Ground zero: why soil health is integral to beating climate change

The authors assert that soil health is a critical but under-appreciated tool for climate mitigation and food security, noting that nearly one-third of global agricultural land is degraded. They advocate for a shift from 'one size fits all' fertilization to customized plant nutrition driven by data and precision agriculture to restore soil fertility and increase carbon sequestration. The text emphasizes the need for tailored finance and public-private partnerships to support farmers, particularly in Africa, in transitioning to sustainable food production.

• Soil health is fundamental to climate change mitigation and food security, as approximately 95% of the food supply depends on healthy soils, yet nearly one-third of global agricultural land is currently degraded.
• The rate of soil loss is significantly outpacing natural recovery; the FAO estimates that soil is eroded at a rate equivalent to one soccer pitch every five seconds, while it takes 1,000 years to form just 0.5 cm of healthy soil.
• Customization in plant nutrition, utilizing data from soil mapping, AI, drones, and remote sensing, is presented as a superior alternative to high-volume 'one size fits all' fertilization to reduce environmental run-off and improve soil health.
• Africa is highlighted as a region with significant agricultural potential where a tailored approach to plant nutrition could simultaneously close the yield gap, increase soil fertility, and raise soil organic carbon (SOC).
• Transitioning to sustainable agriculture requires systemic support beyond the farmer, including tailored finance, the monetization of ecosystem services, and public-private partnerships to mitigate economic risks.

APA

Strauss, T., & Fali, I. E. (2024). Ground zero: why soil health is integral to beating climate change. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/food-water-air/soil-climate-change-sustainable-agriculture/

Chicago

Strauss, Tania, and Iliass El Fali. Ground zero: why soil health is integral to beating climate change. World Economic Forum, 2024. https://www.weforum.org/stories/food-water-air/soil-climate-change-sustainable-agriculture/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Strauss |first1=Tania |last2=Fali |first2=Iliass El |title=Ground zero: why soil health is integral to beating climate change |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=22 November 2024 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/food-water-air/soil-climate-change-sustainable-agriculture/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{strauss2024ground, author = {Strauss, Tania and Fali, Iliass El}, title = {{Ground zero: why soil health is integral to beating climate change}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2024}, month = nov, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/food-water-air/soil-climate-change-sustainable-agriculture/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }