11 - Soil health and the revolutionary potential of Conservation Agriculture

Abstract

Humanity has already degraded, and continues to degrade, a substantial portion of the world’s agricultural land. Soil degradation resulting from conventional agricultural practices commonly involves soil loss (erosion), depletion of soil organic matter, pH changes (acidification), and disruption of soil life. In contrast, Conservation Agriculture practices that reduce erosion, enhance soil health, and rebuild soil organic matter cultivate beneficial soil life, producing both economic and environmental benefits. Adoption of soil-health building regenerative farming practices based on the principles of Conservation Agriculture can help reverse the problem of soil degradation that has plagued societies throughout history. Doing so would contribute to addressing the problems of sustainably feeding the world, increasing soil-based carbon sequestration, and reducing off-farm water pollution.