Soil health and human health are deeply connected.
It might seem strange at first. Soil is under our feet, while human health is inside our bodies. But the link between the two is everywhere: in the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, the microbes we live alongside, and the ecosystems that support life.
Healthy soil grows healthier plants. Healthier plants can support better diets. Living soils help filter water, cycle nutrients, store carbon, reduce flooding, support biodiversity and maintain resilient food systems. Poor soil, on the other hand, can contribute to nutrient loss, food insecurity, pollution, dust, disease risk and ecosystem decline.
In simple terms:
We cannot separate human health from the health of the soil.
This idea sits closely alongside the concept of One Health, which recognises that the health of humans, animals, plants and ecosystems are closely linked rather than separate systems. The World Health Organization describes One Health as an integrated approach that aims to optimise the health of people, animals, plants and ecosystems together.
For regenerative farming, agroecology and organic agriculture, this connection is central. Soil is not just a growing medium. It is the living foundation of food, water, biodiversity and public health.
Soil health is the ability of soil to function as a living ecosystem.
Healthy soil is not just dirt with nutrients added. It is a complex living system made up of minerals, organic matter, air, water, roots, fungi, bacteria, insects, worms and countless microscopic organisms.
Healthy soil can:
The Food and Agriculture Organization describes soil biodiversity as the variety of life below ground, including genes, species, communities and the ecological systems they form. FAO also highlights that soil organisms are critical for agriculture and food security because of the ecosystem services they provide.
A healthy soil is busy, structured and alive. A degraded soil may be compacted, low in organic matter, biologically inactive, eroding or dependent on external inputs to remain productive.
Soil health matters because everything else grows from it. Literally and metaphorically, which is very considerate of soil.
The link between soil and human health is not one simple pathway. It is a web.
Soil affects human health through:
The National Academies’ 2024 report Exploring Linkages Between Soil Health and Human Health notes growing interest in the connections between soil, plant, human and animal microbiomes, as well as links to nutrition, contaminants, soil-borne pathogens, antibiotic resistance and potential medical discoveries from soil microbes.
That means soil health is not a niche farming issue. It is a public health issue.
One of the most direct links between soil health and human health is food.
Plants draw nutrients from soil. They depend on soil structure, water, minerals, microbes and fungi to access what they need. If soil is depleted, compacted, biologically poor or poorly managed, crops may still grow — especially with fertiliser — but the wider relationship between soil biology and plant nutrition can be weakened.
Healthy soil supports plant health by improving:
There is growing research interest in whether farming practices that improve soil health can also improve the nutritional quality of food. A review by Montgomery and colleagues in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems discusses how soil life influences mineral uptake and phytochemical production in crops, and how soil-building farming practices may affect nutrient density.
A later preliminary comparison of regenerative and conventional farm products found that regenerative practices were associated with improved nutritional profiles in some crops and livestock products, though this is an emerging research area and more studies are needed.
This is important because human health is not only about calories. It is about the quality of food: minerals, vitamins, fibre, beneficial plant compounds, healthy fats and dietary diversity.
A food system can produce plenty of calories and still fail to nourish people well. That is the slightly grim magic trick of modern abundance.
Plants need minerals such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc, iron, selenium, copper and manganese.
These minerals come from soil parent material, organic matter, microbial activity and nutrient cycling. But it is not enough for nutrients to simply be present in the soil. They also need to be available to plants.
Soil biology plays an important role here.
Fungi, bacteria and other soil organisms can help make nutrients available, build soil structure and support root function. Mycorrhizal fungi, for example, form relationships with many plants and can help them access nutrients and water.
Regenerative practices that support soil biology may therefore support better nutrient cycling.
These practices include:
This does not mean every regenerative crop is automatically more nutritious than every conventional crop. That would be too simple. Crop variety, soil type, weather, harvest timing, storage and farming methods all matter.
But the basic principle is sensible: food quality begins in living soil.
Humans are not just human. We are walking ecosystems, full of bacteria, fungi and other microbes that influence digestion, immunity and overall health.
The gut microbiome is shaped by many factors, including diet, environment, antibiotics, lifestyle and contact with the natural world.
So where does soil come in?
