Soil provides essential services for a healthy biosphere and human survival, such as feeding the global population and sequestering carbon to counteract global warming. However, the researchers point out that Earth is currently facing an unprecedented crisis of soil deterioration, desertification, and erosion caused by anthropogenic abuse and extreme weather events.
According to the study, soil is not merely “dirt” but a dynamic living entity whose life is overwhelmingly microbial. The soil microbiota acts as a vast bioreactor that mediates chemical reactions, recycles waste, and purifies water, fueled by the organic carbon fixed by aboveground plants.
To address this crisis, the study proposes a new approach that treats soils worldwide as patients in need of medical care. The authors advocate for the creation of a public health system to develop effective land-use policies and monitoring, alongside a healthcare system charged with implementing prophylactic measures and therapies for unhealthy soils.
The researchers highlight that a substantial investment in interdisciplinary research is mandatory to understand the soil-biota functionalities that underpin ecosystem services. Ultimately, the paper concludes that the creative application of microbial biotechnology, supported by a cohesive political and legislative framework, is central to restoring soil health and ensuring a sustainable future.
Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.13771
Reference:
Timmis, K., & Ramos, J. L. (2021). The soil crisis: The need to treat as a global health problem and the pivotal role of microbes in prophylaxis and therapy. Microbial Biotechnology, 14(3), 769–797.