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A comprehensive new analysis released today (29 August) by the Save the Soils campaign reveals the deep links between soil health and people’s physical and mental wellbeing, highlighting the urgent need to address soil degradation globally.
The new report highlights the different aspects of human life that are impacted by soil health in direct and indirect ways, including nutrition, mental health and overall quality of life. Save the Soils – an advocacy and awareness campaign by Conscious Planet, supported by UNEP, UNCCD, FAO, WFP and IUCN – calls for policy changes in Romania and around the world to ensure soil health. Ahead of COP29, the campaign calls for soil regeneration to be considered a public health priority. “We hope that the Romanian government will further develop policies committed to soil health, rewarding farmers for increasing the amount of organic matter in the soil. As a result, citizens will have a greater chance of enjoying various health benefits.” – Praveena Sridhar, Technical Coordinator of the Save the Soil campaign and lead author of the analysis. Key findings of the report:
Nutritional quality and malnutrition: The analysis shows that soils rich in organic matter can increase crop yields and improve the nutritional quality of food. The study warns that the continued deterioration in soil health directly contributes to the nutritional loss of food (wheat protein content fell by 23% from 1955 to 2016). Nutrient-rich foods also support the gut microbiota, which plays a vital role in regulating mood, immune function, and overall physical and mental health. Physical contact with soil improves gut health: humans share many bacterial communities with soil, and studies have shown that the level of contact with soil has a positive impact on the diversity of human microbiota and gut health. Therefore, when food quality does not meet nutritional needs, soil degradation accelerates global malnutrition, especially “hidden hunger”. The analysis highlights that hidden hunger affects more than 50% of children under the age of five and 66% of women worldwide.
Mental health: Healthy soils support the production of nutrient-rich food that is essential for mental health. The report highlights that deficiencies in essential vitamins such as vitamins B1, B6 and B9, often due to poor soil health, are linked to mental illnesses such as depression. Poor soil health is also linked to deficiencies in magnesium, iron and zinc, which contribute to good neurological function. The findings highlight the importance of maintaining healthy soils through a balanced diet to support mental health. The link between gut microbiota and the production of serotonin and dopamine is well established. Ecosystem services and habitat: The review highlights that healthy soils are essential for maintaining clean air, water and a stable climate, all of which contribute to improved habitat. Soil degradation contributes to urban heat islands, poor air quality and greater vulnerability to natural disasters, with direct impacts on community resilience and public health. Farmer well-being: The report highlights the important link between soil health and the mental health of farmers, who are often most directly affected by soil degradation. Given the high suicide rates among farmers worldwide (studies in India, Sri Lanka, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia show higher rates than the general population), analysis by the Save the Soils campaign suggests that improving soil health could alleviate some of the economic and environmental pressures that are causing this crisis. Call to Action The report calls for immediate coordinated action by governments, farmers and communities around the world to implement sustainable soil management practices. These include increasing soil organic matter to at least 3-6% depending on regional conditions, reducing chemical inputs and promoting regenerative agriculture to ensure soils remain fertile and support human health. Speaking at a recent Save the Soil roundtable, Dr. Uma Naidoo, a nutritional psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School, noted: “Soil biodiversity has a real impact on the biodiversity of the microbiome and therefore the health of humans. Scientifically, the gut microbiome has been linked to changes in the health of the body and brain. Thinking carefully about the food you eat can have a real impact.” “The health of the soil is intimately linked to our physical and mental health. Ignoring soil degradation is not only an environmental issue, it is also a direct threat to global public health. Soil organic matter is essential for healthy, vibrant soils and restoring it must be a key agenda item at COP29 and COP16.” – Praveena Sridhar, Technical Coordinator of the Save the Soil campaign and lead author of the analysis. About Save the Soil Save the Soil is a global grassroots movement to address the soil degradation crisis. The campaign was founded by Conscious Planet.
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