The secret of living soil

How can we produce nutritious, healthy food using organic farming methods?

Our society consumes more and more processed foods, a significant portion of which consist of two main ingredients: wheat and corn, to which refined vegetable oil produced from rapeseed and sunflower is added in the artificial cauldrons of the food industry. The biggest difference in the end product is the packaging and the physical state. The taste is not provided by the ingredients, but by a considerable amount of salt and flavor enhancers.

Photo: shutterstock.com

For those who want to break free from the iron grip of malnutrition and qualitative hunger, I have some good news and some bad news.

Bad news: content has decreased

Nutritionists encourage us to change our eating habits and consume fresh, local, seasonal, unprocessed foods. In other words, processing should take place in our own kitchens, when we add carrots, root vegetables, celery, onions, garlic, kale, and everything else we like in our broth to the pot with the farm-raised chicken. In addition, we should eat plenty of fresh, fiber-rich vegetables. However, few people realize that the nutritional value of all our plant and animal foods has declined significantly in recent decades. This means that carrots are no longer as rich in nutrients and phytonutrients as they were in our grandparents' time. So it's no surprise that broth isn't as tasty as it used to be at our grandmothers' table.

On the surface, we do not appear to be starving, as we consume even more calories than we need. The cancer of Western civilization is a different kind of starvation, one that stems from a lack of micronutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. As a result of a diet low in nutritional value and high in empty calories, the body does not get the nutrients it needs to function properly and healthily. In the long term, nutritional starvation can lead to various health problems, such as a weakened immune system, chronic diseases, fatigue, and developmental disorders.

Good news: the focus is shifting from quantity to quality production

A Soil Restoration Farmers Association this year REAG conference The theme is „One Health” concept, in which we think of the soil, plants, animals, and humans as a mutually interactive and closely interrelated system. One of the keynote speakers at the conference Dan Kittredge, head of the Massachusetts-based Bionutrient Institute, who brought us a revolutionary message: „The nutritional value of plants, i.e., their nutrient density, is not determined by the labels attached to them, but by the biological activity of the soil. Food grown in living soil has a much higher physiological value and can play a huge role in restoring and maintaining our health.”

The Bionutrient Institute, led by Dan Kittredge research point out that the nutrient density of plants, i.e., the concentration of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients they contain, can vary significantly depending on growing conditions. In the 2020 data collection, the examination of thousands of plant samples revealed that even within the same plant species, there can be differences in mineral content of up to 5–10–15 times, depending on the plant variety. This variation in content can be attributed to cultivation methods, soil health, and microbial activity. Nutrient density is an important concept that determines not only the quantity of food but also its true nutritional value, making it a critical factor in health.

Research has shown that soil organic matter content and microbial activity are positively correlated with plant nutrient density. The results indicate that conventional industrial farming often leads to a decline in nutrients, while healthy soil and regenerative farming methods improve crop quality. The Bionutrient Institute aims to establish a scientific basis for measuring food quality and promote increased nutrient density in the global food system. This will enable us to address not only quantitative but also qualitative hunger in the future.

What can farmers do to join this global movement and lead the way in producing high-quality food?

Farmers are key players in soil health preservation and restoration, as their actions have a direct impact on the balance of the ecosystem and the nutritional value of food. Farmers who consciously support soil biological activity, apply the principles of regenerative agriculture, and strive to produce nutrient-dense, healthy crops are improving not only their local environment but also the global food system, thus leading the way in quality food production.

Photo: taken by the author

Living soil: the key to producing nutrient-rich food

In July 2025, Dan Kittredge visited Hungary again and MATE Bőszénfai Deer FarmAt a professional conference held in January, he presented how organic farming methods can be used to increase the nutrient density of plants.

The fundamental starting point is the soil, which is not simply a medium, but a living, dynamic ecosystem. Plants share a significant portion of the sugars produced during photosynthesis with microorganisms living in the soil, primarily bacteria and fungi, through their roots. This symbiosis allows the microbiome to mobilize and make the minerals in the soil available to the plant, making it healthier and richer in nutrients.

It all starts with the soil

In order for microorganisms to function properly, they need healthy, aerated soil that is sufficiently moist and rich in humus. Common in modern agriculture soil compaction, the lack of organic matter and soil cover inhibits microbial life, reduces nutrient uptake, and thus also the nutritional value of plants.

