Restoring soil health has the potential to be a revolutionary approach to global food security. That was the message from the President and CEO of the Nature Conservancy and author of Nature’s Fortune, Mark R. Tercek, to the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos, Switzerland.
The idea is simple, he claims, because healthy soils produce higher yields. Yet, most agricultural soils have lost an estimated 50% to 70% of their original organic carbon levels, he added.
“Soil management has typically focused on quantity—reducing soil loss from erosion. However, shifting this focus to soil quality—increasing carbon storage and organic matter levels—could significantly boost both agricultural and environmental outcomes,” indicated Tercek.
Tercek believes this idea needs to be front and center on the global agriculture agenda.