Soil is one of the earth’s most basic – yet often neglected – natural resources. As with water and sunlight, without soil no food or any other crop could be produced.
Every year over 12 Mio. hectares of fertile soil are lost due to non-sustainable agricultural techniques. This, coupled with the fact that the world’s population has more than tripled in the past 100 years has lead to the reduction of the agricultural production area available per person from 4300m2 in 1960 to 2100m2 in 2007. Because of depleted and eroded soils as well as landslides, the land area available for food production worldwide is shrinking, and the living area of millions of human beings becomes uninhabitable every year. This is leading to massive migrations of people which consequently puts ever more pressure on our stressed environment.
On a more positive note, through their carbon storage potential, soils are one of the most effective measures for mitigating climate change.
The Sustainability Flower guidelines require a transparent reporting on objectives such as:
- Assessment of soil fertility
- Enhance and sustain the fertility of soil
- Impact on soil quality & fertility
- Environmental compatibility
- Responsible use and handling of non-renewables
- Assessment of impact on non-renewable mineral resources
Organic Farming & Soil
By definition, organic farming systems lead to development of soils through the use of compost and other measures to enrich soils with organic matter, such as manure. In the long run, sustainable, organic matter-enriched farming systems have a clear competitive advantage as they maintain soil fertility, improve water holding capacity and sequester carbon, all three of which are key elements of a competitive and sustainable agricultural system.