1/9/22, 00:00

Rattan Lal at Aapresid: “Soil is not a resource, but a legacy”

Prof. Rattan Lal, one of the world's most influential scientists in the field of soil science, participated in the XXXIII Aapresid “Open Code” Congress.

Prof. Rattan Lal, one of the world's most influential scientists in the field of soil science, participated in the XXXIII Aapresid “Open Code” Congress. In conversation with the organization, he shared reflections that directly address the future of agriculture and its role in global sustainability.

Soil, an intergenerational legacy

Lal emphasized that soil should not be thought of only as a productive input, but as a heritage that is inherited and must be passed on in better condition to future generations. “What we receive from our parents is not simply a resource: it is a legacy,” he said. This concept sums up his long-term vision, where soil health becomes the basis for food security and environmental stability.

Farmers, key players

For Lal, farmers are the main guardians of the soil. They depend on it for their livelihood, but they also have the power to decide whether to degrade or regenerate it. In Argentina, he highlighted the adoption of no-till, cover crops, and integrated fertility management as significant advances. 

However, he warned that there is still a need to reduce dependence on external inputs: “The challenge is to produce more food with fewer chemical inputs, less energy consumption, and less loss of biodiversity.”

Agriculture: from problem to solution

Currently, agriculture is responsible for a large part of global greenhouse gas emissions. But Lal insists that it can become part of the solution. To this end, he proposed moving towards eco-intensification, a form of sustainable intensification based on ecological principles:

1. Everything is connected: agricultural practices have an impact on multiple dimensions (water, air, biodiversity).
2. Nature does not generate waste: what is considered waste today can be an input in a natural cycle.
3. Every action has consequences: poor management leads to erosion, pollution, or loss of productivity.
4. There is no such thing as a “free lunch”: every action has a cost, which can be monetary or ecological, and the latter is often more severe.

When carbon, water, nitrogen, or phosphorus cycles are disrupted, problems such as soil degradation, water pollution, and the greenhouse effect arise. The key is to respect these cycles and work in symbiosis with nature.

Public policies that reward, not punish

The specialist was emphatic in pointing out that farmers should be rewarded for sustainable practices. “If they are sequestering carbon, they should be paid for it. Carbon in the soil should become a commodity, just like crops in the Pampas,” he said.

In this context, he urged public policy makers to promote a Soil Health Law. But he clarified that it should not have a punitive approach, but rather an incentive-based one: “Policies must be pro-nature, pro-agriculture, and pro-farmers.”

No-till farming as a banner

Lal welcomed initiatives such as Aapresid, which brings together no-till farmers in Argentina, which he considered a key tool for preventing erosion, conserving organic matter, and maintaining biodiversity. “Soil should not be disturbed, it should not be damaged,” he said, while reinforcing that soil health is fundamental to the health of all living organisms on the planet.

Revaluing the “farming” profession

Finally, he called for a revaluation of the figure of the farmer, who is currently little recognized in many societies: “Farmers must feel respected, know that they are contributing to the world, to society, to humanity, and to the planet.” He concluded with a message that drew applause: “You are the bosses. We, the scientists, are here to serve you.”