Why The World Is Running Out Of Soil

Critical topsoil is eroding at an alarming pace due to climate change and poor farming practices. The United Nations declared soil finite and predicted catastrophic loss within 60 years. The world needs soil for farming, water filtration, climate mitigation, ecosystem services, health care and more. The impact of soil degradation could total $23 trillion in losses of food, ecosystem services and income worldwide by 2050, according to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. According to the UN, soil erosion may reduce up to 10 per cent of crop yields by 2050. That’s like removing millions of acres of farm land.
“There are places that have already lost all of their topsoil,” Jo Handelsman, author of “A World Without Soil,” and a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told CNBC.
“We have identified 10 soil threats in our global report … Soil erosion is number one because it’s taking place everywhere,” Ronald Vargas, the secretary of the Global Soil Partnership and Land and Water Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, told CNBC.
According to the U.N., soil erosion may reduce up to 10% of crop yields by 2050, which is the equivalent of removing millions of acres of farmland.
And when the world loses soil, food supply, clean drinking water and biodiversity are threatened.
What’s more, soil plays an important role in mitigating climate change.
Soil contains more than three times the amount of carbon in the earth’s atmosphere and four times as much in all living plants and animals combined, according to the Columbia Climate School.
“Soil is the habitat for over a quarter of the planet’s biodiversity. Each gram of soil contains millions of cells of bacteria and fungi that play a very important role in all ecosystem services,” Reza Afshar, chief scientist at the regenerative agriculture research farm at the Rodale Institute, told CNBC.
The Rodale Institute in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, is known as the birthplace of modern organic agriculture.
“The projects we do here are centered around improving and rebuilding soil health. We have a farming system trial that’s been running for 42 years,” Afshar said. It is the longest-running side-by-side comparison of organic and conventional grain cropping systems in North America.
The research has found regenerative, organic agriculture produces yields up to 40% higher during droughts, can earn farmers greater profits and releases 40% fewer carbon emissions than conventional agricultural practices.
How’s that possible? The Rodale Institute says it all starts with the soil.
“When we talk about healthy soil, we are talking about all aspects of the soil, chemical, physical and biological that should be in a perfect status to be able to produce healthy food for us,” Afshar said.
It’s critical, of course, because the world relies on soil for 95% of our food production. But that’s just the beginning of its importance.
“The good news is that we know enough to get to work,” Dianna Bagnall, a research soil scientist at the Soil Health Institute, told CNBC.
Watch the video above to learn more about why we’re facing a silent soil crisis, how soil can be saved and what that means for the world.
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Why The World Is Running Out Of Soil

[@charlespaynter8987]

I’m a farmer. It’s important to understand that we are all part of the same process in which we all have influence. What you want to eat, how and when you get your food etc all has powerful direct links to the production and processing of it. It’s an industrialised system that is out of balance. If we all find out about how food is produced and processed, what this means for our health, the soils and the environment, we can make decisions about our diets that can translate directly to managing soils in a way that gives better outcomes. It is actually very straightforward, it just needs us to learn some stuff and then step up to the plate.

[@discoverFigureitout]

Less processed foods, more organic foods, and hopefully government starts funding mega aquaponic farms powered by solar ?

[@robmccormick8155]

@@discoverFigureitout Man, screw government funding. Leave big brother out of it. The people need to start taking care of eachother without the governments "help".

[@discoverFigureitout]

@@robmccormick8155 Agreed, message me for worms or soil, Colorado based. I'm referencing the fact that industrialized farming won't go away if GOVT continues to fund

[@louisfalberts7760]

great comment

[@ashdav9980]

@@discoverFigureitout Most people can make a difference without having to rely on government. Honestly, I think government and the attitude it's purpose is to "take care of me and take care of things in our society" lets humans take a lazy and non-active stance, "I don't have to do it because government will take care of it". I live in a suburban neighborhood, east coast, and for the last few years we have a few small raised garden beds, 100% organic, and are able to grow much of our own produce, especially in summer. My kids are also learning the connection of farm/growing to table. We don't eat out (can't really due to allergies) and cook everything at home. Real food, less impact, it can be done if everyone takes a little ownership in it.

[@VarsVerum]

Seems like we’re just running out of everything… 😔

[@WiCapitalco]

We aren't. It's all by design. Don't listen to these college educated idiots. They don't know what they're talking about 99% of the time. It's all theory.

[@aaronbrutus2654]

They're f****** with you bro

[@heritageimaging7768]

@@aaronbrutus2654 Except rampant unchecked over-population.

[@Hans-gb4mv]

No, we're not. For example, we are not running out of debt

[@aaronbrutus2654]

@@heritageimaging7768 I'm a trucker, I have traveled every corner of this country. WE ARE NOT OVER POPULATED, it's nonsense!

[@b_uppy]

One of the way to protect soil is through multiple, continuous cover crops but some insurance companies refuse to insure farmers who do this. Without insurance, farmers wishing to do covercropping are also denied government funding. Some of these insurance companies are part of the corporate conglomerates the already get the overwhelming majority of funding for farmers...

[@ahmadhasif979]

Wow didn't know about this,, so weird

[@b_uppy]

@@ahmadhasif979 Two excellent soil scientists with channels on KZbin is Dr Elaine Ingham and Dr Christine Jones. (More bad news, they say the soil will likely only last 45 years.)

[@FutureBoyWonder]

Corporate feudalism You can thank the idiots that voted in neo-conservatives and spineless democrats that let this happen. Too bad we live in a "democracy" that doesn't allow other political parties that could have created a modern social framework that isn't driven on short-term profit driven growth. Until we change our economic-,political through revolution at this point nothing will change. A handful of intellectuals and like minded people will only ever be the extent of change in this inept country

[@viatori5566]

What now? I'm a farmer and have never heard of this. I'm not sure why I couldn't get a corn or bean crop insured just because I plant winter wheat or rye after harvest. Also, cover crops have nothing to do with the subsidies. The government just paid me $700 to enroll in a program to track my farms expenses with cover crops. Can I ask where you're getting you're information?

[@b_uppy]

@@viatori5566 You are required to have *insurance* to qualify for the subsidies. It is that some insurance companies refuse coverage if you do this. Reread my original statement above.

