Policy briefing report 87 views 25 downloads
A Sustainable Future: Achieving Soil Health: Opportunities and Challenges for Microbiology Research and Innovation
Geertje Van Keulen 
Swansea University Author:
Geertje Van Keulen
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Abstract
The year 2020 has shown the need for societies to transition into ones that are better connected, inclusive, resilient and, importantly, more sustainable. Sustainability encompasses the environment, economy and health, which present as interlinked global challenges in which microbiology featuresprom...
| Published: |
London, UK
2020
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| Online Access: |
https://microbiologysociety.org/asset/7628270F%2D998F%2D4492%2DBC94C12629D2B7F6/ |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67888 |
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| Abstract: |
The year 2020 has shown the need for societies to transition into ones that are better connected, inclusive, resilient and, importantly, more sustainable. Sustainability encompasses the environment, economy and health, which present as interlinked global challenges in which microbiology featuresprominently. The Microbiology Society embarked on its A Sustainable Future project, recognising the potential of the microbiology research community in the UK and Republic of Ireland to tackle these challenges, by identifying three specific areas, antimicrobial resistance, the circular economy and soil health, that address many of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). A sustainable future depends critically on healthy, sustainably used ecosystems that support a growing human population and our economies without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.Five of the 17 SDGs are addressed by achieving and maintaining soil health, for which microbiology can offer many opportunities as well as challenges. Microbes are essential for food security, e.g. through improving crop productivity and sustainable agriculture (SDG 2; no hunger); water quality and soil quality, e.g. through pollution bioremediation, the promotion of soil formation and the prevention of soil erosion (UN SDGs 6 – clean water and sanitisation – and 15 – life on land); climate control, e.g. through soil carbon sequestration and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (UN SDG 13; climate action); and human health, e.g. via improved control of pollutants, pathogens and nutrients (UN SDG 3 – good health and well-being – as well as SDGs 2 and 6). Restoring and maintaining soil health is not only relevant to agriculture, but rural and urban societies alike will benefit as better quality land becomes available for use, while natural environments will benefit from improvements in (microbial) biodiversity.The need to interact and collaborate more efficiently in order to achieve progress and impact is one of the key results of discussing soil health with microbiologists and others active in associated disciplines and sectors, including researchers, farmers and industry, and governmental, regulatory and societal organisations. Collaborative efforts resulting in the creation and adoption of evidence-based soil health policies will be crucial for achieving a sustainable future for generations to come. |
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| Keywords: |
soil health, microbiology, policy, sustainable future, SDGs |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
| Funders: |
Microbiology Society |