How Soil Health Shapes Human Health

When we think of human health, we often focus on nutrition, exercise, healthcare, or clean water—but rarely do we think of soil. Yet, soil plays a foundational role in sustaining human life, not just by growing our food, but by influencing nutrition, disease, medicine, and even societal well-being.

Here’s how healthy soil supports healthy people—and why its degradation is a growing public health concern.

Over 98% of our food is grown in soil. A healthy, nutrient-rich soil produces crops that are more nutritious, especially in essential vitamins and minerals. Conversely, degraded soils lead to nutrient-deficient food, contributing to malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies like zinc or iron—common causes of stunted growth and poor immune health worldwide (Lal, 2020), (Kopittke et al., 2023).

Soil isn't just about food—it’s a pharmacy. Many life-saving antibiotics and cancer treatments are derived from soil microbes. However, unhealthy soils can also harbor harmful substances, such as heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium), pathogens, or carcinogens like radon. These can enter the body through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact, especially in polluted or urban soils (Steffan et al., 2018), (Oliver, 1997), (Pepper et al., 2009).

Emerging science suggests that soil biodiversity—especially exposure to beneficial microbes—may help strengthen our immune system and microbiome. This is particularly relevant in early childhood development. Some researchers are even exploring links between soil microbes and reduced risk of chronic diseases later in life (Brevik et al., 2020), (Wade & Stulberg, 2018).

Healthy soils retain water better, reduce erosion, and are more resilient to droughts and extreme weather—factors that are crucial in maintaining consistent food production, especially as the climate changes. This makes soil health directly tied to reducing hunger and poverty (Fausak et al., 2024), (Moulik et al., 2024).

Historically, the collapse of civilizations often followed the collapse of their soils. Today, poor soil health is still tied to weakened agriculture, job losses, and declining community health, particularly in rural or low-income regions (Minami, 2009), (Collier & Brevik, 2020).

From rising rates of diet-related illness to global food insecurity and antibiotic resistance, many of today’s biggest health challenges are, at their roots, soil problems. Yet soil health is rarely part of public health conversations.

That needs to change.