28 August 2024

Close link between soil quality and human health

Save the Soil movement calls for urgent policy action to address soil degradation and promote physical and mental well-being globally

A new analysis released by the Save the Soil movement reveals the deep connections between soil health and human physical and mental well-being, underscoring the urgency of addressing soil degradation globally. The report highlights the direct and indirect ways in which soil quality influences various aspects of human life, including nutrition, mental health and overall quality of life.

Supported by UNEP, UNCCD, UNFAO, WFP and IUCN, Save the Soil is an initiative of the Conscious Planet movement that calls for policy changes in Italy and around the world to ensure soil health. Ahead of COP29 to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan from 11 to 22 November, the movement is calling for soil regeneration to be recognised as a public health priority.

Main findings of the report

Nutritional quality and malnutrition: The analysis shows that soil rich in organic matter leads to higher crop yields and better nutritional quality of food. The loss of nutrients in crops due to soil degradation is contributing to an increase in global malnutrition, especially the "hidden hunger" affecting children and women around the world.

Mental health: Healthy soil promotes the production of foods rich in nutrients essential for mental health. Deficiency of micronutrients such as vitamin D, B12 and Omega-3 fatty acids, often linked to depleted soil, is related to mental disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Ecosystem services and living environments: Healthy soils are essential for maintaining clean air and water and stable climates, helping to improve the quality of life and resilience of communities.

Farmers' well-being: The report highlights the link between soil health and farmers' mental well-being, highlighting how improving soil health can reduce the economic and environmental stresses that severely affect them.

Praveena Sridhar, Technical Manager of Salva il Suolo and lead author of the analysis, said: "The health of our soils is closely linked to our physical and mental health. Ignoring land degradation is a direct threat to global public health."

The report calls for immediate and coordinated action by governments, farmers, and communities around the world to implement sustainable soil management practices. These include increasing soil organic matter to a minimum of 3-6%, depending on regional conditions.

Addressing Save the Soil, Dr Uma Naidoo, a nutritional psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School, said: "Soil biodiversity really impacts the biodiversity of the gut microbiome , and microbiome health is scientifically related to healthy changes in the body and brain. Paying attention to the foods you eat can have a real impact."

The analysis calls for immediate and coordinated actions to implement sustainable soil management practices, including reducing chemical use and promoting regenerative agriculture, to ensure fertile soils and a healthy future for generations to come.

For more information about Sadhguru and the Save the Soil movement, visit the savesoil.org website and follow @ConsciousPlanetMovement and @CPSaveSoil on social media or write to contact.it@consciousplanet.org

By the Editorial Board of Avion Tourism Magazine

Conscious Planet Save the Soil is everyone's movement and each of us can become an active part by getting informed, disseminating the movement, participating in events and raising awareness among politicians. Find out more about the movement and how to become a Friend of the Earth.