World Soil Day, recognized each year on December 5, highlights the essential role soil plays in global food security and sustainable agriculture. The day was established by the United Nations to raise awareness about the need for healthy soils and the importance of management practices that preserve the soil’s productivity for future generations.
Why Soil Health Matters
Soil is a living, dynamic system. Healthy, productive soil contains a balance of nutrients, organic matter, and microorganisms that interact to support crop development.
When soil biology, structure, and chemistry are in balance, crops are more efficient at taking up nutrients and water. That balance helps maintain yield stability, reduce fertilizer loss, and improve crop resilience under environmental stress.
Degraded or biologically inactive soils, on the other hand, limit root growth, reduce nutrient availability, and make plants more susceptible to stress. As production challenges continue to evolve, soil health has become a critical driver of both year-over-year performance and long-term sustainability.
The Link Between Soil Health and Food Production
Globally, about one-third of the world’s soils are considered degraded, and the effects are already being seen in crop quality and productivity. Healthy soils store more carbon, retain more water, and provide a steady supply of nutrients to plants, directly influencing the quality and consistency of the food supply.
For growers, maintaining soil health isn’t just a conservation effort, it’s an agronomic one. A strong soil foundation supports higher yield potential, better crop uniformity, and greater return on input investments.
How Symvado Supports Soil Health
Symvado® is a mycorrhizal inoculant powered by MycoApply® arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Mycorrhizal fungi are naturally occurring beneficial fungi that act as a secondary root system for the host crop, forming a mutualistic association. They provide the host crop better access to soil moisture and nutrients in exchange for carbon supplied by the plant. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi benefit both plant health and soil health.
AMF Benefits to Plant Health:
Increase Effective Root Mass
Mycorrhizal fungi increase the total surface area of the root mass, serving as a more efficient extension of the plant root system within the soil.
Increase Nutrient Uptake
Hyphae explore beyond the depletion zone for immobile nutrients, transporting them to the plant.
Improved Drought Tolerance
Mycorrhizae can obtain moisture from areas in the soil that plants cannot access.
AMF Benefits to Soil Health:
Improved Soil Structure
Glomalin produced by the fungal network contributes to increased soil aggregation for improved soil structure.
Enhanced Soil Microbe Activity
AMF can boost the activity of other beneficial soil microbes, which help break down organic matter and release nutrients.
Learn more about Symvado.
Building Stronger Soils for the Future
World Soil Day is a good time to pause and consider how soil management practices, including biostimulants, improve productivity beyond a single season. Investing in soil health today builds resilience for tomorrow’s challenges.