Soil is the foundation of vegetable farming and farmers’ livelihoods. Yet across many parts of the world, it’s being pushed beyond its limits. On World Soil Day (5 December), we’re reminded why healthy soil matters not just for farmers, but for the companies and communities that depend on strong, productive crops.

In this article, our Global Head of Sustainability, Sucheta Ramprakash, explains why soil health is a shared responsibility and what practical steps we can take to protect it.

Farmers depend on soil every day. They spend money on seeds, fertilizer, and labour, hoping for a good harvest. But the soil itself is often forgotten, even though it plays the most important role.

Over the years, soil in many places has been used again and again without getting enough care. Slowly, the soil becomes hard, dry, and less fertile. It does not hold water well. It needs more fertilizer to grow the same crop. Farmers then see uneven fields and lower yields. Agriculture companies may see more complaints and lose farmers’ trust. But the real problem is often simple: the soil is tired and weak.

When soil loses its strength, crops cannot grow well. They become more vulnerable to pests and diseases. This has become more common with changing climate conditions. As soil quality goes down, farmers earn less. And when farmers earn less, the whole vegetable value chain is affected, from input suppliers to markets. This is why taking care of soil is not only good for the environment — it is important for farmers and businesses too.

How serious is the soil problem?

Here are some clear and simple facts:

• 33% of the world’s soils are already damaged because of erosion, loss of nutrients, pollution, and overuse. (FAO)
• 1.66 billion hectares of farmland are degraded — almost one-third of all agricultural land in the world. (MDPI)
• 1.7 billion people live in areas where crop yields are at least 10% lower because the land is damaged. (FAO)
• Each year, the world loses 12 million hectares of good land because the top layer of soil gets washed away or becomes infertile. (undrr.org)
• Nature takes up to 1,000 years to create just 2–3 cm of new topsoil. (FAO)

These numbers show that soil degradation is a major problem affecting food, farmer income, and business stability.

Why we should care about soil

Healthy soil helps seeds grow well. Even the best seed will not perform if the soil is poor. When soil health declines, farmers earn less, and seed companies also feel the impact. If soil continues to weaken, farmers and companies both suffer.

Here are simple ways practical ways to protect soil:

• Help farmers adopt easy soil-care methods like crop rotation, composting, mulching, using cover crops, and avoiding too much soil disturbance
• Encourage farmers to test their soil so they know what nutrients it needs
• Share guidance on how to prepare the soil before planting
• Work with like-minded organisations and partners to spread soil-friendly practices
• Encourage farmers to check simple soil indicators, like organic matter and how well the soil holds water

These steps help improve soil quality and support stronger harvests, benefiting both farmers and companies.

A simple truth

Healthy soil grows healthy crops. When crops thrive, farmers earn better, and companies and markets grow stronger. But when soil becomes weak, farmers lose yield — and companies lose trust, markets, and stability.

Soil is not just dirt. It is the base of our food, our work, and our daily lives. With large areas of farmland already degraded and millions of hectares lost each year, protecting soil is urgent.

This World Soil Day (5 December), it’s a good time to reflect on what we can do:
✔ prioritize soil testing
✔ adopt better soil practices
✔ build awareness
✔ invest in long-term soil health

 ✔ monitor regularly to track the improvement

Imagine every farmer adopting better soil practices and caring for the land, and every company prioritizing it; we would build stronger harvests, better incomes, and a future that benefits everyone.