A new global analysis suggests that reversing human-caused soil degradation by just 10% could provide enough food for an additional 70 million people. The study, published in the journal Nature Food, was conducted by researchers from the University of Bonn, the University of Minnesota, the University of Basel, and Hamburg University of Technology.
Soil degradation includes problems like erosion, loss of water, and compaction of the soil. These issues reduce the amount of food that can be grown on land. According to the researchers, if these problems were reversed on a tenth of the affected land, the world's arable land could feed about 70 million more people. They describe this figure as a purely mathematical estimate based on current agricultural productivity.
The study did not provide specific recommendations for how to reverse degradation, but it highlights the potential impact of improving soil health. Scientists have long warned that soil degradation threatens global food security, as more than a third of the world's land is already degraded. The new analysis adds to the growing body of research calling for better land management practices.
The findings are part of a broader effort to understand how to sustainably feed a growing global population. The researchers hope their work will encourage policymakers and farmers to take action to protect and restore soil.