As the issue of land degredation impacts over two billion hectares of land globally, the implementation of regenerative agriculture principles in the cultivation of crops, is the biggest investment that farmers could make to ensure soil health.

A conservation agriculture facilitator at Asset Research, Dr Hendrik Smith, who disclosed this during the World Soil Day, said the quality and health of soils determine agricultural sustainability, environmental quality and, as a consequence, plant, animal and human health.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations warned that land degradation affected almost two billion hectares of land worldwide, home to 1.5 billion people. Every year, 24 billion tons of fertile soil are lost due to erosion. 12 million hectares of land are degraded each year at a rate of 23 hectares per minute.

Smith told Farmer’s Weekly that soil is a living and magical world filled with tiny, astounding creatures, noting that a mere handful of soil might contain half a million different species, including ants, earthworms, and fungi, feeding on organic matter in the ground. “Soil cleans water, keeps contaminants out of streams and lakes, and prevents flooding.”

He noted that regenerative agriculture principles are at the root of soil conservation, adding that implementing regenerative agriculture principles in their operations is the biggest investment that farmers could make to ensure soil health.

“In its broader sense, soil health can be defined as the ability of soil to perform or function according to its potential, while changing over time due to human use and management of natural events.

“South African soils were very vulnerable to extreme conditions, such as erosion, and presented with low resilience or recovery capacity. Tillage and unsuitable agricultural practices posed a major threat to soil health and the sustainability of agriculture and food production in the country. The sustainable management of soil was therefore of fundamental importance.

“Regenerative agriculture has a positive impact on biodiversity, as well as soil and water health and the mitigation of climate change. It allows for high carbon sequestration rates and increases the efficiency of resource uses. Not only does it improve food quality and nutrient density, it also results in stable yields and increased profit margins,” he said.