[@CaryMercer]

Two words: regenerative agriculture.

[@hawks9142]

Five words: Restoration Agriculture, by Mark Shepard

[@Alex.the.humble]

Two other words, too late.

[@CaryMercer]

@@Alex.the.humble Maybe. That is what Big Oil has been paying a lot of money to make people think for decades.

[@JohnnyJackson746]

Cutting forest is hurting habitats. And so is game hunting. Game hunting is hurting the cycle of animal kingdom.

[@kchoi10]

I kind of wish CNBC included a few farmers in this session. After all, they do a lot of talking on behalf of farmers.

[@interstellar618]

They dont want people who actually know what they're talking about to question their motives..

[@catatonicbug7522]

Monsanto probably wouldn't let them.

[@GX9900A]

As a soils Conservationist I'm very, very glad somone in the media is finally talking about this. I'm a bit disappointed that you didn't mention the nutrients loss in the foods produced in tilled soils vs no till with cc. Or the ability to stop using fertilizer over time and still improve yeidls in no till with cc and intercrops. A bit disappointed ya didn't have Ray Archuleta on for this one as well. Still thank you for spreading this information to new people beyond our normal interactions!

[@laminjallow6989]

would you recommed getting into agriculture? As africa as africa has 60% of all the worlds arable land.

[@GX9900A]

@@laminjallow6989 depends how much capital you have, where your going to do so, what's your goal, how much experience you have, ect. It's not something to just recommend there is way to many variables. All I can really say without knowing your specific situation is do your research, reach out to your local assistance, and always be learning.

[@Tyler_Stoltz]

That is the same thing we are talking about in SaveSoil movement. Its a global initiative for saving agricultural soil worldwide. We are almost done with our 100 days Save Soil journey 🙏

[@colbykinney5633]

I love Ray I've learned a bunch from him Gabe Brown, Elain Ingham , and John Kempf just to name a few. I have a small market garden and I don't think I'd be nearly as successful without their teachings.

[@paladain55]

how are farming yields with the practices without nitrogen fertilizer? Do they compare about equally? I've seen no fert/ organic in real life and the yield is usually around 5 times less.

[@ruceblee969]

One of the first doctors who saw this coming and promoted regenerative agriculture was Dr. Zach Bush. He's a visionary for world living in harmony with nature.

[@ruceblee969]

@@737simviator aborigines are medical doctors huh?

[@willieclark2256]

I'm a farmer that has moved 100% to no till, my biggest barriers are that I'm at the mercy of rental equipment availability (more funding to SWCDs and NRCS offices for drills and combines would solve that) and there's no way for me to get insurance on my crops if I grow crops over dormant perennial cover crops. Regulation is too rigidly focused on conventional tillage and or the incremental steps away from it and not the ideal solutions.

[@mochamommyATX]

Thank you for ALL you do.

[@charlespaynter8987]

That’s because big ag (esp machinery, Fert, agrochemical, finance, seed, grain) aren’t invested in regenerative agricultural. They lobby government decision makers to keep the status quo so we spend the majority of our farm income with them. They don’t want us independent, utilising our own free resources better, cutting down on costs, no-tilling, cutting down on Fert, not spraying so much, growing less but more nutritious food. It’s not good business for them

[@pakistaniraveasylum1396]

It's about money Money will end or humanity will fail

[@richardcowley4087]

"No till" is for cereals not all crops need nor can use "No till" No till, does not suite every soil condition you cannot grow Brassicas and root crops with no till very successfully carrots need 30 Cm of good crumb structure and that cannot be had with no till in heavy loam

[@willieclark2256]

@@richardcowley4087 seeing as cereals make up more than the lionshare of calories consumed your concern trolling isn't pertinent or interesting

[@stevenstart8728]

Subsidised agriculture is a contributing factor. If the farmer wasn't subsidised to grow certain crops they would be more inclined to get away from mono culture and introduce grazing animals. The price of farm land in subsidised country's would also be more realistic in value. If we can farm in Australia without subsidies in our harsh environment why do the Americans need them? Maybe because of greed at the upper levels of business and government.

[@karld1791]

That's right Australia farms with little to no subsidies. American agriculture gets a full 30% of it's income from the government in America. Corn, wheat, soy, rice, and cotton get most of the subsidies which shifts agriculture towards these grain crops instead of a variety of other crops that could be grown to meet market demands and soil building needs.

[@wackynz3260]

Gotta feed them obese Americans at any cost bro.

[@jenssweerts50]

I'd say subsidised agriculture is not the problem, what is the problem are the reasons for these subsidies and how illogical they are in reality.

[@stevenstart8728]

Maybe explain to the rest of the world what a good reason for subsidized ag would be and don't use food security as one because we all know that is false.

[@pollyjazz]

Even more absurd is the government giving subsidies to not grow certain crops. Or also the practice of destroying crops because they can't get a good price or because it's cheaper than shipping them to where they could feed hungry people. Maybe don't grow what the market doesn't need? And not expect to get paid for it. And people think welfare is bad but sitting on your ass and not growing something and getting paid for it is ok?!

[@andyjohnson3790]

The best thing that the world can do is to dump ethanol. 40% of all corn grown in the US is only meant to be burned in vehicles even though it makes up only 7% of the US fuel demand. This equals almost 35 MILLION Acres of land that could be put to a much better use of growing actual food, or for conservation land

[@jareds6611]

Bingo! Now with the new EPA regulation of 15% mandatory ethanol in our fuel that will now bring that 40% to 60% of all corn growth in the US, further complicating food shortages meanwhile it destroys our gas engines by stripping lubricants. Everything about ethanol is awful. One has to ask themselves, why are they doing this? Some of us know....

[@suchendra7444]

This is exactly why @Sadhguru started a campaign called #SaveSoil. to inspire governments to change the long term farming policies. #SaveSoil let's make it happen

[@Daniel-qy9mb]

Sadhguru was the first one to put me into this issue. I truly believe many of our ailments are a consequence of massive crop production on the same soil year after year.

