Biologicals Critical to Mitigate Chronic Drought and Improve Soil Health

It’s been another hot month across much of the world, including in areas that contain our global breadbaskets, writes Groundwork BioAg CEO Yossi Kofman at CropLife. Extreme droughts are being reported more frequently, leaving no continent, except Antarctica, untouched. While more farmers are utilizing tools and technology to combat drought and adoption of regenerative practices are increasing, mitigating the impact of severe weather has become more complex as persistent environmental stresses drain our soils.

According to the European Commission’s World Atlas of Desertification, more than 75 percent of Earth’s land area is already degraded and at risk of desertification — a process where nutrient-rich soil becomes dirt — and more than 90 percent could become degraded by 2050. Desertification and changing climate are projected to cause reductions in crop and livestock productivity, modify the composition of plant species and reduce biological diversity.

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Since the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report was released on August 9, 2021, there have been increasingly more urgent calls for humanity to come together to reverse the impact we are collectively having on our planet.

Now is the time for modern agriculture to lead the way, but it will require us to return to our roots.



As guardians of the land and food supply, many farmers are looking to ag tech innovation that enables more natural land stewardship at scale, reduces the impact of chemicals and, ultimately, helps protect against extreme weather such as chronic drought. Practices like no-till and cover crops help to maintain nutrient rich soil in place, but farmers also need tools to rebuild a healthy rhizosphere below ground.

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