OCT 22: Global Soil Degradation: Status, Drivers, and Solutions

Join Dr. John Reganold, PWIAS International Visiting Research Scholar, for this Soil Science seminar on the causes of global soil degradation and innovative farming practices that may prevent further negative impacts.

Dr. Reganold is Regents Professor of Soil Science and Agroecology at Washington State University, He has shaped his career by his interest in soil science and agriculture, receiving his Ph.D. in Soil Science from the University of California at Davis. He has spent 30-plus years bringing a blend of innovative teaching and research on soil quality and sustainable farming systems into the mainstream of higher education and food production.

To attend in-person, or to receive a Zoom link, please email Dr. Sandra Brown, sandra.brown@ubc.ca.

About the Talk

At least 33% of global cropland soils are moderately or highly degraded, with the most significant causes being soil erosion, loss of organic matter, nutrient imbalance, and urbanization. Drivers of global soil degradation are diverse and include, but are not limited to, population dynamics, consumption, inequality, education, and farming practices. The existence of innovative agricultural practices and systems that mitigate or prevent soil degradation suggests that technical obstacles are not the greatest barrier. Barriers to farmers adopting these sustainable practices include powerful vested interests and existing policies, a lack of information and knowledge, weak infrastructure and other economic challenges, and misperceptions and cultural biases. To halt or reverse soil degradation will require mobilizing the full arsenal of effective policies, scientific and socioeconomic advances, farmer ingenuity, and public engagement.

Dr. Reganold is hosted by PWIAS Associates, Dr. Claire Kremen, Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), and Dr. Sean Smukler, Agriculture and Environment, Faculty of Land and Food Systems.

Photo credit: Adrian Infernus/Unsplash