Soil & More Impacts

Aart van den Bos: "At Soil & More, we are dedicated to sustainable development. Our core business is something we step on every day: soil. Planet earth offers us a number of natural resources, such as sun, oceans, water and living organisms. Among all these resources, soil is one of the most important - and most ignored. Our mission at Soil & More is to conserve and rebuild fertile soils worldwide. And we believe in compost as a means to do so.

Currently, humankind treats soil like dirt: tremendous areas of fertile soil are destroyed at an alarming rate. Soils are crucial for any form of life on this planet. Together with water and sunlight, they are the basis of all agricultural activity. The question of whether we will be able to produce enough food in the future is closely linked to the availability of fertile soil.

However, little is done to save our soils. Did you know that in Germany, for instance, an area of 125 soccer fields is lost every day due to intensive agricultural practices and soil degradation? Around the globe, this number amounts to 330 square kilometers daily. Nowadays, one fourth of the earth’s soils are highly degraded.

What we do and how we do it

Since Soil & More’s foundation in 2007, we have produced more than 450.000 tons of compost in cooperation with our international partners – enough to turn 450 square kilometers of desert into fertile land. We are also involved in land reclamation projects: In Egypt, for instance, we use our high quality compost to transform desert into fertile land.

Together with local partners in Central and South America, Africa and Asia, we collect residues from agriculture, manure and other agricultural biomass, to produce top quality compost. Our compost can be used as a substitute for environmentally harmful chemical fertilizers. It improves the structure and quality of soils, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves the soil’s water holding capacity.

Workshops for the developing world

Soil degradation has direct effects on growers of the developing world. Their soils are their source of income, their basis of life. If that is lost, they often migrate from rural areas to the cities where they hope for job opportunities and a better life. However, their hopes are often deceived and they have to lead a life in abject poverty.

Therefore, we offer workshops and training around the globe in order to raise awareness and teach farmers how they can produce compost and improve the quality of their soils without much investment. The goal behind this is an improved overall sustainability performance of farming systems as well as increased profits for the farmers.

Income for farmers

Together with farmers we work towards a higher productivity per unit of land, through improved soil management practices and a more efficient use of water and other inputs. Our compost contributes to a higher resilience of farming system, preventing erosion, reducing the risk of decreasing soil fertility and yield loss. This helps to ensure a secure income for the farmer; even in case of unstable and severe environmental conditions and resource scarcity.

Get involved!

We know this is only a beginning, but it is a step in the right direction. And you can take such a step as well by supporting the “Save our Soils” campaign! Check this website to find out how you can get involved. The first step is to raise awareness: please spread the word among family and friends! Because honestly: did you know just how important soil is before really diving into the matter?"

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