Soil health is necessary for productivity of food systems at global level, ecological balance, and climate harmony. Intensive agricultural practices for many decades have caused degradation of soil leading to food security and sustainable development challenges. This chapter evaluates relationship between soil health, sustainability, and food resilience, focusing on soil’s function of carbon sink, nutrient and water cycle, and management. As the global population is expected to reach 10 billion by the year 2050, there is a need for formulated solutions to curb productivity and ecological imbalance. This chapter analyses traditional approaches such as conservation agriculture, crop rotation, agroforestry, and use of biofertilizers for their ability to recover soil organic matter, improve biodiversity, and reduce chemical dependency. At the same time, new technologies that serve as the foundation for innovative ways to maximize resource efficiency, mitigate climate change, and increase crop resistance are beginning to attract attention. These include CRISPR-engineered soil microbes, biochar, precision agriculture, and AI soil management systems. As identified in socio-economic studies, the double dividend of sustainable soil management includes economic sustainability for farmers due to saved costs and premium market access and equitable rural development through the creation of jobs and policy interventions such as India’s Soil Health Card scheme. This chapter integrates indigenous knowledge and technology and advocates for a soil stewardship paradigm that requires collaboration among policymakers, farmers, and researchers. Finally, protecting soil health transcends agricultural obligation, representing a basic responsibility towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and providing an equitable, nourished, and resilient world for future generations.

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Soil, Climate, and Food Security: Strategies and Sustainable Solutions for Global Nourishment

  • Susmita Shukla,
  • Shreedhanya Dattatray Patil,
  • G. Pravin,
  • Sparsh Phutela,
  • Shiv Kant Shukla

摘要

Soil health is necessary for productivity of food systems at global level, ecological balance, and climate harmony. Intensive agricultural practices for many decades have caused degradation of soil leading to food security and sustainable development challenges. This chapter evaluates relationship between soil health, sustainability, and food resilience, focusing on soil’s function of carbon sink, nutrient and water cycle, and management. As the global population is expected to reach 10 billion by the year 2050, there is a need for formulated solutions to curb productivity and ecological imbalance. This chapter analyses traditional approaches such as conservation agriculture, crop rotation, agroforestry, and use of biofertilizers for their ability to recover soil organic matter, improve biodiversity, and reduce chemical dependency. At the same time, new technologies that serve as the foundation for innovative ways to maximize resource efficiency, mitigate climate change, and increase crop resistance are beginning to attract attention. These include CRISPR-engineered soil microbes, biochar, precision agriculture, and AI soil management systems. As identified in socio-economic studies, the double dividend of sustainable soil management includes economic sustainability for farmers due to saved costs and premium market access and equitable rural development through the creation of jobs and policy interventions such as India’s Soil Health Card scheme. This chapter integrates indigenous knowledge and technology and advocates for a soil stewardship paradigm that requires collaboration among policymakers, farmers, and researchers. Finally, protecting soil health transcends agricultural obligation, representing a basic responsibility towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and providing an equitable, nourished, and resilient world for future generations.