Soil Degradation Reversal Could Feed 70 Million More People

A study published in Nature Food by researchers from the University of Bonn, University of Minnesota’s Project Drawdown, University of Basel and Hamburg University of Technology quantified the impact of human‑made soil degradation on global crop yields. By modelling yields on a 10 × 10 km grid and isolating the effects of erosion, dehydration, compaction and carbon loss, the authors estimated that eliminating just 10 % of soil degradation could increase the productive capacity of arable land enough to feed roughly 70 million additional people. The analysis shows that healthier soils also store more carbon, which can reduce deforestation pressure and lower greenhouse‑gas emissions. The findings highlight the potential of restoring soil quality as a rapid, cost‑effective strategy to improve food security worldwide.