Healthy soils are microbial-rich environments. Plants grown in living soils interact with diverse microbes. Farms, gardens, animals, compost, fresh food and outdoor environments may all influence the microbial world humans encounter.
Researchers are increasingly interested in the connections between soil microbiomes, plant microbiomes, animal microbiomes and human microbiomes. The National Academies highlights this as an emerging area of research, especially as scientists explore how microbiomes across systems may support healthy soils and humans.
This does not mean people should eat soil. Please do not add “soil smoothie” to the wellness industry’s list of crimes.
It means that diverse, healthy environments may support healthier microbial exposure, while highly simplified, degraded environments may reduce contact with beneficial microbial diversity.
For farmers and gardeners, practices that increase soil biodiversity may have wider effects on ecosystem and food system health.
Soil is one of the world’s great water filters.
Healthy soil can absorb rainfall, slow runoff and filter water as it moves through the landscape. Soil rich in organic matter and good structure acts like a sponge, holding water during wet periods and releasing it slowly during dry periods.
This matters for human health because water pollution can affect drinking water, rivers, bathing waters, fisheries and ecosystems.
Poor soil management can contribute to:
When soil is compacted, bare or low in organic matter, water runs off more quickly. It can carry soil, manure, fertilisers and chemicals into streams and rivers.
Regenerative soil practices can help protect water by:
Cleaner water is not just an environmental benefit. It is a human health benefit.
Healthy soil helps farms produce food more reliably.
Degraded soils are more vulnerable to drought, flooding, erosion, compaction and nutrient loss. This makes food production less stable, especially as weather becomes more unpredictable.
Healthy soils support food security by:
Soil degradation can threaten food production at local and global scales. FAO’s work on soil biodiversity highlights the role of soil organisms in sustainable agri-food systems and food security.
For human health, food security is foundational. If soil cannot reliably produce nutritious food, everything else becomes harder.
A society that loses soil is not just losing mud. It is losing future meals.
Soil is one of the most biodiverse habitats on Earth.
A single handful of healthy soil can contain bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, mites, springtails, insects, worms and other organisms. These life forms break down organic matter, cycle nutrients, form soil structure and support plant growth.
Above ground, healthy soil supports:
Biodiversity matters for human health because it supports food production, pest regulation, clean water, climate resilience and even cultural wellbeing.
A biodiverse farm is often more resilient than a simplified one. It has more relationships, more checks and balances, and more ways to respond to stress.
This is one reason regenerative farming focuses on diversity: diverse crops, diverse roots, diverse habitats and diverse soil life.
Monocultures may be tidy, but nature tends to prefer a proper party.
Climate health and human health are also connected.
Healthy soils can store carbon, reduce erosion, hold water and support climate-resilient food systems. Degraded soils can release carbon, lose fertility and become more vulnerable to extreme weather.
Soil health practices that support climate resilience include:
These practices can help farms cope with droughts, heavy rainfall and heatwaves.
The climate link matters because climate change affects human health through heat stress, food insecurity, flooding, infectious disease risk, air pollution and mental health stress.
So improving soil health is not a silver bullet for climate change, but it is part of building healthier, more resilient landscapes.
Soil can also affect air quality.
When soil is bare, dry or degraded, it can contribute to dust. Dust can carry fine particles, agrochemicals, microbes or allergens, depending on context. Wind erosion also removes valuable topsoil from farms.
Healthy soil cover reduces dust and erosion.
Practices that help include:
Air quality is easy to forget in soil conversations, but anyone who has seen topsoil blowing across a field knows soil does not always stay politely where we left it.
Soil health also intersects with more complex public health issues, including pathogens, contaminants and antimicrobial resistance.
This is not a reason to fear soil. It is a reason to manage land, manure, water and waste carefully.
Potential risks can come from:
The One Health approach is relevant here because human, animal, plant and ecosystem health interact. WHO notes that changes in the relationships between humans, animals and ecosystems can increase the risk of diseases developing and spreading.
Good farming practice reduces risk by:
Healthy soil is not just “more microbes.” It is a functioning, balanced ecosystem where biological processes are supported and risks are managed.
The connection between soil and human health is not only nutritional or microbial. It is also emotional and cultural.
