Selected Topic

Promoting sustainable production and food sovereignty.

Project Description

betterSoil applies four principles towards improving soil health for increased agricultural productivity. These include biochar, compost, agroforestry and soil treatment/management. Biochar, a process of pyrolysis, increases the resistance and fertility of soils, while compost provides the optimal nutrient pool for better soils. Agroforestry meanwhile creates synergetic benefits for soils which in turn ensure the quality and resilience of residing crops and plants. Proper soil management helps the soil establish and maintain the balance of a diverse microbiology. The right methods protect the soil from erosion, increase the productivity and amount of humus (organic matter), promote biodiversity, and protect Earth’s forests. This takes place by removing, bonding, and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) as organic carbon.

About the Institution

The betterSoil movement, founded by Azadeh Farajpour, was launched in 2020 at the European level and with the support of the EU Parliament. With specific cultivation practices for building up soil humus, betterSoil connects the findings of science and research with the existing knowledge of farmers around the world. At the same time, betterSoil strives to promote sustainable agriculture not only in practice but also in the political environment and mobilizes decision-makers at the level of the European Parliament, such as Prof. Dr. Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker, Dr. Franz Fischler (Former EU Agriculture Commissioner), and Dr. Peter Johnston (European Policy Centre). betterSoil has recently forged a partnership with the UNCCD COP15 Presidency towards rehabilitating and restoring degraded soils. betterSoil is made up of a team of young and motivated soil enthusiasts spread over Germany, Netherlands, Iran, Kenya and Malawi.

Contact Person: Azadeh Farajpour