Soil and regenerative futures: betterSoil and Club of Rome.
The African environmentalism of soil webinar held by Club of Rome and The Fifth Element encouraged conversation spanning science, philosophy, and indigenous knowledge to discuss the wide benefits of soil health. Our CEO Azadeh took part as a keynote speaker to discuss regenerative soil practices.
The environmentalism of soils
This July, our founder and CEO Azadeh visited South Africa to participate in the ‘African environmentalism of soil’ webinar to discuss soil health and the ways that improved soil can lead to a more sustainable and ethical future. Invited by Club of Rome, who encourage thought leaders globally to collaborate for a healthy and peaceful planet, Azadeh was able to participate in three days of conversation and inter-disciplinary learning to discuss the importance of healthy soils for the planet, for the farming industry, and for the future. This event highlighted that soil is not just important to the agricultural industry and on a scientific level, healthy soils are the foundations of our future.
Day one - soil futures in Africa
The first day of this event focused on the future of soil in Africa, highlighting the ways that industrial agriculture, degradation and lack of funding for soil science has created a crisis for Africa’s soils. At betterSoil, we recognise the ways in which outdated agricultural practices but a strain on our soils and affect the land, and this panel discussion asserted the importance of sovereignty of land. This discussion highlighted that soil health is more than the use of soil for the production of food and fuel, and that soil must be understood as something we must rely on for the future of our environmental stability.
Day two - soil as habitability: archive, ancestor and peaceful accord
The second day’s session discussed the bridge between modern soil sciences, and soil as an archive of our past and cultural identity. Azadeh took the stage as keynote speaker to discuss ‘Soil and Regenerative Futures’, reflecting on her personal story and family background in agriculture, and discussing the problems are facing for our land and soil health. Azadeh has witnessed first-hand the degradation of soil, recalling the rich soils of her childhood and now seeing the realities of how the climate crisis, industrial farming practicesand a lack of biodiversity have affected soil quality leading to issues with yield and soil regeneration. There are many benefits to soil health and a focus on regenerative practices, for both farmers and the planet. Our soil is the second-largest carbon reservoir on Earth after the ocean, and healthy soils can benefit in increasing sustainability practices, as well as increasing yield for farmers and bringing more value into the agricultural industry. The second session of this event further highlighted the importance of balancing indigenous and ancestral knowledge alongside modern science to restore soils and create more productive farming systems.
Day three – soil, justice and regenerative education: Amilcar Cabral
The final session celebrated the launch of Anselmo Mattuse, Lesley Green and Carlos Lopez’s book on Amílcar Cabral: To Defend the Earth is to Defend the Human: Amílcar Cabral on Soil, Society and Freedom. This session traced Cabral’s understanding of soil and how this was rooted in human dignity. This event focussed on an understanding of soil health and regeneration as being a good not only for farmers and the agricultural industry, but for food security, humanity and the tackling of the climate crisis. Our CEO reflected on this book launch and its relevance to the issues we face stating: “regeneration is not only a scientific challenge, but also a cultural, educational and political one”, an important insight because soil health will lead to a more secure future for us all.
Final thoughts
The African environmentalism of soil series was an inspiring and informative event that allowed for discussion of soil science, the human elements of soil health and a greater future for the planet. It was amazing to see so many experts come together to discuss such an important issue, and for our CEO Azadeh to be invited as keynote speaker on regenerative soil practices. The event inspired many questions on modern soil science and how this can complement indigenous agricultural practices and farmers’ knowledge. Technology and modern scientific practice should work with the knowledge of agricultural practitioners to improve soil health to combat global warming and to improve food security globally.