The principles of regenerative agriculture provide an excellent starting point for eliminating these problems and supporting soil life, thereby promoting the natural nutrient cycle. An important goal is to increase the organic matter content of the soil, which improves its structure and water retention capacity, thus providing a suitable habitat for soil microorganisms. Minimal or no-till farming is also important, as it reduces soil disturbance and also protects microbial communities.

Maintaining permanent living root systems is crucial, as they continuously nourish the soil microbiome and help mobilize nutrients. Continuous mulching and the use of cover crops protect the soil, reduce the risk of drying out and erosion, and ensure a constant supply of organic matter. Diverse crop rotations and plant communities promote soil biodiversity, which strengthens the natural nutrient cycle and the resistance of plants.

Note: Within a given plant species, sap with a higher refractive index means higher sugar content, mineral content, protein content, and greater density. This results in a sweeter taste, higher nutritional value, lower nitrate and water content, lower freezing point, and better storability.

Natural nutrient sources instead of chemicals

However, it is important to note that excessive use of fertilizers in large doses can have the opposite effect, as they can lead to soil depletion. The ideal solution for farmers is the conscious, balanced use of soil improvers such as lime, rock flour, and microelement-containing foliar fertilizers, which promote natural nutrient mobilization.

How can nutrient content be measured?

One of the simplest and most effective tools for assessing the nutrient content of plants is the handheld refractometer, commonly used in winemaking, which provides a picture of the dissolved substance content of plant juices. The higher the Brix value, the more likely the plant is to be rich in nutrients such as sugars, minerals, and phytonutrients, which directly reflects the health of the production environment.

The refractometer test is very simple: press a single drop from the fruit or leaf onto the glass plate of the device using a garlic press, turn it towards the light, and read the result. If the Brix value of the plant's leaves is 12, this indicates that the plant has a high soluble content, which usually indicates good nutrient supply, excellent photosynthetic activity, and rich phytonutrient and mineral content, resulting in a healthier and more nutritious crop.

The Brix values of fruits and vegetables vary much more widely. For example, the average Brix value of a tomato is around 6. A Brix value of 4 is considered low for tomatoes, indicating that the fruit has a low nutrient density and flavor intensity, and is therefore likely to be less nutritious and tasty. You would need to eat 2-3 times as much of such a tomato as you would of one with a high nutritional value to get the same amount of nutrients.

The Bionutrient Institute's 2020 study examined nutrient density in thousands of plant samples and concluded that the only strong correlation can be found with soil life activity, meaning that the microbiological health of the soil is the most important factor determining the nutritional quality of plants. This confirms that farmers should not only focus on the plant, but also emphasize soil health.

By using living soil, a rich microbiome, and regenerative farming practices, farmers can not only produce healthier, more nutrient-dense crops, but also make them more resistant to stress. This approach is ultimately the most important weapon against nutritional quality hunger and contributes to sustainable, profitable farming.

The key to success is continuous soil monitoring, maintaining living plant cover, supporting the microbiome, regularly replenishing organic matter, and consciously using and reducing chemicals and fertilizers. In addition, dialogue between farmers and health professionals, knowledge sharing, and practical training, such as the course starting in October at MATE Szarvasfarm, are becoming increasingly important. LivingLand.en program, which helps farmers improve the quality of their products using living soil and biological farming methods. The educational materials and programs of the Soil Renewal Farmers Association also provide significant knowledge for getting started or advancing to the next level.

Every cloud has a silver lining

The spirit of organic and regenerative agriculture is based on understanding and respecting nature's cycles, which ensures long-term sustainable, healthy farmland and food supply. Nutrient-dense, healthy foods produced through conscious farming not only serve the well-being of consumers, but also contribute to soil and ecosystem rehabilitation, sustainability, and food system stability.

What is truly beautiful about this story is that the landscape, the soil, and human health go hand in hand. Every cloud has a silver lining. The drastic decline in the health of our society is sounding the alarm bells in time, highlighting the need to think systematically. By healing ourselves and our food system, we also heal the soil. To produce nutrient-rich food, we must consider the same factors and methods that prevent soil degradation. It cannot be otherwise, since humans and ecosystems are in fact one and the same.

AUTHOR: VÍG VITÁLIA • SOIL ECOLOGIST, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF SOIL REGENERATION FARMERS, FOUNDER OF TERRAVITKA