The world will run out of fertile topsoil in 60 years

Maybe you had to read that sentence twice? It sounds dramatic, but the truth is that, if the world continues to waste soil at the same pace as in the last 50 years, scientists believe that we will completely run out of soil. In only 60 years. Ten years from now – although hopefully earlier – we will be having the same discussions around the need for fertile soil as we are having today about CO2 emissions.

It is possible to prevent the loss of soil. One of the obvious things to do is to stop sending soil to landfill. For that, we need technology that removes all IASs from the soil. Our Soilsteam S20 machine, currently under long-term testing, sterilizes the soil and makes it possible to reuse it, instead of sending it to landfill.

Alien invasive plant species pose the second-greatest threat to biodiversity

Did you know that alien invasive plant species pose the second-greatest threat to biodiversity after habitat loss? (Link til: World Conservation Union). Increased international trade and imports of soil, plants, and plant products seem to be the main reasons for introducing these species. Meanwhile, climate changes facilitate the establishment of new climatic areas, helping invasive plants to spread. Although these species are beautiful, they harm many of our ecosystems. Several action plans and strategies now exist to combat these invaders.​

Take the example of Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica). Discovered by Victorian plant hunters and introduced to western gardens in the late 19th century, the plant soon became the most notorious alien species throughout Europe and North America. In most jurisdictions, it is now subject to strict controls. For construction and civil engineering projects, the discovery of Japanese Knotweed can prove a serious headache, resulting in delays and large extra costs. For example, in the United Kingdom, soil containing any trace of the plant is regarded as controlled waste requiring special disposal regulated by law. Over £70 million was spent eradicating knotweed from the 2012 Olympic Park in London. Herbicides such as glyphosate are rarely totally effective.

Soil steaming is effective against invasive alien species such as Japanese Knotweed. Soil infested with knotweed rhizomes or other vegetative material can be successfully treated on-site, removing the need for it to be treated as controlled waste. SoilSteam has also proven efficient elimination of plant parts and seeds from the following list of Invasive Alien Species:

English names: Common wild oat, Barnyard grass, Giant hogweed, Persian hogweed, Himalayan balsam, Stotch laburnum, Common laburnum, Garden lupine, Japanese rosa, Red elderberry, Black nightshade, Canadian goldenrod, Sycamore maple, Lady’s mantle, Dwarf serviceberry

Botanical names: Avena fatua, Echinochloa crus-galli, Heracleum mantegazzianum, Heracleum persicum, Impatiens glandulifera, Laburnum alpinum, Laburnum anagyroides, Lupinus polyphyllus, Rosa rugosa, Sambucus racemosa, Solanum nigrum, Solidago canadensis.

We’re facing a food crisis and an environmental crisis, in parallell

We’re facing a food crisis and an environmental crisis, in parallel. The world population grows by more than 80 million every year. According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, food systems are already exceeding planetary boundaries for key resources. We need to produce more food at the same time as much of the soil is degraded and the farmer’s tools are decreasing.

FAO says we must increase agricultural output while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It stresses the need to encourage the development of sustainable and affordable agricultural technologies – something the EU, for example, has taken to heart in its Green Deal for the CAP, proposing an initiative that will cut the use of pesticides by 50% before 2030.

SoilSteam’s field machine FieldSaver contributes to significant yield increase for farmers (up to 330%), as steaming can treat diseases or weeds where (legal) chemicals have low or no effect. Our customers also experience increased shelf life of fruits and vegetables after harvesting, as steaming removes fungi normally reducing storage time. This contributes to less food waste and less need for import/transportation of food. In addition, the steam treatment reduces the need for chemicals.

Sustainability and Impact

Through our healthy, sustainable soil management techniques, we’re committed to helping society achieve a number of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations in 2015:

The solution to one of the world’s most urgent problems: the lack of topsoil.

Join us in making a difference.