‘Soils don’t recover and improve overnight‘

Keith Paustian, Distinguished Professor at Colorado State University (CSU) leads the team coordinating the North American node of the Soil Carbon International Research Consortium (IRC).

How does the soil situation in North America compare with the global context?

The soil situation in North America is generally stable, with improvements in many areas. This progress is largely due to the adoption of conservation practices like cover cropping and reduced tillage, driven by better technology, farmer understanding, and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing. Government support, including funding from initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act, has also played a key role.

However, challenges remain. Some regions still experience soil degradation, exacerbated by climate change and the reversal of conservation practices in response to persistent problems like weeds. While North America is making significant progress, soils don’t recover and improve overnight. It is a long term process.

We need to adopt and sustain significantly better practices, ensuring this continues for several decades. Farming practices in the United States, Canada, and North America overall are generally moving in the right direction.

What are the main challenges for soil biodiversity, sustainable management, and carbon storage in North America?

They are multifaceted. Climate change, particularly in dry areas, makes soils more vulnerable to drought and extreme weather, which harms soil health and biodiversity. Ongoing land development, such as the conversion of agricultural land into urban areas, also threatens soil health and reduces carbon storage. Poor soil management disrupts biodiversity by damaging the microbial communities and wildlife that healthy soils support.

The situation varies across the region: while the US National Inventory shows a slight increase in carbon storage on cropland, the conversion of grasslands to cropland continues to reduce soil carbon storage. Some areas are improving, but many still face significant challenges.

What is the current state of policy regarding soil carbon? Are you expecting any political progress on this issue in the near future?

There is substantial evidence that regenerative farming can become more profitable over time. However, transitioning to these practices is inherently risky, especially for farmers who are unfamiliar with new methods. This creates a significant barrier to adoption, as the benefits may not be immediately apparent.

To facilitate this shift, policies must provide long-term financial support, technology, and guidance. This could come through government assistance, incentives from low-carbon supply chains, carbon markets, or other similar initiatives. Short-term subsidies are insufficient, as farmers may abandon new practices if they do not see immediate benefits. Instead, support should extend for six to ten years, giving farmers enough time to fully realise the benefits of improved soil health and increased carbon storage.

Once these practices prove profitable, the system could become self-sustaining. However, in areas where sustainable practices are not feasible, the land should be taken out of agricultural production and restored to native ecosystems.

How do you define your role as representative for ORCaSa’s Regional Node for North America?

Our role is to facilitate the collection, organisation, and sharing of data, tools, and models related to soil carbon. This work supports the scientific community and other stakeholders, such as researchers, NGOs, and government bodies, by making reliable resources and information widely available.

At Colorado State University, we established the Soil Carbon Solutions Centre to centralise data, technology, and expertise, and we are leveraging this initiative to contribute to Soil Carbon IRC’s global efforts. By bringing together insights from North America, we aim to enhance collaboration and advance soil carbon solutions worldwide.

Why is it important to establish an international framework for Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) and how could it benefit the region?

The framework would combine ground measurements, remote sensing, and advanced models. Ground data from monitoring networks, along with satellite and drone imagery, would help track changes in carbon across large areas. Models that integrate these data sources can improve predictions and help policymakers understand the impact of different farming practices.

In the long run, this MRV approach would help guide policies, track progress, and ensure that the most effective practices are adopted to improve soil health and reduce emissions.

How can the IRC contribute to advancing soil conservation efforts in North America?

We plan to organise a meeting to strengthen collaboration within the Soil Carbon IRC community and to launch a data platform to support these efforts. This platform will contribute to Impact4Soil, providing open, curated data for researchers worldwide.

We are committed to adopting open data practices, moving away from past reluctance to share information. By making data accessible, we can encourage collaboration, drive innovation, and ensure smooth progress toward shared objectives. While this shift has its challenges, it is essential for building a more effective and connected scientific community.