Question | Response |
---|---|
ID | 7539 |
Purpose / Type of problem | Type 2 - Report a problem of Communication and Dialogue |
Thematic area | Area 2 - Sustainable agriculture | Agriculture durable |
Language | English |
Region | West Africa |
Organization (full name) | The "4 per 1000" Initiative on soils for food security and climate. |
Organization acronym | 4per1000 |
Department / unit | |
Type of organization | National Research Institute |
Country | France |
Problem name | Declining soil health and soil organic carbon stocks |
Problem description | Soils are considered just a "medium" for plant growth. The focus on short-term top yields and the pressure of cost reduction and output maximization leaves no room for the implementation of regenerative agricultural practices. Regenerative farming is wrongly perceived as providing only long-term benefits in soil health while offering no short-term profits. Due to the prevalence of superficial knowledge of soil and its role in plant yield, farmers are often unaware of the fact that effective management of the interactions within the pedosphere promises better yield, lower costs, and continuous improvement in soil health in the long run. |
Problem Consequences | As a result of widespread "soil exploitation" in agriculture, organic matter inputs are usually too low, leading to serious soil degradation and erosion hazards. Degradation of soil health leads to dependence on costly external inputs and reduces the overall fertility of the soil and thus the health of the crop. Excessive use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and heavy tillage is now considered a major cause of soil biodiversity decline and soil organic matter loss as CO2. Over time, agriculture has become less attractive as an economic activity and a way of life for younger generations in rural areas. All this poses another threat to climate change, food security and food safety. Agricultural innovations in more technologically advanced countries always look for answers in the genetic engineering of seeds instead of looking for the root cause in ecology, as it is easier for agribusiness to make money by selling seeds with promises than to train farmers to change their practices. This dynamic creates a vicious cycle that is detrimental to the promotion of regenerative practices. |
Problem References | Implementation strategy for the central objective C2 "soil regeneration" of the "4 per 1000" initiative C2 Soil Regeneration - DRAFT Implementation Strategy |
Affected group 1 | Producers |
Impact on group 1 | Decline in soil productivity and increasing dependence on external inputs. Lower soil organic carbon content reduces the ability of soils to store water, shortening the growing season and reducing resistance to drought. Poor soil health reduces, among other things, the ability of to make nutrients available to plants. |
Option group 1 | Adopt ago-ecological production practices. |
Reach affected group 1 | Through competent NGOs and extension services working at the grassroots level, and through training at agricultural colleges and universities. |
Affected group 2 | Consumers |
Impact on group 2 | Declining nutritional value of food resulting in the spread of lifestyle diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. |
Option group 2 | Increase demand for food of high nutritional value |
Reach affected group 2 | |
Affected group 3 | Life on earth |
Impact on group 3 | Soil organic carbon degradation increases greenhouse gas concentrations. Degradation of soil health impairs its essential life support functions and thus reduces the overall productivity of the terrestrial and aquatic biosphere, particularly its ability to sequester carbon and to cool the atmosphere through increased transpiration and reduced infrared radiation. |
Option group 3 | |
Reach affected group 3 | |
Responsible group 1 | Agro-Food industry |
Impact of group 1 | Lobby to maintain the status quo |
Change group 1 | |
Reach responsible group 1 | |
Responsible group 2 | Consumers |
Impact of group 2 | Demand for cheap food |
Change group 2 | |
Reach responsible group 2 | |
Responsible group 3 | Policy |
Impact of group 3 | Much too little investments into the transition to agro-ecological production practices. |
Change group 3 | |
Reach responsible group 3 | |
Comment |