Thanks to Rebecca Whittaker and the Independent Online for the Headline
Wheat , apples and carrots are half as nutritious as they were in the 1960’s a new study as suggested due to declining soil quality.
Researchers found food, such as cereals and bread had lost 20 to 50 per cent of several key nutrients, including potassium, magnesium and copper and that people today have to eat about twice the fruit and veg today to get the same benefits of those 60 years ago.
Potentially, along with the use of weight-loss drugs, this drop in nutrients could mean that 5million working adults in the UK are functioning with below safe levels of essential vitamins and minerals. The worrying trend in working environments of working lunches or no lunch at all will I think contribute to this.
The supplement manufacturers will have a field day based on this research.
Worldwide , the study authors warn more than 2 billion people still have at least one clinical mircro-nutrient deficiency. This is well documented in the UK and US where despite a diet high in calories , diet is still low in nutrients such as selenium and folate.
Apparently soil health is the answer and farmers can achieve this and still be profitable , improving nutrient density, yields and climate resilience all at once . The article doesn’t explain how they can do this or what they have been doing that has caused this situation. Where is Jeremy Clarkson when you need him?
I had a quick look at some recommendations which include less tilling( let the worms do their work).Aiming for better nutrient balance routinely and scientifically test soil and match the status of the soil to crop requirements. Add farmyard manures, digestate , compost and biosolids which can increase soil organic matter in arable soils .ie we need cow manure and chicken manure. There’s just too many ways to improve the soil for me to list here.
So actually organic farming isn’t far off from what we need to do, it’s application of all these principals to get back to where we were 60 years ago. I haven’t watched Clarkson’s Farm but yet again the farmers are the ones who have to put this in place and we have to support them to do it.
Namaste and Thank You for Reading.🙏
