Soil insecurity can threaten future food production: Research

Scientists have expressed concern about the world’s soil resources and the possible effects it can have on food production in the future.

A group of soil scientists, including the University of Delaware’s Donald Sparks, have published their research titled ‘Soil and Human Security in the 21st Century’ in the journal Science.

The report speaks about the threats to soil including soil erosion, nutrient exhaustion, urbanisation and climate change.

Sparks, along with five of his co-authors, speak about the need for the better management of soil to conserve it for the future.

The report states that as the human population is slated to reach 11 billion by 2100, the only way to produce sufficient food will be to find better ways to manage existing agricultural lands rather than expanding into new areas.

Sparks said: "Soil is our planet’s epidermis. It’s only about a meter thick, on average, but it plays an absolutely crucial life-support role that we often take for granted.

"Historically, humans have been disturbing the soil since the advent of agriculture approximately 10,000 years ago. We have now reached the point where about 40% of Earth’s terrestrial surface is used for agricultural purposes. Another large and rapidly expanding portion is urbanised. We’re already using the most productive land, and the remainder is likely to be much less useful in feeding our growing population."

The report states that soil erosion is occurring at a faster rate than soil production in many agricultural areas, including the US where current soil erosion is at a rate at least 10 times greater than the natural background rate of soil production.

Soil erosion also results in the loss of key nutrients for plant growth, which increases the need for commercial fertilisers. However, the report also says that the current rate of fertiliser production is unsustainable.

Sparks says that the sudden increase in the price of fertilisers is proof of this.

"Unless we devise better ways to protect and recycle our soil nutrients and make sure that they are used by crops efficiently rather than being washed away, we are certainly headed for nutrient shortages."

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Image: The report raises concern about soil erosion, nutrient exhaustion, urbanization and climate change. Photo: courtesy of amenic181/freedigitalphoto.net.