Civilizations Rise and Fall on the Quality of Their Soil

Although improved technology -- including the unsustainably high use of fossil-fuel-dependent fertilisers, irrigation, and ploughing -- provides a false sense of security, about 1% of global land area is degraded every year.  In Africa, where much of the future growth in agriculture must take place, erosion has reduced yields by 8% and nutrient depletion is widespread.

"Soil fertility is both a biophysical property and a social property -- it is a social property because humankind depends heavily on it for food production," says Bob Scholes, who with Professor Mary Scholes, has published a paper in the journal, Science

Civilizations Rise and Fall on the Quality of Their Soil