The following report is by AgFunder News:
For this year’s world soil day, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reminded us that 95% of the food we eat comes directly or indirectly from our soils. In other words, ultra-processed alt meats made with pea protein need the soil’s nutrients as much as a head of lettuce does.
The trouble is, global plates are losing those nutrients as soil degrades at a rapid rate. In the last 70 years, nutrients in food have decreased. The UN estimates that 2 billion people — nearly a quarter of the population — suffers from a lack of micronutrients.
About one-third of the world’s soils are already degraded. This loss makes land less productive and, as illustrated above, puts both the food system and human health at risk.
Farming practices that range from tilling to deforestation to overgrazing speed up this soil degradation, which also lessens the soil’s ability to store carbon — something we’ll need to do more of in future to help fight climate change.
Soil degradation impacts regions all over the world. Here’s a quick (non-exhaustive) look at the state of our global soil.
68%: Soil Erosion In Latin America
Erosion affects more than 68% of soil in South America thanks to the usual suspects, deforestation and over grazing. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, desertification threatens 27 to 43 percent of territory in Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru.
More than half the land in Argentina, Mexico and Paraguay are “unfit for cultivation” due to desertification.
Roughly 125 million people living in semi-arid land and sub-humid regions are at risk.
The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean, José Miguel Torrico, stated that “the annual costs of land degradation are estimated for Latin America and the Caribbean at 60 billion dollars per year.”
6.8 inches: Iowa’s ‘Black Gold’ Lost
According to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa has lost an average of 6.8 inches of its topsoil since 1850. Estimates suggest that at this rate, there are only about 60 harvests left before the gold is completely gone.
Meanwhile, soil erosion costs the US roughly $37.6 billion in productivity losses each year. Erosion can lead to loss of crops, livelihoods and biodiversity.
25%: Desertified European Land Risk
Roughly one quarter, or 25% of the European continent is at risk of desertification. Most of this is concentrated in southern Europe.
The Mediterranean is by far the most susceptible part of European land to soil degradation and desertification. It has the highest overall erosion rates and the lowest levels of soil organic matter.
Recent research notes that “increasing population, rapid land-use changes, associated socio-economic activities and climate change are imposing high pressures on the region’s shallow soils.”
The region produces much of the world’s olive oils, nuts, tomatoes and wines. But researchers say the Mediterranean is reaching “critical limits for their ability to provide ecosystem services.” Such services include farming and carbon capture.
7.2 Million Tons: Indian Crop Loss
Soil degradation is one of India’s most urgent environmental concerns. Nearly two-thirds of the country’s land is under degradation, meaning a decline in land productivity.
The annual loss of crops due to soil erosion in India is estimated to be 7.2 million tons — or 4% to 6.3% of annual agricultural production.
India will soon overtake China as the most populous nation on earth. This could intensify the soil problem even more.
65%: African Land Degradation
Up to 65% of productive land is degraded in Africa, and desertification impacts 45% of the continent’s land area.
Deforestation is an enormous part of this problem, and it’s a tricky one, too. For example, in Kenya’s Olpusimoru Forest Reserve, a complex web of poverty, ethnic clashes and an expanding population, to name just a few factors, drive rampant deforestation that degrades soils.
Net loss of forests in Africa continues increasing, with the latest estimates putting losses at 4 million hectares of forest annually.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
In June The UN had already warned that there was a “dirt crisis” that could lead to shortages in both food and medicine. This new data, assuming it is somewhat truthful, only adds to these formalities.
Global Food Import Bill Set To Rise As The UN Reports ‘Alarming Signs’ For 2023
2023 we are really going to see the famine start to set in around the world, causing the price of commodities to leave this galaxy.
[1] The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth. [2] Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. [3] And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads. [4] Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads. [5] Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass. [6] And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass. [7] O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee. [8] O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night? [9] Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not. Jeremiah 14:1-9
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
The WinePress needs your support! If God has laid it on your heart to want to contribute, please prayerfully consider donating to this ministry. If you cannot gift a monetary donation, then please donate your fervent prayers to keep this ministry going! Thank you and may God bless you.
scary times are ahead. especially for the lost.
meanwhile, 3,000 productive farms are being shut down in Holland – all in the name of climate change …
This shit is the same on my doorstep, like 3 years ago and rain falling as before – the doubt and GW crap its all happening in the movies and TV.
This stuff can be scary & demoralizing, truth in it, but just remember that the U.N. spins, exaggerates & outright lies in accordance with the antichrist agenda of its spiritual head…and balance this with whole truth. Murder, theft, covetousness etc are sins…but so are unnecessary gullability (lack of due diligence) & faithless fear. We should see these things & its wise not to trust men or ourselves to have all the solutions and answers, looking to God & actively, obediently trusting in our Lord while going about the good works he calls us to.
–
It’s a major downfall of Laodicea to have hitched her wagon to the world’s alchemical sorcerer’s evolutionary humanist pagan horses, and that most of the solutions come with praise for the creature more than the Creator who is forever blessed…but many are seeing & implementing countermeasures that work, & that work because they are in line with God’s biblical wisdom & order: an agrarian order that we will see the true fruition of on the restored earth of the only perfect reign on this earth, the millennial reign of Christ from Jerusalem. We shouldn’t despise the day of small things/beginnings & remember that the days are evil, redeeming the time, in any event. The little foxes spoil the grapes…etc.
