Some major consumer and conservation organizations are working together to help create better soil health and enhance farm sustainability. A $2 million investment from General Mills will provide tools and resources for The Nature Conservancy, Soil Health Institute, and Soil Health Partnership to use in working with farmers, landowners, and supply chain leaders to create healthier soil while providing food for the world.

“The needs for advancing soil health are far greater than any single organization can provide – public or private,” said Wayne Honeycutt, President and CEO of the Soil Health Institute. “Soil health management systems can build resilience to drought as well as provide protection from other extreme weather events, such as flooding. In fact, when we increase soil organic carbon by a single percent – just 1 percent – we increase soil water-holding capacity by approximately 2,500 to 12,000 gallons per acre in many agricultural soils. These same soil health practices that are good for farmers can also improve water quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance pollinator and other wildlife habitat. Partnering is the way we can achieve national scale of such benefits.”

Targeted outcomes include creating measurements and standards for improving soil health, increase adoption of beneficial practices by absentee landlords, coordinating activities for maximum impact, and supporting diverse constituents in public policy solutions.