People benefit from contact with land, gardens, farms, green spaces and nature. Growing food, working with compost, planting trees, caring for animals and restoring habitats can support wellbeing, purpose and connection.
Community gardens, care farms, therapeutic horticulture and nature-based education all show how soil can reconnect people with food and place.
This is not fluffy. Humans evolved in relationship with living landscapes. Many people feel better when they spend time outdoors, grow food or participate in meaningful ecological work.
Soil can ground us in the most literal and emotionally inconvenient way.
If we want healthier people, we need healthier food systems. And that begins with healthier soil.
Practices that support both soil and human health include:
Composting: Compost returns organic matter to soil, feeds microbes and improves structure.
Cover Cropping: Cover crops protect soil, feed biology, reduce erosion and keep living roots in the ground.
Reduced Tillage: Less disturbance helps protect soil structure, fungi, earthworms and organic matter.
Diverse Rotations: Crop diversity supports soil life, breaks pest cycles and improves resilience.
Agroforestry: Trees support biodiversity, water management, carbon storage, shelter and long-term productivity.
Managed Grazing: Well-managed livestock can cycle nutrients, feed soil organisms and maintain pasture cover.
Organic Matter Building: Higher organic matter improves water holding, nutrient cycling and soil structure.
Hedgerows and Habitat: Wildlife habitat supports pollinators, natural pest control and biodiversity.
Careful Manure Management: Proper handling reduces pollution risk and turns waste into fertility.
Reducing Harmful Inputs: Reducing unnecessary synthetic inputs can support soil biology and reduce pollution risk.
These practices are not separate tricks. They are part of whole-system farming.
Regenerative agriculture is often described through soil health principles: minimise disturbance, keep soil covered, maintain living roots, increase diversity and integrate livestock where appropriate.
But the deeper message is this:
Regenerating soil is also about regenerating health.
Not in a simplistic “this carrot will cure everything” way. That is not helpful, and carrots have enough pressure already.
The connection is broader and more important:
This is why soil health belongs in conversations about public health, nutrition, climate, farming policy and community wellbeing.
This is one of the big questions.
The honest answer is: it can, but the relationship is complex.
Soil health can influence nutrient availability, plant stress, microbial relationships and phytochemical production. But food nutrition also depends on crop variety, climate, maturity at harvest, storage, processing and cooking.
So it would be wrong to say that all food grown in healthy soil is automatically nutrient-rich, or that all conventional food is nutrient-poor.
What we can say is that farming practices that build soil biology, organic matter and nutrient cycling are likely to support the conditions plants need to produce nutritious food. Research in this area is growing, including studies comparing regenerative and conventional systems.
For now, the most sensible message is:
Healthy soil is not the only factor in nutritious food, but it is an important foundation.
Soil health and human health are connected in more ways than we often realise.
Soil grows our food, filters our water, supports biodiversity, stores carbon, cycles nutrients and helps landscapes withstand droughts and floods. It is home to vast microbial life and forms part of the wider One Health relationship between people, animals, plants and ecosystems.
When soil is degraded, the effects do not stop at the field edge. They move through food systems, waterways, climate resilience, biodiversity and public health.
When soil is regenerated, the benefits also spread.
Healthier soil can mean more resilient farms, cleaner water, better food, richer biodiversity, stronger communities and landscapes better able to support life.
Soil is not just something we stand on.
It is something we depend on.
And if we want a healthier future, caring for the soil is one of the most practical, hopeful places to begin.
Exploring Linkages Between Soil Health and Human Health — National Academies, 2024
This is probably one of the best overall evidence sources to include. It is a major report from the National Academies looking at the connections between soil management, food composition, the soil microbiome, contaminants, pathogens and human health. It is especially useful because it does not overclaim; it recognises that the relationship between soil health and human health is important, but still needs more research.
Useful for: overall evidence, soil-health-to-human-health links, nutrient density, microbiomes, contaminants, research gaps.
Microbiomes and the Soil–Human Health Continuum — National Academies / NCBI Bookshelf
This chapter focuses on the relationship between soil microbiomes and human microbiomes. It explores how soil, plant, animal and human microbial systems may be connected, and why this matters for health. This is a useful source for explaining that soil health is not just about minerals and crop yields — it is also about living microbial systems.
