As World Soil Day is observed today, it serves as a reminder that every harvest begins underground and that soil stewardship is becoming increasingly urgent.
Soil erosion and land degradation remain among the most serious environmental challenges worldwide. In South Africa, an estimated 10%–20% of agricultural land is affected, with around 12 million hectares classified as severely eroded.
Nationally, up to 60% of land shows some level of degradation, threatening water security, biodiversity, and long-term agricultural productivity.
Healthy soils underpin not only crop production but also rural livelihoods, agro-processing industries, and food systems across borders. While agriculture may contribute modestly to national GDP, its influence stretches far beyond the farm gate, supporting communities and global food security.
A global call for soil stewardship
World Soil Day highlights the central role of soil in human well-being. Established by the International Union of Soil Sciences, endorsed by the FAO, and recognised by the UN General Assembly, it drives an international campaign promoting improved soil management and restoration.
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Restoring soil function is becoming fundamental to climate resilience, especially as farmers adopt regenerative methods that enhance plant–soil interactions.
Among these tools are natural biostimulants, including seaweed-derived extracts that support root development, stress tolerance, and crop establishment when used with good agronomic practices.
Laboratory work on Ecklonia maxima, the South African kelp species used in Kelpak’s natural biostimulants, demonstrates encouraging results. In controlled trials, beneficial organisms such as trichoderma and rhizobia showed their strongest viability when exposed to low concentrations of the extracts over short periods. These findings indicate that natural extracts can work synergistically with microbial inoculants when applied under the right conditions.
Further research from Poland, conducted by Kelpak, found that extracts supported the growth of Trichoderma harzianum while slowing the sporulation of harmful pathogens like Verticillium dahliae, a selective effect that influences the broader soil microbiome.
Rebuilding soil function with regenerative practices
Linda Greyling, head of technical support at Kelpak, said, “Soil Day is a reminder that agro-ecosystems start with living soil. Biostimulants are not a silver bullet. They are most effective when used alongside sound practices such as mulching, diversified rotations and careful traffic management. Our focus is on generating practical evidence that helps farmers apply natural tools where they make agronomic sense, season after season.”
According to Greyling, long-term benefits linked to natural biostimulants include:
- Supporting beneficial microbes such as trichoderma and rhizobia.
- Promoting the growth of beneficial fungi while slowing disease-causing species.
- Strengthening root development through natural plant hormones.
- Improving plant tolerance to abiotic stress, including heat and drought.
- Working effectively alongside seed treatments or inoculants when used as guided.
Healthy soils are living, dynamic systems, and protecting them is essential for the resilience of global agriculture. As more farmers integrate natural biostimulants with regenerative practices, they are rebuilding soil function, improving crop resilience, and laying the groundwork for a more sustainable future anchored in living soil.
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