[@2100suprafreak]

You're kinda right, if its done through conventional farming the crop isnt nutrient dense making us sick. If it's done through natural farming then the crop only gets healthier each year, making it more nutrient dense meaning people are healthy again.

[@lalitapicholiya9348]

True

[@Rahul-ku7eg]

right

[@Iquey]

They have to rotate!!!!

[@pinecedar180]

The root cause is too many people on the planet

[@bsherman8236]

Earth's got enough for everyone's need but not enough for everyone's greed

[@andybaldman]

Our greed will destroy us.

[@dipupaul3908]

Thanks Shadguru for trying to make the wave on " Save Soil " movement - one of the genuine concerning factors for ecosystem of mother earth. Even 2/3 years ago I was not much concern and knowledgeable about this issue.

[@tedc4982]

Well..., don't feel bad about it taking so long - all WOKE are exceptionally slow. In another decade you'll realize what nonsense you're spouting.

[@SimonFranck100]

Nonsense.

[@Greg-yu4ij]

Nothing like a bunch of smart city folk to come out and tell farmers how to farm. When I built my house the environmentalists said construction was “raping the earth” so I had to install hundreds of feet of silt fences in February to get a planning permit. I had to jackhammer frozen soil to set them properly. Of course, as you can guess, the silt fence overkill led to more soil erosion than excavation for the foundation or any other activity. Forcing people to do something is never as effective as just talking to them and having them come to the same conclusion. Today we are struggling with affordable housing as a result of the adversarial relationship cities cultivate with construction companies.

[@timverrecchia1654]

@@tedc4982 soil is finite and the nutrients inside are finite to, it will eventually run out. you think we have surplus when we only need to dig a few metres down to find artifacts from the Romans or civilizations 3000 years old

[@timverrecchia1654]

@@Greg-yu4ij you think we have surplus soil when we only need to dig a few metres down to find artifacts from the Romans or civilizations 3000 years old, that should give you an idea how long it takes for soil to generate. Farmers are not scientists there production means and techniques are focused around profit their not exactly revolutionizing the industry which is what we need right now, not to mention the gov makes most of the rules around farming i.e what pesticides and what crops its gonna subsidize so its not like the farmers doing it for the good of the environment. the solutions which will save more money in the end (23 trillion) will not give a as high profit. honestly growing in soil is equivalent of using fossil fuel for energy. Hydroponic farming is the renewables of generating electricity. a green no waste no carbon no space take up solution which plants grow 40 percent faster with bigger yields and very little land use. the only expensive part is the initial cost. As with your house that's your gov problem not anything to do with the science around saving the earth or farming, the gov doesn't listen to the scientists so you can blame them for you construction issues

[@intreoo]

I thought everyone knew the unrivaled importance soil had. The fact that it appears most don't is concerning.

[@gpayneinc]

I apologize I didn't see this before I posted. This is all mind boggling

[@public.public]

The would think farmers would know better but they continue to cut down hedges.

[@NoNo-ce8xb]

they dont teach the Dust bowl in school anymore and people are getting DUMB AF ..

[@charlespaynter8987]

The majority of younger people from an urban background in the UK have very little idea about where food comes or how it’s produced. They don’t really care either so long as it’s readily available. Soil is seen as dirt- the stuff that’s messy and dirty on the bottom their shoes and needs washing off immediately if it gets on their hands. They’ve no idea about the role in their lives that it really plays

[@tuckerbugeater]

@@charlespaynter8987 There's nothing they can do! We were brought into this world under this tyrannical system! They should do their stupid job and shut up just like the rest of us.

[@alexmaccity]

Thanks for talking about this. As a soil conservationist I appreciate content like this. I myself have my channel covered in information like this.

[@tthappyrock368]

Building on fertile farm lands, mega mono cropping, grass lawns which take more resources to maintain and provide almost no benefit to nature also play roles in soil degradation, availability, and harm.

[@roxaskinghearts]

heres the thing what if we raised elk elk eat the gas poop on the land and if a hunter wants a meal for him tho may be a bad idea counting all of American pollution

[@RoseUnseen]

Weed and almonds

[@roxaskinghearts]

Weed he says as if weed stocks cant be basically used like hemp stocks that is a fireproof viable crafting material for homes and places to live or harvested and grown back up saving on water but then we could talk about the aquaponics side of that debate and how it basically has enough options right now that your a fool no matter how you want to look at it

[@robertmarmaduke9721]

All part of the new 'scarcity' narrative to justify Mandatory Energy Austerity of the Workers, while the Rich are busy strip-mining topsoil in sod farms for their palatial lawns and pro golf courses. Tell your local City Council the sod farmers are violating County EPA strip-mining laws and Libs will call you a kook, because all they care about is carbon taxes for their government salaries, COLA's and pensions. _Did you know every time they raise a carbon tax, they get COLA salary increases to cover it!?_

[@bcubed72]

No; lawns are tantamount to leaving land fallow and improves soil quality. Doing something stupid, like trying to leave soil bare, is what's horrible for soil. My house was built in 1920 and has had a natural grass yard there apparently the entire time. When I put a garden in the back, the soil was nearly black, and loaded with earthworms! You have to dig down 18" to hit the clay soil my area is known for. Later with your nonsense, "TT."

[@tylercarriere3622]

We are also running out of air. Stocking up on oxygen cans.

[@TLPcreative]

i wonder why some people are creating panic for no reason at least say soil fertility but not this title

[@tylercarriere3622]

@@TLPcreative The problems they say are a crisis can easily be solved. Smart farmers alternate their land between crops and cattle. Our leaders want economic productiviry. Thats why they create panic. The most innovation has historically come out of disasters. More productivity, more profit.

[@katherandefy]

So good to hear this finally moving to soil conservation and regeneration.

[@tritron5519]

"Take the plow as a human impact" *proceeds to show a seeder* Sums up the agricultural knowledge of 98% of people : about zero

[@snakey973]

This is what happens to humanity when there is no sense of belonging to the environment and no understanding of our utter dependence on it, pathetic lack of wisdom and greed above all other values

[@michaelmckeever2734]

"A nation that destroys its soil destroys itself" - President Franklin D Roosevelt

[@hogantedley6227]

Did he really say that. Ya? It's like our country will destroy itself. One day has been said. As never he cold war for ov. In 86 without a shot being fired. Many things get stopped in time..

