The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) says we lose the equivalent of one football field to soil erosion every five seconds.

That figure becomes even more shocking the more we learn about what soils are made up of, and the crucial role they play in so many aspects of our lives.

Soil is fundamental to human health and society. 95% of food comes from the land, soils filter water to give us clean drinking water, and they provide a range of medicines - most antibiotics come from the soil. 

Crucially, when it comes to feeding a growing population, soils are essential.  Whether that’s boosting food production or making sure what we eat contains sufficient nutrients. 

The FAO predicts by 2050, we will have up to 10% less crop yield due to erosion, which is the equivalent of removing millions of hectares of land from crop production.

In short, soils are so much more than just dirt, and their protection is something that should concern us all.

In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, made in partnership with Anglo American, we delve deeper into the issues around soil erosion and degradation, look at how different practices impact soil, and ask: What can be done to improve soil health?

Listen to the full episode to find out more about what causes soil erosion and how we can reduce it, why biodiversity within soil is crucial to our very existence, and the impact fertilizers can have if the right stuff is used in the right way.

POLY4 Fertilizer

POLY4 is the trademark name for polyhalite products from Anglo American. It is a naturally-occurring, low-chloride, multi-nutrient fertilizer certified for organic use. 

It includes four of the six key macro nutrients that all plants need to grow: potassium, sulphur, magnesium and calcium, and a range of valuable micro nutrients. 

It allows farmers to maximise their crop yield, increase quality and improve soil structure with one simple product.