Press Release: Nutrients for All! SOIL, Ashoka and Nutrient Equity

We are excited to announce that SOIL is a finalist Ashoka’s Nutrients for All Competition! Participating in this competition has been such a pleasure for us because the goals of the Nutrients for All movement so closely align with our own philosophy. Nutrients for All and Ashoka Changemakers are seeking innovative solutions that will ensure the availability of nutrients for healthy, natural ecosystems, farms, food, and people. This focus on nutrient equity has allowed SOIL to take a closer look at our work from the perspective of social justice.

At SOIL we believe that a more nutrient rich planet is dependent on societal recognition of the importance of nutrient recycling. In recent history the focus in the agricultural sector has been on increasing soil nutrient inputs through the application of chemical fertilizers, the production of which require significant fossil fuel use. Many farmers are unable to afford imported chemical fertilizers, which are subject to the price fluctuations of the international market. To ensure that the provision of basic nutrients for all of the world’s population it is critical that nutrients consumed are then conserved within agricultural systems, reducing our reliance on expensive, carbon-intensive chemical inputs while also enhancing soil resilience to rapidly changing environmental conditions. Equitable distribution of nutrient resources is reliant on building local capacity to recycle and reuse nutrients already available within communities.

Check out SOIL’s entry “Closing the Loop, Transforming the Poop” and take a moment to view the impressive work of our fellow finalists on the competition website. Winners will be announced on September 18 so stay tuned.

Thanks to Ashoka for helping to remind us of why we are so passionate about the work we do.  Nutrients for All!