How to achieve better soils, Mr. Ameen?

What role does soil play in the global agroecological balance?
Minhaj Ameen: The top layer of 3 or 4 inches of soil is what gives life on land for all living beings. It is absolutely critical to create this balance within the web of life. Without soil, we may survive as humanity. But it will be extremely fragile. Very, very precarious to continue as a species without that top layer. Life may survive in the sea, but on land, soil is the life-giver.

My impression is that many people now understand that something has to change in order to preserve our soils. But what innovative approaches can you think of to realise this transformation?
We live in a capitalist economy in which everyone must create some value from whatever they do. As long as soil protection has no economic value, it will continue to be funded only through grants and subsidies. That is not sustainable in the long run. We therefore need to create a reward system for those who contribute to soil conservation. Similar to the case of renewable energy in Germany: those who installed solar panels on their roofs were rewarded. Industry received funding for research and development – and lo and behold, it flourished.

The key to changing behavior was the reward.

If we manage to specifically reward farmers as key actors—not only them, but also the supporting systems—then behavior can change, and we will make faster progress.

And would that cost more money in subsidies?
The math needs to be done again and again because things are so dynamic. My hunch is that many of the subsidies that currently flow into the system, not just to farmers but across the entire food value chain, could be repurposed. That alone could already be significant in terms of supporting farmers and the system. Maybe it will require more money, but this will be short term because the long-term implications of not doing it is putting the entire food system in jeopardy in the long run for humanity. As the soil degrades, yields will start to drop. That’s what science tells us. As the soil gets more and more eroded, it will be more and more difficult to feed the world. Before we reach that point, if we start to reconfigure this in the long run it will save money. But nobody is doing that math – and I think that's exactly what we need to do. We need to show that in the long run, acting will save money for citizens around the world.

What are the obstacles? Subsidies have a long tradition.
There are some challenges. One is: We have become used to the Green Revolution paradigm and politicians and administrations are very afraid to change it. If that leads to any kind of food systems crisis, it could have very negative short-term consequences. They are being cautious. We need to produce evidence and take incremental steps to gain their trust – only then can they help us shape the change. It is one obstacle, that there is fear. The second major obstacle is vested interests. And they are very strong.

What do we mean by that?
It is not about bad intentions. It is just that if my livelihood depends on producing chemicals and fertilizers and supporting that value chain, I will naturally defend it. Just like smoking was being defended by cigarette manufacturers, right? This is the challenge: vested interests. How do we overcome that?  Political will is required. The third major challenge is behaviour change, even for consumers like us. Compared to if you want to change our behaviour, it takes so much more effort for the farmers to change the way they do their livelihood. Behaviour change is going to be a huge cost to them. Maybe it will require them to do things differently that they have not done in generations. It may also requires more manual labor, more thinking, more potential drop in income. If this behaviour change is not supported, it becomes a huge obstacle.

Can traditional experiences and indigenous traditions also support the change needed?
Indigenous traditions will take us so far. But indigenous traditions combined with latest science about soil health, contextual technologies can take us further. Local knowledge must be combined with technologies, that must be again designed to support local knowledge. Some traditions may not align with our current understanding of science. However, many have proven their value over decades or even centuries and are based on a kind of empirical science – on trial and error. If we complement these with modern scientific evidence, we can achieve a great deal.

To make change happen, you need facts and figures.
Absolutely.

Regarding soil health: is it possible to scientifically assess and monitor the health of soil?
Technologies for monitoring soil health are constantly improving. There are now devices that allow soil samples to be analysed on-site and in real time. A single spectroscopic image already provides a wealth of information about the soil. These devices will become increasingly affordable and widely available. Such instruments are crucial for soil assessment, as they enable targeted actions – for example, in terms of moisture, nutrient content, or other parameters.

This is precisely where the combination of modern science and traditional knowledge comes into play.

Many actors already know that the show can't go on as it did the past decades. Policymakers, businesspeople, researchers andcivil societies – they know they must act. But what do they really need to understand to act effectively?
The question is: Who takes responsibility? Markets operate on the principle of economic efficiency. If one player prioritizes environmental sustainability while its competitors do not, it is at a disadvantage. Unless we have the political will and a regulatory framework that applies these rules to all actors and creates a level playing field, it will be very difficult for any corporate player to change the system they know is not working. This framework must be developed in close collaboration with grassroots actors, civil society and copperations. But someone must fund the whole process, through taxes or corporate profits, for example. What’s essential is collective financing and long-term investment until the transformation is complete.