The importance of soil in creating a sustainable world
SoilCares interviewed Dutch soil scientist professor Johan Bouma about the role of soil in creating a sustainable world. In this interview professor Bouma explains how soil relates to UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) and how companies such as SoilCares can contribute to creating more awareness about the importance of soil. This blog discusses the important role soil plays to the global sustainable development goal 2 (ending hunger), goal 3 (good health and well being), goal 13 (climate action) and particularly goal 15 (life on land). Professor Bouma states that SoilCares technology makes the concept of precision agriculture feasible. In the standard case, the fertility level of soil is determined with a mixed sample, which gives average values for the whole field. Following the precision principle, we want to see the variations within the field and also keep track of the values during the season. The great thing about SoilCares technology is that it makes it possible to take a lot of measurements because it is rapid and affordable. Thus fertilizer can be used more efficiently by application of the right amount of nutrients at the right time and at the right location. One of these technologies, the soil Scanner, is mentioned in the National Geographic Magazine. More information about other SoilCares innovations and research projects can be found here. Professor Bouma concludes that soil scientists mainly focus on their own discipline. However, to achieve the sustainable development goals, it is important to work with scientists in other disciplines and various stakeholders.