[@joemag6032]

" I married my cousin " --- President Franklin D. Roosevelt Don't worry guys, she was one of his distant cousins .

[@marcusmeyer3266]

J. Russel Smith predicted this in his book published in the late 1920's, Tree Crops. He even gave us solutions to the looming crisis. We are bad at listening to warnings.

[@manjunath7497]

Will read it

[@ehombane]

Sumerian lived this 400 centuries ago. Due to intensive irrigation they salted the soil. The empire crumbled. People fled on the 4 horizons. I am curious where we will flee now.

[@lissavanhouten6628]

It's the fault of INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE! This system has been depleting the soil for decades.

[@MOOBOOSE]

And an overpopulated world requiring cheap food

[@charlespaynter8987]

And us consumers help drive that process. We’re all directly or indirectly involved in this - it is over simplistic to point the finger at just 1 part of food production

[@tuckerbugeater]

@@MOOBOOSE Who created the cheap food!?

[@tuckerbugeater]

@@charlespaynter8987 get bent

[@dingfeldersmurfalot4560]

Rodale Institute was largely narrating this video. Rodale put out fantastic books about organic gardening and surrounding issues decades ago and should be a household name. Do look up some of their books and materials. They've been on the mission since before I was born, and I'm not young. Thank goodness they're still pushing these issues forward!

[@b_uppy]

Rodale still approaches much of its farming and gardening based on conventional ag practices by way of purchased inputs. It would be nice if it investigated more regarding permaculture. Used to buy their magazines all the time.

[@shashikirant.r.6630]

This is exactly what Sadhguru is telling the world through "Save Soil Movement". Thanks for spreading awareness. Appreciate the effort.

[@rangerg7278]

My father worked for the soul conservation service in Pennsylvania in the 1960's, and I learned from him how to do a better job working with farmers, road builders, loggers, and in landscaping as a result. Does this organization still exist?

[@rangerg7278]

Sorry. Soil Conservation Service !

[@katherandefy]

Think also about the millions of lawns and conventional advice to use synthetic pesticides and herbicides and fertilizers.

[@MintRanch]

Small farmers are more likely to take care of their land and soil. Unfortunately the gov favors large mega farms, and these monoculture mega farms care nothing for the land the gov gives them.

[@someguy2135]

Good point.

[@ecognitio9605]

"The Gov" is a strange way to say private agricultural giant's....hell the govt subsidies small farmers in the US so they aren't all "bought up".

[@timothykeith1367]

Farmers do care about the soil, as long as they are earning a profit - which most must do because of the large loans they must repay. These days the value of rural land is rising. Marginal farmers often beat up the land attempting to scrape out a living.

[@dannyarcher6370]

Small farmers do not create the scales of economy required to feed billions of people.

[@hurrdurrmurrgurr]

@@dannyarcher6370 With enough of them they do. The roadblock is the government and HOA's refusing to let anyone turn their yard into a farm instead of growing worthless grass.

[@SquizzMe]

This is the price society pays for making itself a culture of consumption. When you overindulge in anything, you give it power over you. And going back is very difficult, if not impossible.

[@117Industries]

Working on it. I think about this night and day. Politics is difficult, but not impossible to navigate. People will have a hard time accepting personal sacrifice, but pressure necessitates adaptation.

[@dannyarcher6370]

_This is the price society pays for making itself a culture of consumption_ Get off the internet. Do you know how many industries you've supported with just this comment?

[@SquizzMe]

@@dannyarcher6370 you really thought you were being smart with that post huh.

[@117Industries]

@@SquizzMe Yeah you’re just stating the truth. I think it’s more mature to admit that we’re all collectively complicit in the state society is in, because we’ve all contributed to the state of things.

[@SquizzMe]

@@117Industries absolutely. People love to blame corporations and politicians, but we're the ones buying into it all.

[@climatehero]

I just realized that soil is the best way by far to sequester carbon.

[@b_uppy]

Yes. Thru plants that also sequester carbon, and soil microbes doing the same underground.

[@nihilisticpunk24]

Next episode: “The Looming Oxygen Shortage”, people are just passing out left and right from a shortage of oxygen.

[@own4801]

Well actually, you are completely wrong.

[@BlkDsl]

😂😂😂 i lnow right!! whats next? "The looming sunlight shortage"

[@Iquey]

@@BlkDsl I don't claim that. 💀🥹 That would be after a nuclear war/nuclear winter

[@surajjanampally7023]

thanks for making this video. #SaveSoilSaveEnvironment . please support Save Soil movement

[@jeremiasrobinson]

The saddest part is that it wouldn't be too hard to take care of soil, we just don't.

[@timothykeith1367]

This video is about 50 years behind the times. No-till is nothing new. As far as "we", I doubt that means yourself. With cropland costing an average of $12,000 an acre in many parts of the U.S., the land downers care very much about their investment. They put a lot of thought into agricultural practices, many having college degrees.

[@anastasijatitko3872]

3-6% organic content has to be there in soil. And this needs to become a policy globally. Only then we will be able to sustain soil health. Right now it is well below 1% in the United States and keeps decreasing which will result in famines in as little as 20-30 years from now. All our eyes and leaders eyes should be on this, not any other nonsense… only then we can take care of soil.

[@yolo_burrito]

In the US Farms that maintain or improve soil should be the only ones that get crop insurance. No till/low till is the solution.

[@norcalreppin1]

If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there'd be a shortage of sand.

[@HOLY_WARRIOR]

=)

[@Your_Wife.s_Boyfriend]

The world seems to be running out of everything except for politicians. I wonder why

[@NorthOfWindsor]

Representative Democracy is the worst. Now that we live in a world without segregation, where everyone has a voice, we should be a direct democracy run by referendums

[@dannyarcher6370]

You keep voting for them?

[@NorthOfWindsor]

@@dannyarcher6370 what are we supposed to do, violently revolt and overrun them? We’re stuck here

[@VoteForBukele]

It’s not the politicians fault. It’s you. There are just too many of you and most of you don’t actually do anything other than consume. Most of your professions are fake or redundant. And I guarantee you there are just as many soil deniers as there are everything else deniers. So in short, enjoy the show.

