Soil pollution: The invisible risk to our ecosystems

This is part of a 3-article series. You're reading part 3. Here is part 2.

Soil pollution remains one of the least visible yet most consequential environmental challenges of our time. While air and water contamination dominate public debates and policymaking, the slow and cumulative poisoning of soils unfolds silently. Often, the problem is ignored until its consequences become irreversible, creating an invisible crisis that undermines food security, human health, and climate resilience. 

The world’s soils are living ecosystems that sustain 95% of global food production. Increasingly, these ecosystems are burdened by industrial waste, chemical residues, and widespread contamination from fertilizers, plastics, and atmospheric pollutants. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, soil degradation currently affects roughly one-third of Earth’s land surface, threatening the livelihoods of over three billion people. Every ton of contaminated soil represents not just an environmental loss but also a decline in economic opportunity and long-term stability. Without urgent intervention, more than 90% of soils could be at risk by 2050. 

Across continents, the same pattern is evident. Expanding cities, intensive agriculture, and poorly regulated industries release pollutants that accumulate in the upper soil layers for decades. The eventual result is a gradual loss of fertility and a hidden transfer of toxins into food chains and groundwater. Soil scientist Dr. Maryam Samani notes, “Atmospheric dust fallouts are one of the biggest, yet most overlooked sources of soil pollution. While industrial wastewater, fertilizers, or sewage sludge affect specific sites, dust deposition extends contamination across wide areas, particularly agricultural fields near urban and industrial zones. "

These airborne particles often carry heavy metals, persistent organic compounds, and fine microplastics that infiltrate the soil’s porous structure, altering its chemistry and microbiology. Unlike water or air pollution, there is no rapid self-cleansing mechanism. Pollutants accumulate year after year, binding to soil minerals or organic matter. Once there, they can re-enter the food chain through crops or livestock, creating long-term health risks for both people and ecosystems. 

The chemistry of decline 

According to Dr. Noelia Garcia Franco, researcher at Agroscope and former postdoctoral scientist at the Technical University of Munich, “The most relevant long-term risks arise from heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury due to their persistence and bioaccumulation, as well as from persistent organic compounds like PAHs and PCBs.” These compounds, detected even in remote alpine soils far from industrial sites, reflect the extensive reach of pollution. 

Yet metals and chemicals are just part of the picture. Salinization, which is driven by over-irrigation and fertilizer misuse, steadily depletes soil structure and limits plant growth. Acidification reshapes microbial communities underground and mobilizes metals like aluminium that inhibit root development. These impacts are most pronounced in low- and middle-income countries with limited monitoring and weak regulations. 

Soil pollution rarely has a single, obvious source. As Garcia Franco notes, “It is the result of multiple stressors interacting over time. Nitrogen and phosphorus accumulation, industrial waste disposal, and airborne pollutants all overlap. The soil’s natural buffering capacity weakens, and its ability to retain water or carbon declines.” Over time, reduced yields and declining nutritional quality translate into costly economic losses and harder recovery for communities. 

Globally, up to 17% of cropland is contaminated with at least one toxic heavy metal, posing health risks to as many as 1.4 billion people. This widespread contamination threatens food safety and agricultural productivity, making soil health not just an environmental concern but a public imperative. 

Agriculture at a crossroads 

The tension between agricultural productivity and soil protection is intensifying as global food demand continues to rise. According to recent FAO statistics, only about 1.6% of agricultural land worldwide is currently managed under certified organic practices, and less than 7% is farmed using no-till methods. This shows that the adoption of sustainable techniques is still limited compared to the scale of the global food system. 

“Sustainable agriculture is the key, it means producing food without harming the soil or the environment. Practices like cover cropping, crop rotation, no-tillage systems, efficient irrigation, and using composts or organic fertilizers instead of chemical ones are essential.” 

Such transitions require more than just personal commitment; systemic support and investment are needed to help farmers adapt. Without government subsidies, financial incentives, and education, many will continue to rely on intensive inputs to stay afloat. 

Soil health has become a crucial link between climate action, biodiversity protection, and food security. Research shows that higher temperatures are causing soils to lose carbon at a rate of about 0.35% per year in northern regions, which both reduces soil fertility and increases greenhouse gas emissions. Floods and droughts further redistribute contaminants and concentrate salts, amplifying these pressures. 

Restoring soil health through bioremediation, cover cropping, and other regenerative techniques not only supports food security but also improves the soil’s ability to store water and carbon. Healthy soils act as a natural climate stabilizer, making them vital for mitigation as well as adaptation. 

Technology and remediation 

Scientific advances are transforming how soil contamination is detected and managed. Dr. Samani highlights the potential of machine learning combined with spectral analysis for identifying unknown pollutants, as well as radio-frequency-based portable devices that can scan soil composition in real time. 

“For remediation, approaches like bioremediation and phytoremediation are increasingly effective,” she explains. “Microorganisms that consume hydrocarbons or bacteria that produce biosurfactants can clean oil-contaminated soils, while natural minerals like diatomite, with its high silica content, are excellent for adsorbing heavy metals.” 

