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EJN Launches “Ground Truths”: A New Collaborative Special Report on Soil in Asia

Illustration of a woman working in a field, with plant roots and underground organisms visible beneath her.

The state of the world’s soils—the literal ground beneath our feet—isn’t in great shape. According to the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization: at current rates of degradation, 90% of the world’s topsoil could be in jeopardy by 2050.

Across Asia, where agriculture is the primary livelihood for over 2.2 billion people, this is an unrecognized crisis. Soil, as it so happens, links closely to the concept of One Health, in which human, environmental and animal health are interconnected. Food security, biodiversity, human health and climate mitigation efforts that depend on healthy soils are all at risk.  

But this remains invisible to many. As famed Indian-American soil scientist Rattan Lal aptly puts it: "Every living thing on the planet depends on soil. And yet this material which is hidden beneath the surface of the earth is underappreciated, not recognized."

Soil rarely receives the media attention it deserves in the region, despite the region’s historical importance as an agricultural hub, the enormous present-day implications of soil degradation and the immense potential of solutions to combat it.

In recognition of the urgency of this issue, Internews' Earth Journalism Network's Asia-Pacific project has collaborated with The Gecko Project, the Pulitzer Center’s Rainforest Investigation Network and 11 media outlets reporting from 11 countries to present “Ground Truths: A Collaborative Special Report on Soil in Asia". This special report, which launched on October 2, 2024, presents participating newsrooms the opportunity to dig into a complex issue from different angles and geographies, without concern about competition.

It is the culmination of months of investigation to explore the condition of soil in the region, as well as innovative approaches to conservation and regenerative agriculture. Please check the EJN website routinely for groundbreaking collaborative reporting on the state of our soils. In this case the dirtier, the better.

You'll find stories from IndiaSpend, Project Multatuli, Myaelatt Athan, Online Khabar, The Mindanao Times, Tia Sáng Magazine, The Straits Times, Initium Media, Narasi, Prachatham and Mekong Eye, each the outcome of shared sources, leads, data and other resources. And make sure to look out for EJN’s accompanying scene-setter, our micro-course for journalists and a newsgame on the soils theme.

“I’m proud to have been able to work with such a dynamic group of journalists to highlight the urgent issue of soil—health and degradation—in Asia,” said Sam Schramski, EJN’s Editor of Special Projects. “Our collaborating partners have uncovered critical stories that show how the condition of soil impacts the region's environment, food security, and overall well-being. Stay tuned for an incredible bunch of stories and other multimedia resources!" he added. 


Banner illustration: Food security, biodiversity, human health and climate mitigation efforts that depend on healthy soils are all at risk / Credit: Alex Boersma.