[@Your_Wife.s_Boyfriend]

@@VoteForBukele Stop breathing through your mouth, smooth brain.

[@rawknowledge5096]

You can build soil through permaculture farming but it takes time ⏲ you can build an edible food forest in your backyard that can not only feed you year round but cool your house down as well just plant Different fruit trees

[@nephetula]

Topsoil constantly eroding, going into streams, rivers, and eventually into the ocean. Fill a cup with water and keep adding sugar. What happens to the water level? And now you know one of the reasons the oceans are rising, a reason that no one ever talks about.

[@RosscoAW]

lmao what

[@kaz1388]

Displacement

[@okharren]

wow, stunning (and very encouraging) that this is on mainstream media! The big challenge is getting congress and Big Ag to make fundamental changes and that is a very big challenge

[@investmentinfogeek8679]

#savesoil let's make it happen

[@sasikanthmynampati158]

Yeah

[@atlashondapakistan6646]

#savesoil

[@charlespaynter8987]

It is. Farmers, especially the US, are increasingly getting on board with these ideas

[@tride536]

The world: "We will all going to die from starvation in 50 years!" Americans: "The erosion will cost us about 26 trillion dollars."

[@subodhpangyani1613]

They can only think in terms of money💸 and profit.

[@liphrium9858]

good

[@cedriceric9730]

That's right

[@hogantedley6227]

Die we th in 50 years. Starve maybe. Can't put a price on soul n life. Let's not say 26 trillion or quintillion or any price but it's life or death if ya our planet and all !!!

[@josephjackson5088]

I live in a rural area. When i drive by all the acres and acres of farmland all I see is a sea of oil. Modern agriculture in this area is not possible with out a huge input of petroleum and where will it end. All I see is a fatalist attempt to maintain the status quo right up until the very end.

[@dreamerofhanuman]

Soil regeneration! You can even do it to your own property and have a lovely garden. I been working on a project of doing this for 4 years now. It’s possible!

[@jeffrypope9775]

Its a result of Industrial farming that has happened in my lifetime. This is all a result of the end of small diversified farms of my childhood. Plowing isn't bad if its done correctly. It's counterintuitive, to rotate and this farm system is what i'm using and i also use small equipment and horses. It's worked well for the Amish and my forefathers.

[@grumpy1311]

Good piece. Make quality compost!! Don't throw food scraps in plastic bags along with other household chemicals to go into a Landfill!!! It takes alot of nutrients to grow those things

[@christinajones7696]

I would like to learn to compost. How do I start, what goes in compost soil? Forgive my ignorance please.

[@audreayarose3755]

go organic as possible - plant what you can yourself - gentle bug sprays - invite worms back into the garden to enrichen soil etc regardless of soil - the planet becomes more unstable - practicing preserving your food pickle/dehydrated meat etc, shortages in food is more common and you never know when youll need it before its too late

[@louisehoff]

Time to interview John Liu or see the VPRO documentary about his work. Regenerative agriculture is the way forward for us, our food and our ecosystem. Soil degradation is the result of monocrops and monsanto sterilization of the soil.

[@ThirdCoastGardening]

Soil is the most interesting part of gardening. Such a fascinating science.

[@downbntout]

Fact check: the 1940s book 'Plowman's Folly' was the beginning of turning bad ag around. Allan Savory's ideas made regen ag adaptable to many places. He learned from Andre Voisin in coastal France

[@willsteuer1621]

The US Dept. of Agriculture Land Bank has taken 28 Million acres out of food production. This year they will take another 4 Million acres out of production. Sorry about the food shortages.

[@HHJoshHH]

I wonder if better composting practices would work. Some ppl don’t use ferts from the store. For instance if you wanted nitrogen for your corn then you start soaking grass clippings. Maybe corn is a bad example bc it has such high nitro demand that grass may not keep up with it but it seems like we have everything we need to make good soil. We have worms, greens 🥬 and browns (cardboard 📦 ) plus some dead rotting trees and rocks and you got a nice nutrient rich soil. Don’t burn yard/land waste, mulch it into a compost pile, or soak it to release its nutrients into the water and use it. It feels like this is the next phony crisis that uneducated ppl will get behind. But maybe I’m missing something.

[@outlaw0987654321]

As new gardener who lives on an island were supplies are a hassle to deal with, i can tell you that what you say works. The soil here is pretty dead and is VERY hard to get things to grow at a somewhat productive level. During times where i'm waiting for my fertilizers to arrive (if i even bother to order any at all) I do all sorts of stuff to make ferts. from taking fish guts and burying them near plats, soaking weeds in water, getting sheep crap from my neighbor's sheep, getting seaweed to add to compost, collecting boxes and running them though a micro paper shredder for carbon and more. i still can't pull off a garden on the scale i want but when i focus all these things in the two small 4x6 foot beds, i get incredible results. A few months ago i got a small harvest of corn all without store bought ferts. All this and i have yet to add worms to the mix (they don't exist here.......like at all). I also use pine needles and seaweed as mulch. The point is, there is a surprising amount you can do with stuff you can find right around your community. I'm hoping to really scale up my compost production in a few months. I'm new to gardening, but i picked up pretty quickly that you can either sink cash or time and effort to get decent results. Ferts should still be on hand because things can happen, but you get what i'm sayin' yeah?

[@HHJoshHH]

@@outlaw0987654321 dude that’s so awesome! Yes I totally get you! lol You’re doing a great job!

[@nyamanikoi]

#SaveSoil ! If we implement policies to ensure a minimum of 3% organic content in agricultural soil, the situation of soil extinction can be reversed! There is still time, but we should act now to ensure a rich soil for future generations. Healthy soil also acts as a major carbon sink and water shed, alleviating problems with regards to water scarcity and carbon emissions. Soil is not dead, it is the living earth that nurtures us all.

[@cyclewisconsin105]

Here in central Wisconsin farmers keep cutting down more woodlots to plant subsidized corn and soybeans allowing more wind to blow away topsoil. We subsidize deforestation in the USA and only talk about the loss of forests in Brazil and other countries.

