherish. Simply put, healthy living soils keep us, and the world around us, alive.
It can take up to 2,000 years to produce 10cm of fertile soil. Soil degradation represents a challenge and it is further exacerbated by the effects of climate change, which may impact on food security and farmers’ well-being.
Thanks to its carbon sequestration capacity, soil can significantly contribute to reduce CO2 emissions.
Soil organic matter is an important indicator to determine soil quality, its nutritional capacity for plants and microorganisms, and ultimately its fertility. A concentration of organic matter in soil lower than 2% of the total mass reduces its physical, chemical and biological fertility and its productivity.
It’s beneath our feet but we never think about its value. We tread on it, we mistreat it, but a healthy, fertile soil means life. It’s time to take care of the soil and each one of us can and must make a difference.
To receive updates about Re Soil Foundation activities, sign up to our newsletter.
