[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_image src=”https:\/\/womensvoice.com\/en-us\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/05\/soilcrisis_banner_1000x480.png” alt=”Title: The Soil Crisis.
\nImage of a bare foot on brown soil” title_text=”soilcrisis_banner_1000x480″ admin_label=”Fullwidth Image” _builder_version=”4.25.0″ vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ z_index_tablet=”500″ box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_image][et_pb_fullwidth_code raw_content_tablet=”<\/p>\n
Parents face ongoing challenges in raising healthy, well-nourished children in a world where sugary temptations lurk around every corner.<\/p>\n
” raw_content_phone=”” raw_content_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Text – Fullwidth Leader Text” module_id=”fullwidth-leader-text” _builder_version=”4.25.0″ vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ z_index_tablet=”500″ box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}”] We walk on the earth daily, but most of us are unaware that the dirt under our feet affects the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe!\u202fSoil may appear as mere dirt, but it\u2019s the very foundation upon which life on Earth begins, endures, and thrives. Soil is the fundamental source of the world\u2019s ecosystem, comprised of a complex underground community of minerals and organic matter containing air, water, and microbial life. Soil provides the building blocks for healthy, nutritious plants and delivers nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium necessary to conduct photosynthesis \u2013 the foundation of life on Earth!<\/p>\n During photosynthesis, soil provides plants with organic matter such as water (H2O) and nutrients, which helps them capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and convert it into energy (glucose) and oxygen (O2) \u2013 with oxygen being released into the atmosphere.\u202fSoil deposits three times the amount of carbon in Earth\u2019s atmosphere and four times as much as in all living plants and animals combined!<\/p>\n As the water travels through the dirt to the groundwater below, the soil miraculously removes contaminants (like bacteria and toxins) and replenishes our groundwater reservoirs with clean, fresh water.<\/p>\n Almost 99% of the calories we consume each day can be linked back to soil. Soil is an extraordinarily delicate and\u202flimited\u202fresource that is not only an agricultural concern, but a matter of global food security. Nutrient-depleted soil can affect the taste and nutritional quality of the food we grow and consume. Studies suggest that the plants we eat today may not have the same vitamin and mineral content as they used to. Researchers have found fruits and vegetables to have significantly lower concentrations of minerals, including magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, and nickel, and higher amounts of toxic minerals like aluminum, lead, and cadmium compared to a decade ago. Because of human activity, we live in an era of soil exhaustion \u2013 one-third of the world\u2019s soil is already degraded!\u202fIndustrial and modern farming practices, introduced to meet the demands of a growing global population, have led us to the depletion of this precious source. Chemical\/synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and aggressive tillage and plowing boost crop yields, but they harm soil biodiversity, damage the soil structure, and thus make the soil more vulnerable.<\/p>\n We threaten our food supply, clean drinking water reservoirs, and health when we lose healthy soil. Did you know that soil plays a crucial role in the development of life-saving medicines, such as antibiotics, which have revolutionized the healthcare industry? The key to producing healthier food is healthier soil. Returning to traditional, non-aggressive farming methods, as seen in native agriculture, will restore soil health. \u201cRegenerative farming,\u201d which includes planting cover crops, no-till farming (or plowing), spreading compost, moving away from synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, growing more diverse crops, and adding carbon, plays a key role, and will reduce soil erosion as well as carbon emissions. Change and awareness begin with you and your household. Start today and commit to buying locally grown, organic food near you! Supply and demand are key. If you buy organic, they will produce more. When you shop, only buy what you need and compost all kitchen scraps; don\u2019t throw them in the garbage. Teach your family how to compost using your kitchen waste and grow a small garden (you can even do that on your balcony), so kids know where food comes from. In spring, spread your compost (black gold) in your garden, and you will have the most beautiful lawn, colorful flowers, and delicious veggies on the block.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We walk on the earth daily, but most of us are unaware that the dirt under our feet affects the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe!\u202fSoil may appear as mere dirt, but it\u2019s the very foundation upon which life on Earth begins, endures, and thrives. Soil is the fundamental […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":39500,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39496","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-living-culture","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\n
<\/strong><\/p>\nSoil is where plant life begins<\/h5>\n
Soil and the carbon connection<\/h5>\n
Soil is the world\u2019s largest water filter<\/h5>\n
Does nutrient-depleted soil impact food?<\/h5>\n
The world\u2019s silent soil crisis and medicine<\/h5>\n
Surprisingly, approximately three-quarters of the antibiotics currently used in clinical practice are derived from bacteria found in soil. Yet, the rise of drug-resistant \u201csuperbugs\u201d that no longer respond to traditional antibiotics threatens global health! Healthy soil is a hidden treasure and valuable resource in the search for potential new antibiotics to help us fight drug-resistant bacteria, safeguarding human health and preserving the efficacy of antibiotics in modern medicine.<\/p>\nHow can we save our soil?<\/h5>\n
From a consumer perspective, we can all play a part in promoting soil health by making informed choices and supporting sustainable practices in our daily lives.
Buy organic:<\/strong> Studies found that plant-based organic food has between 20\u201325% higher antioxidant levels (e.g., polyphenols), which may offer some health benefits. Organic animal-based foods, such as meat and dairy products, are higher in omega-3 fatty acids.
Buy locally grown food:<\/strong> Consume fruits and vegetables from your backyard or the organic farm closest to you. Support your local farmers and eat as much as you can locally!
Reduce food waste:<\/strong> Less food waste can positively impact the whole environment, especially when composted to enrich the soil for growing food.
Learn about sustainable practices to reduce your carbon footprint:<\/strong> Search your local community for extension centers that provide classes on everything from sustainable gardening to canning. Educate yourself and your family members about the role every one of us can play in promoting community well-being and making a difference.<\/p>\n