[@blanknoriega5726]

wow.. mainstream news is covering no till farming? I've been doing it for 8 years and have been looking for land to buy to start a small scale CSA farm but its far to expensive for most farmers to even simply access land. We need to address this issue first and for most!!!

[@NicholasLegg]

I feel for my dude Reza, he looks so beat down from fighting for this cause... though he seems hella cool and super knowledgeable. I hope he continues on, we need more humans like that man.

[@SUBHRAJYOTI17042]

Where is sadguru who started soil erosion attention

[@ecognitio9605]

Lol...

[@varadhk3159]

I am womdering too. Hes working so hard and there is no mention of him in the video

[@bajajsahb]

Yes. Why no mention of Save Soil movement ?

[@francribaj6506]

because he is a "religious" bearded guy look alike, therefore no mention

[@dekumutant]

Because he didn't? Just because you heard it from him first doesn't mean he was the only or first voice

[@mackpines]

Of all the things that we've had shortages of, the one I wouldn't have thought of was soil!

[@vsstdtbs3705]

it happens when civilizations become feminised. Beginning of rome, men could put down their subjects - wives and slaves. controlled the population. End of of rome was womens rights, overpopulation, then collapse. democracy started off with only men voting, now most voters are women. happening again.

[@vsstdtbs3705]

@@cedriceric9730 lets worship batman and allah instead, other made-up stories, to save the world.

[@nunyabidness3075]

Seems to me if we can collect all the excrement created on Capitol Hill, we could rejuvenate all the crop land in North America with extras for export.

[@nr6777]

One of the best and very useful information. Thank you, CNBC! appreciate your efforts and trying to bring good news for a change. The problem which is not only to farming but also for several issues is Fed, Govt, private companies & most of the people want to become Rich vs good. So, as long money rules Fed, Govt, Companies and People, you can not solve insurance issues in farming because they too run behind money. First, we did bad very very long ago by going away from organic farming now we are doing further worst by turning farmlands to commercial lands. We wish & hope CNBC network can publish opportunities to change the world to move to good.

[@mikeharrington5593]

Soil degradation is very often a by-product of monoculture sustained by fertilizers creating a Iifeless sterilized soil. PhysOrg published this on 6 June:- "Cover crops not enough to improve soil after decades of continuous corn" (production).

[@b_uppy]

Exactly. They need multiple, continuous covercropping. They likely need to incorporate trees with deep roots to bring nutrients up from deep in the soil. Instead of relying on grain for starch in livestock feed plant nut trees and other trees to fill the gaps instead and let diverse livestock graze it. Saves a lot on shipping costs/fuel on feed, fertilizers and chemical inputs when they all grow together. Plus the farmer has back up crops if some fail...

[@stojan7382]

Such an interesting video. I didn't realise that antibiotics came from soil and that soil holds 3 times as much CO2 as the atmosphere. We are in danger of losing this precious resource. This is one of many critical problems facing humanity at this time. Others include pandemics, resource wars and of course climate damage. These all reinforce each other. An excellent book that talks about these problems and mitigating solutions is called "Great Waves Of Change" by Marshall Vian Summers. I urge everyone reading this comment to take a look. It is good to see solutions being implemented.

[@KenzoArts]

Yes Indeed! Soil is the basis of live forms in the entire universe! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZ68Y5WufZx2hK8

[@markanthony3275]

Lies...lies are the biggest problem...like lies about climate change and CO2 being a threat. CO2 has never been as low as 475 ppm like it is right now...and these idiots want to reduce that? How are the world's forests and vegetation going to survive without CO2...their FOOD? The science never added up...because it's all driven by political ambition to fool people into accepting a global government...telling them that that's the only way to resolve the "crisis". I'm gonna give you a few quotes that will give you an idea of where this all started and where it's all going. " I believe that when the next world crisis happens, the world will accept a global government" David Rockefeller. " Isn't the only hope for the planet that the industrialized nations collapse? Isn't it our responsibility to make sure that happens?" Maurice Strong U.N. chairman and co-creator of "Earth day". " We needed a crisis to unite humanity...it could be a real one or one invented for the purpose...we chose climate change and the environment" from "The First Global Revolution" by King and Schneider/ Club of Rome (1992). "You will own nothing , and you will be happy" Klaus Schwab chairman of the World Economic Forum.

[@johnchapman5125]

Thank you, Stojan.

[@arronbatchvarov5035]

There is more oxygen in the soil than the air. Do you even hear what's coming out of your mind you belive that????

[@tuckerhiggins4336]

Soil CO2 being released is the biggest contributer to atmospheric CO2 by far. Dwarfs everything else. You never find that anywhere

[@weareorigin]

The soil in Midwest states (Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky) is kept empty for months. After the corn or soy beans are finished, it's just empty soil being hit by rain until next spring.

[@lexkek5625]

Anyone with plots of land, balcony, patio and any space that receives adequate sunlight, no matter how small should look into growing your own food. Vertical gardening is very good for small small living space. Container gardens are great ways to garden on patios and balconies. Do hydroponics or aeroponics if you don't want soil. Gardening is very flexible and is very rewarding.

[@johnshafer7214]

We kept pushing for suburbanization and stress the remaining soil. We need soil scientist and soil conservationist and treat it as a resource that's endangered.

[@darkknightrises3571]

Here comes our Sadguru's #save_soil

[@DanMcAdam950]

Don’t till the soil. Seed directly into it. We have been doing it in Canada since the 60s. Disc drills work best

[@ameysutar9932]

Thank you CNBC for producing this documentary.

[@gf1227]

Sadhguru’s efforts are coming to life! At least the discussion has started 👏👏👏👏

[@shammusomalley8986]

I’m old enough to remember when the world was running out of sand😆

[@ak-if9wg]

Very good information ☺️

[@imianco8079]

had no idea.. now i know about the issue.. thank you!!

[@mikekahl5609]

No you don't. This is all political brainwashing.

[@imianco8079]

@@mikekahl5609 no thank you fox news! travel the world and understand differences and our challenges.. it is 122F in pakistan & india the world is changing while you deny!

