Conventional vs. Regenerative Soil Comparison
Hey guys - sorry to be the bearer of bad news today - but this is something we HAVE TO talk about.
Industrial farming is taking a dire toll on the health of our soil, leading to an alarming degradation of nutrient density in our food that threatens our health.
The incessant use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, factory farming, antibiotics, and intensive monocropping has left vast swathes of once-fertile land depleted and lifeless.
According to recent studies, over the past century, the United States alone has lost half of its topsoil due to erosion from conventional farming techniques.
As a result, the nutrient content of crops cultivated in these depleted soils plummets, leading to a decline in the overall nutrient density of our food supply.
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Mineral Depletion: Average mineral content in 43 vegetables declined significantly from 1950 to 1999, raising concerns about calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium levels. Source.
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Vitamin Loss: Between the 1930s and 1980s, key vitamins like vitamin C, B2, B6, and niacin in vegetables decreased, indicating a decline in nutritional value. Source.
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Phytonutrient Reduction: Studies show decreases in phytonutrients like flavonoids and carotenoids in crops over recent decades, possibly due to soil depletion and agricultural practices prioritizing yield over nutrition. Source.
Consequently, we are all at an increased risk of malnutrition and a myriad of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular ailments, diabetes, cancer, and more.
This decline in nutrient density not only threatens the well-being of current generations but also poses a grave threat to the health and vitality of future populations.
It is imperative that we urgently address the root causes of soil degradation and transition towards regenerative agricultural practices to safeguard both the health of our soils and the well-being of humanity.
Video Reposted from Sam Knowlton of SoilSymbiotics.
"This slake test shows the difference in soil structure between 10 years of tillage (on the left) and 10 years of well managed pasture (on the right).
When dropped into water, the chunk of tilled soil quickly breaks apart as water is drawn into unstable pores. On the other hand, the pasture soil has stable aggregates and macropores that maintain their form in the presence of water.
Stable soil aggregates and macropores are formed when soil has the right ratio of cations to allow for flocculation, enough biological activity to stick soil particles together with microbial and root exudates, and sufficient organic matter to drive the cycle.
While some tilled soils will have the right chemistry to form a healthy structure, routine tillage simply doesn't allow for the biological activity required to maintain the structure. This results in poor nutrient cycling, drastically reduced water-holding capacity, and topsoil erosion.
A slake test is a quick and easy way to grade a soil's structure."