Soil Biology Is Even More Important Than Soil Chemistry

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The relationship between plants and the microbes in the soil is a remarkable symbiotic one. The rhizosphere, this little zone of soil surrounding the root is a plant's external gut. And we call that ring the rhizosphere and it includes some of the densest bacterial communities on earth. In return for the sugars the plant gives them, they extract minerals from the soil. All those people are happening in the human gut. You have these incredibly dense bacterial communities. They defend you against infection, fighting off pathogens which might invade the gut wall and they fire up your immune system.

Episode #247. It's widely accepted that we are in a climate crisis. But what does that mean? Renowned author and journalist George Monbiot joins me in this episode to examine how our food systems are directly impacting our planet's health, and what we can do about it. What do soil and the human gut have in common? Why is food a political issue? What does radical change in the food system look like, and how do we get there?

We cover these questions and more, discussing:

Intro (00:00)
George Monbiot on wildlife, farming, & global food systems (03:39)
Plants & soil microbes: a remarkable connection (09:45)
Soil bacterial diversity & the dangers of soil degradation (20:36)
Profit over sustainability (26:32)
The role of citizens in shaping the food system (34:09)
Why is animal agriculture problematic? (45:38)
Are we the complacent and the silent majority? (57:35)
George Monbiot's alternative to farming animals (01:05:53)
Outro (01:10:16)

You can find a comprehensive database of George Monbiot's work on his website, https://www.monbiot.com/, which encompasses his journalistic work and books. Get his book 'Regenesis' here. Connect with him on Twitter, and search "George Monbiot" on YouTube to find a wealth of videos like his short film with Greta Thunberg, this TED Talk, and this fascinating video about wolves and the balance of nature.

Discover more insights and supporting resources in the full show notes.

Enjoy, friends.

Simon

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Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)

Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill

Author of The Proof is in the Plants

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