[@mikekahl5609]

@@imianco8079 who is denying anything? I don't watch fox news. I'm a farmer saving the soil.

[@A3Kr0n]

This isn't new, our 1969 World Book encyclopedia had a good section on soil loss in our country and what a problem it is. That was 1969. In the 1970's came low and no till farming to try and reduce soil loss.

[@hogantedley6227]

I 💬 no Jimmy Carter had a future 2000 report done. Where it said lots more of the world will be starving and by 2050 or something well barely he able to feed our own people. Soul erosion Shure needs to stop. At same time make it the best growth medium to here is.! Healthy soul/ water healthy planet! People too.. as we colonize other planets etc too.. all these wars are such a waste of resources people , pollution, all of it!! Can't our politicians get it 👍 right??

[@hoshifuyo4494]

The wisest thing that should be on everyones' mind currently, should be, To invest in different streams of income that doesn't depend on the government, especially with the current economic crisis around the world.

[@hoshifuyo4494]

And also, Being of age and how to manage the sequence of returns in those early periods is what seems quite scary in the current market. The market is never a loser in the twenty year cycle, but the 2000s decade scenario scares me and could really disrupt my retirement. When you're no longer accumulating but withdrawing, it's hard to be anything but cautious.

[@jachikeonwuka3824]

The pandemic really taught people the importance of multiple streams of income. Unfortunately, having a job doesn't guarantee 100% security, rather having different investments is the real deal.

[@anouchkabalog6627]

@@jachikeonwuka3824 That's true, I believe that the secret to financial stability is having the right investment ideas to enable you earn more money. But for now, investors getting started can feel overwhelming. Risk loom large and complicated, unfamiliar financial jargons can be intimidating.

[@alexmontrey5372]

Some investors look to their investments as a source of income while others use it as a means to grow or preserve their wealth.

[@alexmontrey5372]

Also, It is mostly disastrous for newbies or anyone who doesn't adhere to a well thought-out strategy and over all, a professional broker.

[@SamRoxxJDM]

use the tons of Sargassum Seaweed washed up in Florida as organic matter

[@aaronaustrie]

Rather interesting info!

[@pjacobsen1000]

Many of the solutions proposed are already being implemented in more and more industrialized countries, but it's a relatively slow process. I think decade by decade we'll continue to see improvements in our environment. As long as we're moving in the right direction I'm pretty happy.

[@JohnDoe-tx8eu]

"As long as we're moving in the right direction" we just spent the amount of money needed to fix hunger in our country, on funding another foreign war.... we are definitely not going the right direction

[@pjacobsen1000]

@@JohnDoe-tx8eu Yes, we are, you can't see it. You're looking at the trees instead of the forest.

[@michaelgriffith5119]

We don't have decades.

[@pjacobsen1000]

@@michaelgriffith5119 We don't have decades? Then how long do we have? When does it end?

[@julmaass]

@@JohnDoe-tx8eu except the war is causing hunger by preventing Ukrainian wheat from going to market and driving up oil prices, and the aggressor, Russia, is fixing oil prices as part of OPEC+, driving up energy costs for the world's poor. One can't look at these numbers in isolation. You could probably fix a lot of domestic problems by completely eliminating the national defense budget.

[@royal-recordz]

Over population and pollution is getting out of hand.

[@Indi.a.B33ger.Viru.s.Nation]

Maybe if they stopped pumping toxic pesticides and herbicides... The natural top soil will still function properly.

[@brendanmitchell3545]

is tilling with a hand plow still good? or damaging over time? Thanks

[@360sblulev]

"why the world is running out soil" background: ok so 2 billion years ago stay with me LOL

[@mrwang420]

Lack of Cattle Feralization. That's why. Cattle manure is needed to put the stuff back into the dirt to turn into soil.

[@timothykeith1367]

There are feral hogs, but I've never seen feral cattle. I know you meant fertilization!

[@decreer4567]

I am tired of hearing all these shortages

[@gpayneinc]

This is common knowledge for years. This is NOT NEW. They act like this is a finding. I'm disgusted.

[@tonydeveyra4611]

Another important thing to note about no-till farming is that it requires significantly less horsepower per acre. This means fuel savings. Further down the line, it means that no-till operations will have an easier time upgrading to electric tractors, too.

[@fuzzystuff8023]

furthermore, we don't need a 6ton tractor to run a flail mower, thus reducing soil compaction

[@someguy2135]

Veganic farming, using no till and composting is the gold standard for sustainable, environment friendly agriculture. It has proven that manure is not needed for soil enrichment or food production.

[@tonydeveyra4611]

@@someguy2135 the most scalable form of regenerative land management is managed intensive grazing. There are some challenges to fully integrating that with no-till grain production so there will be some parallel evolution of these systems with some overlap.

[@timothykeith1367]

There won't be electric tractors in any significant numbers. Batteries lack the energy density for heavy equipment. The larger the diesel powered equipment, the more efficient is the energy utilization. If anything, conventional farm equipment will become larger. Electric tractors can be used on small operations, as is already done to some extent, but batteries are not suited to tilling thousands of acres. Small farming operations are also very labor intensive.

[@someguy2135]

@@tonydeveyra4611 Animal agriculture is not sustainable considering the effect it has on our environment and climate change. So called "regenerative grazing" reduces the problems, but does not eliminate them. The carbon sequestration in the soil is limited, since it reaches a saturation point. Animal ag is a major cause of green house gasses, especially ruminants like cattle and sheep. The huge numbers of them produce a significant amount of methane which is 80 times more potent than CO2 in the first years, and then dissipates over about 100 years time. Many reports average out the effect to 20 times more potent.

[@maytons]

In nature, annuals are fairly rare, and yet this is what the vast majority of farmers plant. Perennials on the other hand are far more common in nature and produce for many years without the need to constantly destroy the mycelium structure in the soil.

[@gshrdy5415]

There are numerous varieties of millets that don't require too much tilling or fertilizers or pesticides, and produce is much higher comparing to rice, wheat and corn the main culprits of soil erosion, water table depletion and decease.

