The growing global population demands a corresponding level of food production. Between 2004 and 2024, the population increased by 1.7 billion people. It is expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030 and, according to UN estimates, 11.2 billion by the end of the century. At the same time, the amount of agricultural land per capita is decreasing—from 0.18 hectares today to 0.15 hectares by 2050 and 0.12 hectares by 2100. Additionally, crops are increasingly used not only for food but also for bioenergy production and other industrial purposes. This highlights the urgent need for a continuous increase in agricultural output.
The reduction in available farmland leads to excessive soil use. Intensive farming, which relies on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, can significantly boost crop yields but progressively degrades soil quality year after year. This means that even as production increases, the nutritional value of food will decline, with fewer vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients.
The decreasing nutrient content in soil necessitates not only higher agricultural yields but also the search for sustainable agronomic practices that can restore soil health and improve the nutritional quality of crops. A balanced approach—including organic farming and crop rotation—can help enhance food quality and its ability to meet the nutritional needs of the world’s growing population.
A Global Challenge
Soils provide more than 95 percent of the world’s food and drinking water. However, their fertility is diminishing every year. Over the past 150 years, soil erosion has led to the loss of more than half of the planet’s fertile land, and at least 33 percent of the remaining soil is already experiencing degradation.
Over the past 70 years, the levels of vitamins and essential nutrients in food have dropped significantly. As a result, two billion people worldwide suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, a condition known as hidden hunger, which is difficult to detect.
The key factors contributing to soil nutrient depletion include:
- Intensive farming – excessive land use without restoring its fertility.
- Use of chemical fertilizers, which disrupt the natural soil biocenosis, hindering or completely stopping the reproduction of humus and essential nutrients through natural processes.
- Soil erosion – the washing away and windborne removal of soil particles, leading to the loss of organic matter and minerals.
- Pollution – the application of pesticides and chemicals that degrade soil quality.
- Lack of vegetation – the absence of plant cover leads to soil compaction and degradation.
- Climate change – for example, rising temperatures and increased aridity, which affect natural soil fertility.
- Irrigation – excessive irrigation can lead to the leaching of minerals.
The FAO emphasizes that to meet the global demand for food by 2050, agricultural production must increase by 60%. This goal is achievable, provided that sustainable soil management practices are implemented.
Currently, 33 percent of the world’s remaining soils are undergoing degradation due to erosion, sealing, loss of organic matter, acidification, pollution, and other harmful factors. In some cases, soil erosion occurs naturally across various climates and continents. However, its primary driver is human activity, particularly intensive agriculture and deforestation.
Examples Illustrating This Issue Across Different Regions
Sub-Saharan Africa
This region experiences severe soil erosion and depletion due to uncontrolled agricultural activities. In countries like Nigeria and Zambia, soils suffer from a lack of key nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Intensive farming and inefficient resource management lead to a decline in organic carbon reserves, exacerbating the problem.
Scientists have also discovered that warm, arid, and tropical ecosystems in the least developed countries contain the lowest levels of essential micronutrients in the soil. Additionally, they concluded that rising temperatures can reduce the concentration of multiple soil micronutrients simultaneously.
South Asia
In India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, intensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has significantly reduced the humus content in soils. Studies indicate that over 70% of agricultural land in these countries lacks essential micronutrients such as zeolites and magnesium. The absence of proper agronomic practices further deteriorates soil quality.
United States
In the U.S., particularly in the Midwest, intensive farming depletes soils and reduces organic carbon levels. Research indicates that humus levels in some areas have dropped by more than 50% over recent decades. This decline in soil fertility necessitates increasing amounts of synthetic fertilizers to maintain crop yields.
Many people in the United States face nutrient deficiencies. According to studies, over 40% of Americans are deficient in vitamin D, 7% in vitamin C, and nearly 13% in vitamin B6. A lack of essential nutrients can lead to various health issues, including chronic fatigue, night blindness, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and even acne.
Latin America
In Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, soil depletion is driven by extensive monoculture farming and insufficient organic matter replenishment. In particular, the Brazilian savannas have experienced a 40% loss of humus content over the past 30 years, negatively impacting ecosystem stability and agricultural productivity.
According to FAO estimates, by 2030, the number of people suffering from hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean will increase by 20 million. This means that by that time, 67 million people in the region—approximately 9.5% to 10% of the total population—could be affected by hunger.
Europe
Several European countries, including Spain and Italy, are also experiencing a decline in soil nutrients and food quality. Intensive agricultural practices contribute to the loss of essential minerals such as potassium and magnesium. In some regions, particularly in the Mediterranean zone, soil erosion and degradation are worsening land quality and posing challenges to food security.
Asia
In China, soil degradation is a pressing issue, especially in northern provinces, where excessive fertilizer use and a lack of focus on sustainable farming methods have led to decreased nitrogen and phosphorus levels in the soil. Estimates suggest that around 20% of agricultural land has suffered nutrient loss, necessitating increased investment in soil restoration practices.
These examples underscore the global nature of soil nutrient depletion, which affects economies, ecosystems, and the sustainability of agriculture worldwide. Addressing this issue requires comprehensive measures, including ecosystem restoration, rational resource use, and adapting agronomic practices to modern conditions.
Hindi 
English 
German 
French 
Spanish 
Portuguese 
Chinese 
Nepali 
Persian 
Arabic 
Korean