A Futuristic Solution to Soil Degradation: Harnessing Innovations for a Sustainable Future

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) rings alarm bells, predicting that soil extinction could become a reality if soil degradation continues at current rates. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that all the world's topsoil may be extinct in 60 years. Such a situation could lead to catastrophic crises worldwide, including food and water shortages, droughts and famines, adverse climate changes, mass migrations, and unprecedented rates of species extinction.

Inspired by these daunting facts, I embarked on an intellectual exercise to explore potential solutions to soil degradation. The challenges are enormous. For instance, it takes about 1,000 years to form 2mm of soil through natural decomposition. But I believe that with the innovative application of existing technologies, we can develop new, accelerated ways of generating soil, thus ensuring the sustainability of our food systems and the vitality of our planet.

Harnessing the Power of Innovation: A Four-Step Approach

The proposed concept involves a four-step process, each inspired by groundbreaking technologies and approaches:

1. Ford-Production Line Approach: To initiate the soil production process, we can start by leveraging soil production factories and food products manufacturing plants' organic waste. By recycling these organic waste materials, we create a composite ready for the next stage.
2. CRISPR DNA Application: With the advancement in gene-editing technology, we can potentially recreate organic matter from extinct or endangered plant and animal species. This step involves growing samples from plant and animal DNA databases, creating a diverse and rich organic matter layer to enrich the soil's humus content.
3. Heme and Humus Fusion: The innovation behind Impossible Foods has proven that Heme, an essential molecule that carries iron, can be lab-synthesized. Mixing this with humus (the organic component of soil), we can stimulate the activity of earthworms, bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that are vital for soil health. Additionally, the addition of nutrient-rich black soldier fly larvae would further enrich the soil's organic content.
4. Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Processing: In the final stage, the organic soil matter would be processed in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber assembly line, creating a high-pressure and high-oxygen environment to accelerate decomposition. The methane captured in this process could be reused as an energy source, closing the loop of sustainability.

Soil Sustainability: A Business Prospect for a Resilient Future

This approach does not just propose a solution to a looming environmental crisis; it also offers a unique business opportunity. By creating a holistic system that harnesses waste, genomic technology, advanced food technology, and pressure therapy techniques, we can create an industry committed to soil creation and preservation.

Moreover, the potential applications of such technology are far-reaching. Imagine being able to transport this technology to Mars or any off-world farm, ensuring that space explorers have access to rich, healthy soil for off-world farming.

In essence, this concept envisions a future where we not only halt the degradation of our soils but actively engage in their regeneration. It's a call to entrepreneurs, innovators, and environmentalists to invest in and develop such technologies - to ensure the sustainability of our planet and the survival of future generations.

Remember, the earth beneath our feet, the soil that sustains all life, is as precious a resource as the air we breathe. Let's treat it with the respect and care it deserves.

Note: All these Articles belong to a series of What if Articles, it only proposes to allow people to think about other's solutions for global problems, these is just some ideas that came to me, and instead of leaving them in my head, I am sharing it and maybe someone can do something with it. Just food for thought!

Thank you for reading this.

If you want to know more about the "Save the Soil"- Check this out: https://isha.sadhguru.org/uk/en/wisdom/article/save-the-soil-revitalization-methods