[@freezepaladin]

True that. Annual is humans' term to satisfy their greed. Everything boils down to capitalism. Unsustainable farming, such as disruptive technology, monoculture, chemical fertilizer and pesticides, etc., destroy the entire soil ecosystem and beyond, not only mycelium structure. Once the damage is done in a large scale it's very difficult to recover. The best method for sustainable farming by far is permaculture. It takes into account everything in the environment with minimum intervention from humans. Pests are considered parts of the ecosystem that play their own important roles, unlike in conventional farming where they are obliterated using chemicals.

[@wesselvanwyk1335]

@ Dave Mayton - the problem is that most if not all your vegetables and grains are annual plants and without them you cannot feed the world.

[@maytons]

@@wesselvanwyk1335 What you mean is that you cannot feed humans in a cheap and convenient manner without grains and annuals. Neither of us is going to change the consumption habits of 8 billion people.

[@maytons]

@@wesselvanwyk1335 What you mean is that "you cannot feed the world" though the standard industrial process when people move to annuals vs perennials.

[@abhinavmisrha4259]

Sadguru plays great role to aware people about this issue way before any of these picking up.

[@genestarolle5135]

I think they mean a shortage of nutrients in the soil.

[@Crackhouts]

For decades, we've rebuilt topsoil with fetuses. Well....that's over.

[@johannesswillery7855]

I shouldn't laugh at this but it is kind of funny....

[@mujinarokko1796]

It seems illusion, if one looks at what happened in Sri-Lanka. Sri-Lanka introduced full organic farming, which upset agribusiness, such as Monsanto (Bayer), and the government got bankrupt. Agribusinesses have more money than a developing nation.

[@JohnDoe-tx8eu]

Monsanto is such a horror show too!! the same people who brought the world agent orange are now being trusted to grow food!!!

[@chrisrodgers4950]

Yes!! The American model of destroying soil with glyphosate is being exported worldwide so the situation is not good. Bayer has an utter monopoly on the food supply. What little yields our soil is currently providing is not nutritious at all, it actually makes you sick so you get prescribed Bayer’s pharmaceutical products.

[@mostlyguesses8385]

Sri Lanka crop production fell by half going organic, and 10000s will starve, those who push organic too much are murderers.

[@jawick]

This is a joke when no one talks about the #1 loss of soil -- building and paving over the soil by humans for homes, schools, stores, corporations, government, and roads then all the complaining of flooding with no soil to absorb heavy rains and extreme heat at night from heat absorb by concrete during the day.

[@jerjatastic7107]

#Savesoil let's make it happen!

[@baileymovilidad1039]

#SaveSoil #SalvemosElSuelo

[@Davethreshold]

Very informative! Unlike many of the problems of our world, fixing this will be easier than many others. I am confident we will be able to do it.

[@ionorreastragicomicchannel]

Plenty of corporations will not be happy about the lost income when going natural become mainstream, so I expect nothing less than fearmongering from big corporations making big bucks from current agriculture practices comparable to fossil lobby efforts to dismiss human impact on climate change.

[@Davethreshold]

@@ionorreastragicomicchannel Yes! Many movies have been made about that type of thing. ~ The new chemical which will put a huge worldwide company out of business, and they send a hit-squad after the only physicist who knows the key info.

[@falfield]

@@Davethreshold Are you dismissing the malign influence of misinformation by big vested interests as the subject only of movie fiction? Or are you agreeing with Ionor and in so doing, dismantling your belief this problem will be easy to fix and undermining your confidence we'll do it.

[@Davethreshold]

@@falfield I BLOCK pseudo-intillectuals.

[@falfield]

@@Davethreshold I think you must suffer a bit from rushes of blood, which then blind your ability to see clearly. So your irritation at a perceived slight by me - and maybe a chip on your shoulder as well - led to your hasty outburst. In fact, mine was a question without implicit criticism, aimed to work out what the hell it is you are trying to say with your movie reference. You say fixing the world's soils will be easy and are confident we'll do it. Why is that? Ionor has given you a powerful reason why it WON'T be easy.

[@Elena-er7zp]

this video title damn near gave me an anxiety attack. y’all can’t keep going with this doomsday content. i cannot deal with it anymore!

[@66652]

Great👍👏😊😊 we are listing everything soil also👌👌

[@gregorysagegreene]

In the California Central Valley Delta soil levels on the fields, after a hundred years, are many feet below the highway. Farming is one of our most basic exploits of 'free' natural resources. Yet all we still know to do with it is 'mine' the soil for it's 'something for nothing' value. Amazes me with the explosion of technology since early this century that we still haven't addressed replacing or at least augmenting all of the 'modern' processes we use to live on the planet with systems more advanced toward something like many of the cyclical closed-loop style things we see existing in nature already. No reason why we couldn't develop artificial sustainability in everything from chemical reaction chains on up.

[@deere7227]

Ca Delta soils are high organic so decomposition rates are higher.

[@hammerheadjason]

Rodale's processes would work very well if we had a much larger percentage of the population owning and managing small farms. Maintaining yields and nutrient density are pressing challenges to feed the growing population without more participants. Centralized food production has given us the gift as a society to do other things with our labor, but I wonder if we are now seeing the costs of having fewer farmers as a nation.

[@andrewjensen8189]

Industrial farming definitely has its benefits, but we bet too big on it. Now we need to return alot of farms back to regenerative practices.

[@TheStryderPrime]

NO !!! We need to stop increasing our population to maintain a balance !!!

[@davidkottman3440]

I grew up in farming community and have farmed myself since 1980 & can remember the early '60s... It really comes down to the information & expectations individuals and society has for their farms. Much of the degradation in the US took place during the early 20th century when impoverished small farms dominated agriculture. Sometimes larger farms can better afford conservation efforts over large areas, other times they simply destroy more faster... I think scale of production & involvement of people are important issues, but not always directly linked to conservation issues.

[@jonigarciajg]

I agree and it's sad that they are many people that would love to be farmers, but they are forced to do something else because of economic barriers. So this centralized that once gave us more choices has now taken away the choice of some.

[@jtmcrash]

Some cannabis agriculture is using the living soil method of growing and it has had surprising results and is completely self sustaining

[@TheSchiffReport]

Plowing is the worst human activity