The State of Knowledge of Soil Biodiversity

Soil organisms are important for agriculture and food security, they contribute to human health and have potential to mitigate climate change. But not only does their importance remain largely underestimated, they are also threatened by human activities.

Despite the fact that biodiversity loss is at the forefront of global concerns, the biodiversity below ground is not being given the importance it deserves and needs to be fully taken into account when planning interventions for sustainable development, according to the report The State of Knowledge of Soil Biodiversity published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in December 2020.

Soils are one of the main global biodiversity reservoirs. They host more than 25 percent of the world's biological diversity. In addition, more than 40 per cent of living organisms in terrestrial ecosystems are associated with soils during their life cycle. 

Misuse of agrochemicals causes soil biodiversity loss 


The FAO report defines soil biodiversity as the variety of life below ground, from genes and species to the communities they form, as well as the ecological complexes to which they contribute and to which they belong, from soil micro-habitats to landscapes.

The role of soil biodiversity through the ecosystem services they provide is critical for agriculture and food security.

For example, soil microorganisms transform organic and inorganic compounds, releasing nutrients in a form that plants can feed on. In addition, soils’ diversity contributes to improving the control, prevention, or suppression of pests and pathogens.

However, soil biodiversity is threatened by human activities, climate change and natural disasters. The overuse and misuse of agrochemicals remains one of the major causes of soil biodiversity loss, thus reducing the potential of soil biodiversity. Other causes include deforestation, urbanization, agricultural intensification, pollution, and salinisation.

Soil biodiversity is important for human well-being


Soil microorganisms have a significant potential to mitigate climate change. They play a key role in carbon sequestration and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The report finds that farming activities are the biggest source of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide gases emitted by soils.

Soil biodiversity supports human health, both directly and indirectly. Several soil bacteria and fungi are traditionally used in the production of soy sauce, cheese, wine, and other fermented food and beverages. Plants produce chemicals such as antioxidants that stimulate our immune system and contribute to hormone regulation. Soil microorganisms can also help prevent chronic inflammatory diseases, including allergy, asthma, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, and depression.

Since the early 1900s, many drugs and vaccines have been derived from soil organisms, from well-known antibiotics such as penicillin to bleomycin used to treat cancer and amphotericin for fungal infections. In a context of increasing diseases caused by resistant microorganisms, soil biodiversity has enormous potential to provide new drugs to combat them.

Increasing efforts to understand and protect soil biodiversity


Generally, there is a lack of detailed data, policies and actions on soil biodiversity at local, national, regional, and global levels. In order to better understand the threats to soil biodiversity and implement relevant policies and regulations, it is crucial to invest in harmonised soil biodiversity assessments worldwide, standardise sampling and analysis protocols to enable the collection of large comparable datasets, and promote the use of efficient monitoring tools to record changes in soil biodiversity, the report states.

The publication also underscores the need to promote innovative technologies in soil management. For instance, new molecular techniques using next-generation molecular sequencing allow a better understanding of soil organisms and the effects these organisms may have on associated cropping systems. 

(FAO/ile)

Read more and download the report The State of Knowledge of Soil Biodiversity at FAO website

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