ARCAD
Preserving the diversity of cultivated plants: a crucial challenge for tomorrow’s agriculture and food.
30% of the world’s soils have already deteriorated
24 billion tonnes of soil washed away by erosion every year
50 years for the soil to regenerate 2 cm of humus
Soil health, key to our resilience
Soils are essential to agriculture, water regulation, carbon storage and biodiversity. Yet they are deteriorating rapidly: erosion, pollution, urbanization, salinization, deforestation. This deterioration threatens fertility, food security and ecosystems.
At Montpellier, researchers combine a number of disciplines to :
- Study soil fertility, carbon and fauna,
- test practices such as agroforestry and composting,
- monitor the evolution of organic matter,
- design sustainable policies.
Our aim is to gain a better understanding of interactions and develop solutions to restore and protect soils, the key to agro-ecological transition.