Useful for: soil microbiome, human microbiome, microbial diversity, One Health.
One Health — World Health Organization
The WHO defines One Health as an integrated approach that aims to balance and optimise the health of people, animals, plants and ecosystems. This is an excellent source to cite when introducing the wider idea that human health cannot be separated from environmental, animal and plant health.
Useful for: defining One Health, linking human health with animals, plants and ecosystems.
Soil Microbiomes and One Health — Banerjee & van der Heijden
This review argues that soils are a cornerstone of One Health because they act as sources and reservoirs of beneficial microorganisms, pathogens and wider microbial diversity. It is useful for a more scientific explanation of why soil microbiomes matter beyond farming.
Useful for: One Health, soil microbes, beneficial microbes, pathogens, ecosystem health.
The Soil Microbiome — Institute for European Environmental Policy
This report gives a good accessible overview of the soil microbiome and includes a section on One Health. It explains how environmental and human health are connected through ecosystems, plants, animals and microorganisms. It is useful if you want a practical, policy-friendly source rather than only academic papers.
Useful for: soil microbiome overview, One Health, policy context, accessible explanation.
Soil Health and Nutrient Density: Beyond Organic vs Conventional Farming — Montgomery et al., 2021
This review explores how soil health may affect the nutrient density of food. It discusses links between soil life, mineral availability, plant health, phytochemicals and farming practices. It is especially useful for explaining that nutrition is not only about fertiliser inputs; soil biology and farming systems also matter.
Useful for: nutrient density, soil biology, regenerative practices, food quality.
This is a frequently cited study comparing food grown on regenerative and conventional farms. The authors found differences in soil health and some crop nutrient measures, with regenerative farms showing higher soil organic matter and improved nutrient profiles in several comparisons. It is worth including, but with a cautious note: it was a preliminary study with a relatively small sample size, so it supports the case for further research rather than proving that all regenerative food is automatically more nutritious.
Useful for: regenerative farming, nutrient density, soil organic matter, early evidence.
The State of Knowledge of Soil Biodiversity — FAO
This FAO resource explains the importance of soil biodiversity for ecosystem services, agriculture and food security. It is useful for supporting the idea that soil organisms are not optional extras; they are central to nutrient cycling, soil structure, plant health and resilient food systems.
Useful for: soil biodiversity, food security, ecosystem services, soil organisms.
Soils and Biodiversity — FAO Knowledge Repository
This FAO resource states that improving soil biodiversity is important for soil health and future food and nutrition security. It is useful for linking soil health not only to farm productivity, but also to nutrition security and long-term resilience.
Useful for: food security, nutrition security, soil biodiversity, agroecology.
Opportunities and Challenges of the One Health Approach — Rattan Lal, 2024
Rattan Lal’s article explores the role of soil in human health and nutrition through a One Health lens. It is useful because Lal is a major soil scientist, and the paper connects soil restoration, food, water, air, minerals and environmental health.
Useful for: soil health and nutrition, One Health, soil restoration, broad framing.
Diets and Regenerative Agriculture — The Food Foundation, 2025
This report explores the relationship between regenerative agriculture, diets and nutritional quality. It discusses the claim that better soil health may increase crop nutrient density, while also recognising that the evidence base is still developing. This could be useful for keeping your article current and grounded in UK food-system conversations.
Useful for: regenerative agriculture and diets, nutrient density debate, UK food systems.
Research Repository — Nutrient Density Initiative
The Nutrient Density Initiative provides a research hub focused on soil health, food quality and One Health. It is useful as a “further reading” resource for readers who want to explore the nutrient density conversation more deeply.
Useful for: further reading, nutrient density, food quality, One Health.
Research into soil health and human health is growing rapidly. Reports from the National Academies and FAO highlight links between soil biodiversity, soil management, food security, microbial systems, contaminants, pathogens and nutrient density. Studies comparing regenerative and conventional systems suggest that healthier soils may sometimes be associated with more nutrient-dense crops, but the relationship is complex and influenced by crop variety, soil type, climate, harvest timing, storage and farming practices. The strongest conclusion is that soil health is an important foundation for human health, but more long-term research is needed to fully understand the pathways between living soil, nutritious food and healthy people.
