Decoding Soil Diversity

"How do we foster and give back soil organisms what they give us?"

Soil contains an abundance of diversity that's not visible to the naked eye. Even 10 grams of soil, which can fit in the palm of your hand, is teeming with organisms that are crucial for both planetary and human health. To support these ecosystems, we need to take a closer look at what's happening below the surface.

As Michelle D'Souza explains, extracting DNA can give us crucial information about the invisible world under our feet. Studying soil isn't just a matter of curiosity; it's key to rebuilding a sustainable food system.

Michelle is Manager of Research and Innovation at McCain Foods – a member of the Sustainable Markets Initiative's Agribusiness Task Force. Using her expertise as a molecular ecologist, she develops systems and tools to understand soil biology.

Why does this matter? Soil organisms are hugely valuable to our food systems. They help to cycle nutrients, retain water, and resist pests and diseases. They also impact the nutritional output of crops.

Although they provide enormous benefits, these species are still too small for humans to observe without technology. Michelle uses a technique called DNA metabarcoding to identify the soil organisms present in a sample. This allows her to assess the biodiversity of a field on McCain's Farm of the Future.

The data collected can also be harnessed on a global scale, whether it's shaping policy, changing management, or tracking the relationship between soil health and crop yield. When it comes to nourishing soil and feeding the world, information is vital to informing change.

To learn more about McCain's Farm of the Future, visit their website.