Soil Health, Climate and Food Security: Organic Shift
Why in the news
On Earth Day 2025, the Indian Biogas Association (IBA) argued that healthier soil links climate resilience with food production, and that organic inputs from biogas systems offer a way forward.
Key facts
- Fertiliser production and use cause 2.6 gigatonnes CO2-equivalent emissions a year.
- About 60-70% of synthetic nitrogen is wasted into air or water; runoff has created over 500 coastal dead zones.
- UN data: 33% of soils degraded; 24 billion tonnes lost yearly to erosion.
- US Corn Belt soils lost 40-60% of original organic matter, reducing flood and drought resilience.
- Each 1% rise in organic matter lets soil hold 75,000 extra litres of water per acre.
Organic alternative
- Compost and Fermented Organic Manure (FOM) from biogas rebuild soil organic matter, cut emissions and water pollution, and restore nutrient cycles.
- Rodale Institute 40-year trial: similar yields after a 3-year transition, 30% higher yields in extreme weather, and better profit from lower input costs.
Global examples
| Region | Approach |
|---|---|
| EU | Soil Deal for Europe: 75% of soils under organic management by 2030 |
| Kenya | Farmers compost crop residues |
| California | Healthy Soils Program: over $200 million for composting and cover crops |
Biogas and circular economy
FOM, a biogas byproduct, can recycle all food waste, return nutrients to land and cut landfill methane, linking waste to food production locally.
Exam angle
- Body quoted: Indian Biogas Association (IBA).
- Term: Fermented Organic Manure (FOM).
- Event: Earth Day 2025.