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Science for Sapiens A year in research (2024)

he soil is home to life and sustains it. Mi-
llions of microorganisms live in it and, if
this was not enough, it also enables the
growth of crops that feed us and plants
that provide oxygen. The soil transforms
death into life. However, the dispropor-
tionate use of land makes it die gradua-
T lly. Using this non-renewable resource
sustainably is a responsibility of present generations toward
future generations. Given the possibility of exhausting the
regenerative capacity of the substrate, several projects of
the University Miguel Hernández (UMH) of Elche propose
solutions that enable to recover life on the earth – with lower
case – at the same time that contribute to create a circular
economic model of reuse of resources.

It may not seem as vital as the air we breathe or the water
we use drink, wash or cook. However, the soil is one of the
most important natural resources that enable life on Earth. It
provides nutrients, water and minerals for plants and trees.
It supports 90% of all food, fibre and fuel production and is
home to billions of small animals, bacteria and microorga-
nisms. In addition, it is a fundamental part of the nutrient cy-
cle, due to its capacity to absorb and store carbon, nitrogen The soil is a
and phosphorus from organic matter. In addition, in the cu-
rrent climate crisis situation, as a global carbon sink, it plays non-renewable resource.
an important role in possible ways to slow down global war- It cannot be regenerated
ming.
naturally as quickly as ne-
The soil is a non-renewable resource. It cannot be regene-
rated naturally as quickly as necessary to meet human con- cessary to meet human
sumption needs. With the number of activities that depend consumption needs
on it, managing it sustainably is important to increase its re-
silience. The decrease of organic matter, together with po-
llution and soil erosion, diminish its capacity to sustain the While commercial fertilisers are used to optimise the pro-
demands of society. duction of intensive agriculture in the short term, this prac-
tice affects soil fertility and productivity in the long term.
Avoiding industrial fertilisers According to Professor of Edaphology and Agricultural
As an agricultural resource, the amount of fertile soil has de- Chemistry at UMH Raúl Moral, “industrial fertilisers have ser-
clined at a rapid and steady rate. With a world population of ved, serve and will serve to feed humanity, but have a high
eight billion people, farmers’ capacity to grow enough food energy cost in their production and transportation. In addi-
is compromised. Moving circular economy to the countrysi- tion, its indiscriminate use leads the impacts on the hydros-
de can be an option to increase the productivity of the agri- phere, in the form of nitrates, and on the soil, as it produces
cultural sector in a sustainable way. salinisation, compaction, etc.”

The Agrocompost project of the UMH and the Department The Agrocompost initiative has already 131 pilot farms in
of Agriculture, Rural Development, Climate Emergency and 125 municipalities throughout the Comunitat Valenciana.
Ecological Transition of the Generalitat Valenciana aims to With the study of more than 270 composting processes
experiment with different types and methods of compos- with custom blends, the UMH researchers have managed to
ting to discover the best mixtures for each farm. The initia- formulate and validate compositions adapted to the olive,
tive enables the production of high-quality compost with wine, fruit and vegetable sectors.
optimal ingredients according to the resources available in
each place. From waste to compost
In this same vein, the NEOCOMP project studies new ways
The farmers in the Agrocompost project compare the effec- of developing local composting at a mainly urban level
tiveness of their own recipes with products from other com- using circular economy as a model. A practice that has been
mercial brands. implemented in recent years and that has meant a change
in the models of organic waste management that see as a
It all begins with the interest of the farmers who request the resource what was previously considered just waste. Until
assistance of UMH researchers, who then visit the location now, the usual thing in waste processing, with the excep-
and analyse the available organic material. Local agri-com- tion of some considered as high valuable, were the ope-
posting enables the generation of fertility in the cultivated rations of “collection and disposal”. This results in the co-
field itself, recirculates the nutrients from the soil and pre- llection of mixed urban waste and its subsequent disposal,
vents fires. either in dumps or through incineration.

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