Nature-based solutions remain central. Biochar, for instance, can immobilize metals while improving soil structure and moisture retention. Large-scale research shows that adding biochar to fields can raise average crop yields by 10-15% and double soil organic carbon compared with untreated soils. “Locally produced biochar is an affordable and sustainable option for many developing countries,” she explains. “It can be made from agricultural residues, closing the loop in a circular economy.” 

The development finance perspective 

While scientists refine the tools for detection and cleanup, scaling solutions requires finance. Paul Bulson,  Managing Director at Dalco Point an expert in development finance, emphasizes that contaminated land poses both financial and reputational risks for lenders and investors. “For multilateral development banks and development finance institutions, integrating soil health into project appraisal can reduce risks and generate long-term benefits,” he explains. “Contaminated sites can delay construction, raise remediation costs, and trigger community opposition. Integrating soil assessments early on prevents costly surprises later.” 

The global soil remediation market is valued at nearly 48 billion USD in 2025, projected to reach 87 billion USD by 2034, reflecting the expansion of industrial pollution and the rising costs of clean-up. Bulson argues that development finance institutions should mainstream soil risk screening at every stage of project design. This begins with a tiered due diligence approach: desktop reviews of historical land use, followed by on-site assessments, laboratory testing, and risk evaluation for human and ecological receptors. “Explicitly include soil contamination in environmental and social management plans,” he advises. “Projects should have measurable soil quality indicators, long-term monitoring requirements, and budgets for remediation.” 

The farming and private sector perspective 

For the private sector, soil health is not just a sustainability issue but a fundamental determinant of productivity and long-term asset value. Thomas Lecomte, cofounder and managing partner of Soil Capital Farming, oversees agricultural operations across Latin America and Europe, advising investors and family offices on large-scale farming systems and soil management. His team manages projects in Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Belgium, and Poland, and is active in Portugal and Turkey. 

Lecomte’s experience highlights the imbalance in chemical use between regions. “In South America, regulation on herbicides is far less strict. Products like atrazine, banned in Europe more than twenty years ago, are still widely used,” he notes. “This contributes to a growing gap in soil quality. In Europe, we see tighter rules and more mechanical weeding, while in Latin America, chemical dependency remains high.” 

The company’s approach follows the principles of regenerative agriculture, with a strong focus on techniques that are gaining support worldwide. Recent meta-analyses show that the global use of cover crops raises main crop yields by 2.6% on average, and even higher when legumes are included. Cover crops also improve water infiltration, reduce surface runoff, and have been shown to decrease nutrient losses to waterways by up to 50% compared to fields without them. 

Fertilizer management lies at the core of the company’s remediation strategy. “Cover crops are a key element,” Lecomte explains. “They protect the soil from sunlight, drought, and erosion. We use diverse mixes of species that improve rooting systems and enhance nutrient cycling. These plants draw nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium from deeper layers, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.” 

The benefits stretch well beyond pollution reduction. Efficient cover crop systems improve soil structure, water retention, and resilience to climate stress — and since cover cropping reduces fertilizer needs, they help manage costs as well as environmental 

Policy and governance 

Integrating soil health into the global policy agenda is a long-term challenge that will require sustained effort and collaboration across government, industry, and international organizations. Governments set standards, enforce compliance, and can offer incentives for best practices, but addressing soil protection effectively also relies on cross-border cooperation and harmonized strategies. 

Soil health is increasingly being recognized as a foundation for broader sustainable development goals. “Groups like FAO, UNEP, and UNCCD can link soil explicitly to the Sustainable Development Goals,” Dr. Samani notes. “Soil health underpins Zero Hunger, Climate Action, and Life on Land. Without it, achieving these goals is impossible.” 

Bulson agrees that the issue cuts across sectors: “Soil contamination is a cross-cutting issue. It affects agriculture, health, and infrastructure. Addressing it requires integrating soil metrics into climate finance, food programs, and urban planning.”  

As governments and institutions consider new forms of sustainable investment and stricter reporting requirements, soil health is poised to become a central metric in climate and economic decision-making. 

Restoring the foundation of life 

Soil formation is a process that takes centuries, yet human activity can destroy it within years. The erosion of fertile land and the spread of chemical contamination are not abstract environmental concerns; they directly threaten food supply chains, water quality, and community well-being. 

As the world accelerates investment in climate adaptation, energy transition, and resilient infrastructure, the ground beneath those projects must not be forgotten. Integrating soil protection into due diligence, regulation, and finance is both a moral and economic imperative. The tools now exist, scientific, financial, and institutional, to make it happen. 

Healthy soils are living capital. They store carbon, regulate water, and provide the nutrients that sustain every form of life. Without them, neither climate action nor food security is achievable. The growing recognition among scientists, policymakers, and financiers marks a turning point. Soil health can no longer be an afterthought; it must be a pillar of sustainable development. Protecting the ground beneath us is not a symbolic act of stewardship but a strategic investment in humanity’s resilience. 

illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability & Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.

Track the real‑world impact behind the sustainability headlines. illuminem’s Data Hub™ offers transparent performance data and climate targets of companies driving the transition.