Only 60 Years of Farming Left If Soil Degradation Continues.....

Generating three centimeters of top soil takes 1,000 years, and if current rates of degradation continue all of the world's top soil could be gone within 60 years, a senior UN official said

(Source : Reuters ) December 5, 2014http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/only-60-years-of-farming-left-if-soil-degradation-continues/

ROME (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Generating three centimeters of top soil takes 1,000 years, and if current rates of degradation continue all of the world's top soil could be gone within 60 years, a senior UN official said on Friday.

About a third of the world's soil has already been degraded, Maria-Helena Semedo of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) told a forum marking World Soil Day.

The causes of soil destruction include chemical-heavy farming techniques, deforestation which increases erosion, and global warming. The earth under our feet is too often ignored by policymakers, experts said.

"Soils are the basis of life," said Semedo, FAO's deputy director general of natural resources. "Ninety five percent of our food comes from the soil."

Unless new approaches are adopted, the global amount of arable and productive land per person in 2050 will be only a quarter of the level in 1960, the FAO reported, due to growing populations and soil degradation.

Soils play a key role in absorbing carbon and filtering water, the FAO reported. Soil destruction creates a vicious cycle, in which less carbon is stored, the world gets hotter, and the land is further degraded.

"We are losing 30 soccer fields of soil every minute, mostly due to intensive farming," Volkert Engelsman, an activist with the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements told the forum at the FAO's headquarters in Rome.

"Organic (farming) may not be the only solution but it's the single best (option) I can think of."

Use Humic Acid to Restore the Health of Your Soil

Most people are quick to say Humic Acids are fertilizers, but in fact, it is more of a soil conditioner.  The benefits far outweigh the costs and with so many soils being depleted around the world today, Humic Acids are an effective product to reverse the depletion trend.  In a world where we are seeing world population grow at an exponential rate, and are losing arable acres on which to grow crops, we need to fertilize crops to maximize production and feed the hungry. 

To keep your soil healthy, vibrant and productive, look towards a fertilization program with Humic Acids to help you achieve that.  In turn, you will prosper with higher yields, a healthier soil and a sustainable future. 

The Dirt on Dirt: 5 Things You Should Know About Soil

The Dirt on Dirt: 5 Things You Should Know About Soil

Here are five things you should know about soil.

1. Soil, like oil, is a finite resource.

2. Misusing soil can topple civilizations.

3. Good soil usage helps prevent droughts.

4. High-tech makes a difference.

5. Soil is alive.