Soil degradation is a global problem. The planet loses 24 billion tons of fertile land annually, affecting more than 3 billion people. There is a risk that by 2050, 95% of the Earth's surface will be degraded soils.
Over the past 130 years, Ukrainian soils have already lost about 30% of their humus, and plowing reached 53%, one of the world's highest. In 2021, 51% of surveyed farmers observed soil degradation processes in their fields.
These are complex and severe issues. However, another crucial challenge appeared for Ukrainian lands on February 24, 2022.
The war inflicts an irreparable blow on the soil. Each explosion means inevitable soil pollution. Every shell attack leads to the instant destruction of the upper fertile layer of the ground, which has been formed for centuries. And the content of heavy metals after explosions exceeds the background values in some places by 30 times. It makes the land unsuitable for further agricultural use.Thus, soil restoration is a primary and challenging task.
The Strategic Committee for the Restoration of Soil Fertility serves as a platform for developing practical strategies to bring about positive changes in agricultural land use. We strive to form a conscious attitude toward soils as a valuable and irreplaceable resource, promote the rational use of their properties, share expertise, and help to find solutions.