A breathless present, a future to be burned, or how we are destroying the foundation of our existence, the fertile soil

A paradigm shift is needed to regenerate the soil. We must leave the beaten path for the untrodden, because the road has run out.

Today, we sacrifice the „development” of fertile soil on the altar of profit („agribusiness”): we pursue higher crop yields in the name of „profitable, competitive” agriculture.

Fertile soil – the basis of our existence

Three hundred years ago, agriculture meant something different. At that time, after three or four years of cultivation, the land was rested for 20–30 years. After fallowing regained its productivity, as nature reclaimed and regenerated the land, and changes in plant vegetation caused carbon to be pumped back into the soil from the atmosphere. This increased fertility and restored the water balance and ecological equilibrium.

It cannot be emphasized enough: fertile soil is the basis of our well-being. Yet we treat it as if it were an inexhaustible resource.

Today's, Global soil degradation results from environmental overexploitation., but many blame climate change for the damage caused to agriculture. In reality, however, it is greedy, short-sighted environmental exploitation that causes – and further exacerbates – the problem.

Without a paradigm shift, there will be no future

Over the past sixty years the use of artificial fertilizers has replaced organic manure. Our groundwater has been polluted, and more than 70% of our country's territory has become nitrate-sensitive. The structure of our soil has been destroyed by intensive cultivation and the „respiratory” of organic matter, to varying degrees depending on the soil type.

In summer, uncovered soil not only loses humus, but also overheats. Without water content, it cannot dissipate heat, causing atmospheric drought near the surface. For a while, evaporation compensates for the deficit, but then a water deficit occurs in the landscape. Drought is intensifying—even in areas covered with vegetation.

Forests also suffer from the heat. Trees „breathe” water through the stomata in their leaves while binding CO₂, without producing anything. Without water, the leaves cannot decompose, so the fungi that live in symbiosis with the trees also lose their reserves from the food chain. Nutrients are not reused, the forest weakens, and the risk of fire increases. This is now a global problem.

The dead end of specialist thinking

Today's specialist mindset—where someone focuses on a specific area or simply pursues profit—does not consider the consequences. However, Only a holistic approach can serve the future well..

A „Everything is connected to everything else.” This principle is demonstrated by the cycles of nature, which are damaged as a result of economic competition.

We consume all the primary and secondary products grown on farmland, a significant portion of which is organic matter from which we obtain „renewable energy” – „zero CO₂ balance” biomass. However, this balance can never truly be zero, as transportation, collection, investment, energy release, and energy transport all involve emissions and losses. A biomass Removing it from the living—or already dying—system only serves the market economy, not nature.

Apparent circulation instead of actual circulation

According to the new trend, the linear economic model has been replaced by a circular economic model, which biomass-based ideology is now attempting to „reform.” But behind the facade of action, the reality remains unchanged: the exploitation of nature is intensifying.

It would be better to follow the ideas of Professor József Országh, who believes that Biomass is the stuff of life – it is the food source for the microorganisms at the bottom of the food chain that maintain soil fertility., the basis of our renewal and prosperity.

It is not economic prosperity that we should be thinking about, but rather the ecological services provided by healthy soil and landscapes:

• tolerable temperature,
• clean air,
• healthy food.

MHowever, phytomass is used to produce food, industrial raw materials, fuel, or heating fuel. – and thus escapes the cycle of life.

The disruption of the carbon cycle

Today's „problem-maintaining problem management” Due to this approach, by-products are considered nothing more than „waste.” Their disposal requires further investment, which stimulates the market but also consumes more raw materials and energy and contributes to global warming.

Anthropogenic modification of the carbon cycle has led to accelerated climate change. The real cause is not the increase in atmospheric CO₂ alone, but soil degradation and loss of biodiversity.

With the disappearance of water from the landscape, biodiversity declines, and with it, life itself. Soil fertility comes from biodiversity, and it is life that retains water in the soil.

A future worth burning – by design

We continue to use fossil fuels at an increasing rate.

We are overusing our farmland (exhausting its living and non-living carbon resources), and We intend to „utilize” the resulting carbon-containing waste – RDF, SRF, sewage sludge – for energy purposes.”.

Meanwhile, the by-products – cereal straw, sunflower stalks, corn stalks, rapeseed stalks, fruit tree and grapevine prunings, and forest root stumps – are said to be CO₂-neutral. We burn it as biomass, turning small change into the future..

Economic performance is growing, and we feel the consequences on our skin.

A future locked in the city

Urbanization is intensifying. Rural life is becoming less and less attractive to consumer society: few services, low wages.

As cities grow, material and energy consumption becomes more concentrated, and with it, pollution. We centrally „utilize” organic materials produced over large areas, thereby interrupting natural cycles. – and the possibility of renewal.

This not only improves soil fertility, but also we are also ruining our children's future.

Healing the soil is also healing people

The landscape can heal its wounds if the soil is constantly shaded. (protect from light and wind): with living plant cover, mulch, multi-level, diverse vegetation.

According to Ernst Götsch's syntropic agricultural practice, „water must be planted” – and if we involve ruminants in this process, we can naturally support the rehabilitation of the landscape.

The key to renewal is regenerative soil renewal farming, which heals not only the environment but also people.