–
All of our countermeasures are limited, & we do not have the earthly power of those following the god of this world, their idolatrous antichrist god of forces who are doing things like geo- and bio-engineering on a huge scale…..but God blessed Gideon threshing grain in a well, & his people by Gideon (as ‘human’ & given to creaturely infirmities as Gideon was); & he provided for Elijah miraculously, twice. People are re-learning ways of enriching soil, of keeping it in place, & of increasing both drainage & capacity to hold water in the soil as ‘the gods’ play with seeding & poisoning the atmosphere to both drought and flooding, and teach their ‘green’ & ‘carbon’ lies with murderous, covetous intent. Learning small intensity planting & enrichment, water catchment& dispersal, techniques. Homesteading or just putting in little kitchen gardens helps. Begin with sprouting, micro-greens or such…then compost what remains. Waste nothing doesn’t ‘work’ for those working by huge scale, & wanting all to serve it to their gain: but it does for the little guy, & pleases God.
–
We can somewhat remedy some of these things, as well as learning means of detoxing our bodies from the literal fall-out, whether it be of the soil we must steward well if it is to sustain us, or these bodies temporarily housing our souls & spirit. We must see these things realistically, understand them doctrinally, yet be ‘steady on’ so far as doing what we can where we are, working & sharing Gospel truth as we go…not forgetting to give God the glory, or fearing to do so because it angers the idolators who are yet as we once were. 1 Corinthians 6, 1 Tim 1 KJB etc.
–
Some of us will sacrifice in different & more extreme ways as called & ordained by the one who alone sees it all & is capable of working all things to the good of those called according to his purpose….but all of us will sacrifice, have good works to perform & we must occupy until he comes. Remember Lot’s wife, but remember also Sarah who had reason to be bitter when Abraham gave her over into Pharoah’s harem, & who laughed in disbelief when she first heard the promise, & connived to bring it in her own power via Abraham & Hagar …yet having victory in the end: 1 Peter 3:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
–
I believe that passage is addressed directly to us as women, but also to the wife & bride, the church & body of Christ in trying times like these, to remind us & bolster our faith. To help keep us from becoming demoralized & paralyzed by fear even as we don’t wink at, or pretend away, the truth & seriousness of our situation, the wickedness of this world & evil we face. Part of joy even with sobriety.
–
God has built amazing healing capacity into his creation, even in its fallen state, under attack & judgment. And no doubt we’ll be blessed doing what we can with such wise & fruitful stewardship even now, as Gideon…& Hezekiah, with his waterway etc (and despite his foolish trust of the Babylonian emissaries, & boastful showing off of the riches God had bestowed & blessed Israel with), but much more as we practice them & more, & with our own perfecting of the Lord & 1 Cor 15/1 Thess 4 transformation in the perfect reign coming. Life is hard here, but our best life is yet to come.
–
You can add much to the soil even if you can’t afford lots of bought amendments, using what you have. Composting shredded paper, leaves, coffee grounds, household waste, backyard chicken or other critter bedding, old cast-away hay or straw…. You can vermicompost. You can intensively plant when its nearby & closely monitored as cannot be done with huge fields etc. Covered ground has less tendency to lose water, & the composted amendments above add to the ability of the soil to hold water, as well as to be rich in nutrients & all the right creeping things & biological life & fungi & so forth of God’s design that keep the cycle of life his way, & healing, sustaining, wise stewarding going: attracting more beneficial. That helps in fighting off, crowding out, the bad, in turn.
–
We might not want to have a diet of grubworms etc….but raising them for our chickens isn’t a bad idea. They recycle & upgrade them in eggs & good meat a lot better than Bill Gates and his sorcerer alchemists ever could. The Texas boys are selling a neat little food forest in a box for just $60 bucks that will get a little backyard garden up & going in no time, sharing the wealth they’ve learned in food 401k and cuttings from perennial producers. Just remember that the closer to their growing zone you are, the more likely their things will be a ‘match’ for your conditions.
=
Even if you have seriously injured soil, small intense management can bring it back bit by bit. Many of the plants we use to detox, also draw metals & such from the soil. Moringa, cilantro, certain fungi etc can detox soil. You may have to work with others for some food sourcing & use above ground type beds built around a composting center, & a solid, impermeable bottom, in the meantime for some of your supplemental food, trading & so forth. And you can’t consume the plants made toxic drawing things from the soil, but some fungi can, breaking even that down safely. God is amazing in his design when we use the knowledge to good & not as the wicked.
–
You can do a lot composting just with heavy black bags, leaf mulch, adding coffee grounds through the year. The heat & opening the bag to add new grounds, or kitchen waste if you like (what won’t attract animals so much: avoiding meat scraps, fat etc….though adding citrus peels deters cats & such somewhat, & coons hate & avoid onion, somewhat deterring them) helps break things down, while the grounds are high in nitrogen, banana peels in potassium etc. A little research yields lots of ideas…and those things, & mulching, added to soil retain moisture. Make your little corner productive & shine, & see what the Lord might do: if nothing else, you’ll experience the fulfillment coming of doing right, & eat better in the meantime & until the evil day comes.