In agriculture, soil degradation is primarily driven by poor fertilizer application and suboptimal management of nutrients, which leads to nutrient losses and a decline in soil’s biological, chemical, and physical quality. This reduces its capacity to support agricultural production and environmental functions.

Food security can only be achieved in healthy, fertile, and productive soils. Therefore, agricultural intensification should be supported by science-based agronomic approaches to improve soil fertility at scale, enhance the affordability and availability of fertilizers, offer targeted fertilizer recommendations tailored to localized variations in soil fertility and the environment, and provide incentives for farmers to invest in their soils.