Carbon in Soils
It’s Important! By Fr. Charles Rue
A
few years back I wrote Let the Son Shine: an Australian Response to Climate Change. The booklet summarizes many issues common to the western world and gathers major Catholic environmental teachings. It was framed in the Cardinal Cardign method of See-Judge-Act. As an update, I am sharing my experience of meeting scientists, farmers and consumers of food who focus on the importance of carbon in soils. Soil scientists explained to me the two vital roles carbon plays in soils. First, soils are a nature given sink for large amounts
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of atmospheric carbon with measurable value as a tradeable commodity; and second, carbon in soils is an essential component for producing plentiful and healthy food. Microbiologists explain that the process of soil creation moves through long and many stages – from rock through single cell bacteria, microbes, fungi, organic matter, carbon, worms and the like culminating in the humus which supports plant life and the animals which depend on it. It may not be an interesting subject for some, but it gave me a sense of awe. Nature’s system for the continuing refertilization of soil is an evolved recycling system. Forms of farming that only take from the soil disrupt this system and its organic mix. In a double whammy, human management has often disrupted nature’s balanced system. First it has increased the percentage of carbon gases released into the atmosphere so changing growing conditions, and second, it has decreased the ability of soils to absorb carbon from the atmosphere. A push to promote techniques to deposit more carbon in soils is often led by farmers who need a property that both supports them financially and preserves soil health. A push for healthy soils is also coming from consumers who want to offer healthy and nutritious food for themselves and their family. I have met many farmers and food consumers who out of common interest have formed cooperatives around farmers markets and foodie events. The three groups together are a great example of solidarity. The scientific links between climate change, food and soil carbon has been made.
While efforts to promote energy efficiency and alternative sources of energy to fossil fuels get a lot of press, actually reducing the levels of carbon in the atmosphere, taking carbon out of the atmosphere, is the other half of the equation. Soils are already a sink for atmospheric carbon, but the process needs to be positively managed to increase the amounts of carbon deposited in soils. Managers suggest three stages: enlist the understanding of players in the agricultural industry about the importance of carbon in soils and their cooperation; develop step by step carbon techniques to bury carbon using better farm management practices; put in place financial mechanisms that benefit this positive management action. Carbon trading is one option. Meeting people concerned with the carbon content of soils resonated with my experience of a decade of campaigning about the dangers of genetically modified foods (GMOs). It seems that disrupting soil organisms can impact on healthy bacteria in the human gut. Publicly available long term testing and labeling of transgenic foods is needed but is not easy to get under counter pressure from international seed and agricultural chemical companies. Even the law has been dragooned to serve them through patenting laws. I am grateful to the many farmers, consumers and scientists who have taught me that soil carbon is important in both the climate and food debates, issues for my living as a Catholic and missionary priest. CM Columban Fr. Charles Rue lives and works in Australia.
www.columban.org
10/7/12 7:12 PM