AT THE CORE OF OUR MISSION LIES A COMMITMMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY FOR FUTURE GENERATION
Preserving our soils is paramount for ensuring global food security.
Soil serves as the cornerstone of agriculture, playing a pivotal role in the food chain ecosystem. Its regeneration is crucial to averting ecological crises.
With the global population projected to reach 8 billion by November 2022—more than triple the 1950 figure of 2.5 billion—the pressure on soil to sustain increased agricultural output intensifies. India is expected to surpass China by 2023, with its population potentially reaching 1.7 billion by 2050, as per UN estimates. Rising incomes in developing nations are driving a shift towards greater consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, reflecting improved living standards and purchasing power. This trend contributes to increased demand for resource-intensive agricultural products.
As the population expands, global food demand is set to surge. Agriculture must increase production by 60-70% to feed nearly 10 billion people.
Ensuring Soil Security to Ensure Food and Nutritional Stability
Ensuring healthy soil is essential for improving access to food and achieving nutritional security. Soil provides vital nutrients, water, and structural support necessary for crops to thrive and produce sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets dietary needs and preferences for maintaining good health. Despite its critical role, soil faces significant degradation threats today.
While the government is striving to promote sustainable farming practices, we suggest a few recommendations
Encourage the adoption of Integrated Pest Management
Advocate for the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies, which involve a combination of biological, cultural, physical, and chemical methods to control pests. IPM focuses on sustainable practices that minimize environmental impact, promote natural pest predators, and reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, ultimately leading to healthier crops and ecosystems. Increasing farmer awareness about the integrated use of pesticides is crucial. Alongside chemical options, farmers should be encouraged to adopt alternative methods such as microbial-based biological pesticides. These alternatives help maintain soil health and ecological balance while improving nutrient efficiency in plants and crop yields.
Food Quality
To guarantee food safety and nutritional security, it is essential to monitor pesticide residue levels across India at the state level as part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). India must rigorously conduct audits and assessments in every state to identify crops and regions with high pesticide residue levels, thereby preventing the distribution of food and commodities that exceed the maximum residue limit.