Healthy soils generate value in many different ways: they sustain food production, store carbon, support biodiversity, strengthen resilience to shocks, carry cultural meaning, and foster community well-being. But because these benefits are so diverse — and spread across many actors — no single policy instrument can capture them all.
Our new policy brief — “𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐢𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡: 𝐬𝐢𝐱 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞” — proposes a framework that builds on the 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 approach and identifies six complementary perspectives:
1️⃣ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐭 – soil as productive capital, improving yields and reducing costs
2️⃣ 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 – soil as a provider of public goods such as carbon storage and water regulation
3️⃣ 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 – soil as insurance against environmental and economic shocks
4️⃣ 𝐍𝐨𝐧-𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 – protecting soil for future generations and societal well-being
5️⃣ 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 – recognizing soil’s inherent worth beyond human utility
6️⃣ 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 – soil health as a driver of inclusive governance, equity, and innovation
The message is clear: a 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢-𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐱 is essential. Market-based schemes can work for some values, but legal protections, cultural investments, and community-led initiatives are equally important. Only by aligning these diverse perspectives can we design fair and effective incentives for soil stewardship that last.
👉 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 : http://bit.ly/3Vpwgic
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