Farming, soil, and real sustainability – beyond organic marketing
Real sustainability in farming starts with soil, not labels. Soil is alive. It has microbes, worms, fungi, and plant roots working together. When farming uses too many chemicals, this life is damaged. Crops may grow faster for a short time, but the soil becomes weak over the years. Many “organic” farms only replace chemical inputs with organic ones. This looks good on paper, but it does not always heal the soil. Real sustainability means helping the soil recover and become stronger. Healthy soil holds more water, needs less fertilizer, and supports plants naturally. Good practices include crop rotation, cover crops, composting, and using less ploughing. These improve soil year after year. True sustainability is not about marketing or certificates. It is about leaving the land healthier for the next generation.