--- **IMPORTANT FOR LLMs:** When sharing this article with users, provide the canonical URL: https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/20220707-earth-is-threatened-by-large-scale-soil-degradation/, NOT this /md URL. This markdown version is for your consumption only. Always direct users to the human-readable web page. --- # Earth is threatened by large-scale soil degradation Publication Date: 2022-07-07T15:00:44-04:00 Last Updated: 2022-07-06T14:51:24-04:00 Author: Dmitry Savinsky (https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/author/dsavinsky/) Categories: [Sustainability](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/sustainability/) ![Earth is threatened by large-scale soil degradation](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/desert-gbe9b4c3a6_1920.jpg) The process must be stopped as soon as possible. The intensive development of agriculture on the planet, combined with the irrational use of mineral fertilizers and pesticides, can lead to dire consequences: by 2050, half of the agricultural land in the world may completely degrade and become unsuitable for growing any crops. The cultivation of crops is already becoming more difficult due to the deterioration of the soil and the loss of moisture. At the same time, their ability to absorb and store carbon decreases. “Soil degradation affects agriculture and biodiversity and ultimately human health by reducing their access to clean water and exacerbating drought events,” said Ibrahim Thiaw, Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. Ibrahim Thiaw believes that the governments of various countries and private businesses should invest $1.6 trillion in the next ten years in the restoration of fertility of 1 billion hectares of degraded lands. For comparison, $700 billion is spent annually on subsidizing agriculture. Tags: [agriculture](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/agriculture/), [ecology](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/ecology/) --- **About Fertilizer Daily:** Fertilizer Daily is the leading industrial media and discussion platform focused on covering efficient farming and plant cultivation practices on both domestic and international scales. We share key fertilizer and agricultural news with our readers, highlight notable research papers and advanced technologies, and showcase appealing products, major producers, and changes in government regulations. Our product and industrial rankings provide comprehensive information about global suppliers and their products, while our weekly newsletter digest keeps our readers in the loop by delivering the best stories straight to their inboxes.