Today is World Soil Day, so we wanted to take the opportunity to learn more about the soil crisis and how making compost is a direct solution.
According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, 90% of earth’s topsoil is at risk by 2050. Approximately one soccer pitch of topsoil erodes every five seconds, but it takes around 1000 years to create one centimeter of topsoil. This is a soil crisis.
It's important to note that 95% of the world’s food is grown in topsoil. Conventional farming practices have led to the rapid loss of topsoil. Sustainable land use would reduce the impacts of agriculture and livestock by preventing soil degradation and erosion.
Compost is also a great tool to prevent soil erosion. Compost can bind soil together and infiltrate and slow down water in soil, reducing the effects of stormwater.
Compost also restores soil health, reduces reliance on synthetic fertilizers, and sequesters carbon—all of which build resilience to climate change.
Community composting is an integral part of Big Reuse's mission. Please continue to support our work by donating, volunteering, dropping off food scraps, and more.