Our Research Focuses on:
- Resiliency and adaptation
- Site-specific decision making
- Farmer wellbeing
- Novel pathways to adoption
Learn more about our Soil Health research goals.
Advancing UN Sustainable Development Goals
Soil Health supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), 17 global goals to enhance peace and prosperity, eradicate poverty and protect the environment. Specifically, this research bolsters the following SDGs:
Why Are We Tackling Soil Health Challenges?
Some farming practices harm soils, depriving them of nutrients, killing the beneficial bacteria and fungi in the soil, or leaving them vulnerable to washing away. Climate change is further accelerating the loss and degradation of soils.
Yet, we need nutrient-rich soils to grow healthy, flavorful food. Thriving soils also bolster crop yields, increase water retention, protect water quality, prevent erosion, sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve biodiversity.
We created the Soil Health Challenge Area to develop sustainable on-farm practices and empower farmers to implement these practices. Our Soil Health research develops and deploys the latest technology and knowledge to help farmers build and maintain healthy, productive soil. Ultimately, this research protects farmer’s livelihoods and the environment, while increasing productivity.