How Does Nutrient-Depleted Soil Impact Our Food, and What Can We Do to Fix It?
Page Contents: Due to intense, mismanaged farming, soil nutrients are declining. Nitrogen stores have decreased by 42 percent, phosphorus by 27 percent, and sulfur by 33 percent. (3) To grow optimally, plants require these nutrients for photosynthesis, enzymes, protein synthesis, and more. As a result of declining soil fertility and selective breeding, the nutritional contents of some fruits, vegetables, and grains have also been compromised. In a 2004 study, 43 garden crops were analyzed to compare nutritional content in 1950 versus 1999, using USDA data. Some nutrients were unchanged, but calcium, phosphorus, iron, riboflavin, and vitamin C were all lower in 1999 compared to 1950, ranging from a 6 percent to 38 percent drop. (4) Almost 99 percent of the world’s daily calorie intake can be traced...
