Tech
Why The World Is Running Out Of Soil
Critical topsoil is eroding at an alarming pace due to climate change and poor farming practices. The United Nations declared soil finite and predicted catastrophic loss within 60 years. The world needs soil for farming, water filtration, climate mitigation, ecosystem services, health care and more. The impact of soil degradation could total $23 trillion in losses of food, ecosystem services and income worldwide by 2050, according to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. According to the UN, soil erosion may reduce up to 10 per cent of crop yields by 2050. That’s like removing millions of acres of farm land.
“There are places that have already lost all of their topsoil,” Jo Handelsman, author of “A World Without Soil,” and a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told CNBC.
“We have identified 10 soil threats in our global report … Soil erosion is number one because it’s taking place everywhere,” Ronald Vargas, the secretary of the Global Soil Partnership and Land and Water Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, told CNBC.
According to the U.N., soil erosion may reduce up to 10% of crop yields by 2050, which is the equivalent of removing millions of acres of farmland.
And when the world loses soil, food supply, clean drinking water and biodiversity are threatened.
What’s more, soil plays an important role in mitigating climate change.
Soil contains more than three times the amount of carbon in the earth’s atmosphere and four times as much in all living plants and animals combined, according to the Columbia Climate School.
“Soil is the habitat for over a quarter of the planet’s biodiversity. Each gram of soil contains millions of cells of bacteria and fungi that play a very important role in all ecosystem services,” Reza Afshar, chief scientist at the regenerative agriculture research farm at the Rodale Institute, told CNBC.
The Rodale Institute in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, is known as the birthplace of modern organic agriculture.
“The projects we do here are centered around improving and rebuilding soil health. We have a farming system trial that’s been running for 42 years,” Afshar said. It is the longest-running side-by-side comparison of organic and conventional grain cropping systems in North America.
The research has found regenerative, organic agriculture produces yields up to 40% higher during droughts, can earn farmers greater profits and releases 40% fewer carbon emissions than conventional agricultural practices.
How’s that possible? The Rodale Institute says it all starts with the soil.
“When we talk about healthy soil, we are talking about all aspects of the soil, chemical, physical and biological that should be in a perfect status to be able to produce healthy food for us,” Afshar said.
It’s critical, of course, because the world relies on soil for 95% of our food production. But that’s just the beginning of its importance.
“The good news is that we know enough to get to work,” Dianna Bagnall, a research soil scientist at the Soil Health Institute, told CNBC.
Watch the video above to learn more about why we’re facing a silent soil crisis, how soil can be saved and what that means for the world.
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Why The World Is Running Out Of Soil
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Billions of dollars have been raised for this year’s midterms elections, with a significant portion coming from big name tech billionaires in the cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence and online gambling sectors. Megadonors’ contributions are overwhelmingly behind Republicans in the 2026 midterm election, with 14 of the 20 largest donor groups exclusively or nearly exclusively backing GOP candidates or outside groups. CNBC’s Luke Fountain reports.
Chapters:
00:00 – 00:56 Introduction
00:57 – 03:37 Chapter 1 – Republican-aligned donors
03:38 – 05:07 Chapter 2 – Democrat-aligned donors
Reporter: Luke Fountain
Produced and Edited by: Romy Tarantino
Animation: Jason Reginato, Emily Park
Additional Camera: Macklin Fishman, Andrew Evers
Supervising Producer: Shawn Baldwin
Additional Footage: Getty Images
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The Megadonors Funding The 2026 Midterms
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Auto repair prices have risen far faster than overall inflation. Mechanics say one key reason is the new software, parts, and safety technology. Shops are spending more on software access and safety calibration equipment. While the number of auto repair shops has grown, some who work in the business say it is getting harder to keep up, especially for smaller ones.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
02:09 Chapter 1: Complicated and expensive
04:02 Chapter 2: Access to vehicle data
Produced by: Robert Ferris
Edited and shot by: Darren Geeter, Natalie Rice
Additional Camera: Ryan Baker
Post production support: Erin Black
Animation: Jason Reginato, Emily Park
Senior managing producer: Tala Hadavi
Addition footage: Getty Images
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About CNBC: From ‘Wall Street’ to ‘Main Street’ to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more.
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Why It’s So Expensive To Run An Auto Repair Shop
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Printed circuit boards are a quiet but crucial part of every electronic, and the U.S. can’t make enough for Nvidia and others in the AI boom.
Some 60% of the world’s PCBs come from China, creating national security and supply chain risks.
CNBC’s Katie Tarasov explains.
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TBWalmart, the world’s largest retailer, has been rolling out digital shelf labels in thousands of U.S. stores since 2024. The company says the technology streamlines price changes, frees up employees’ time and helps shoppers find what they need. But as the labels expand, so do concerns about dynamic pricing. CNBC’s Laya Neelakandan visits a Walmart store in New Jersey.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
2:07 Chapter 1 – New tech
4:28 Chapter 2 – Tech fears
Reporting by: Laya Neelakandan
Produced and shot by: Natalie Rice
Additional Camera and edited by: Darren Geeter
Animation: Jason Reginato
Senior Managing Producer: Tala Hadavi
Additional Images: Getty Images
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Want to get ahead at work? Then you need to learn how to make effective small talk. In CNBC’s new online course, How To Talk To People At Work, expert instructors teach you how to use everyday conversation to gain visibility, build meaningful relationships and advance your career. Sign up now: https://cnb.cx/4sGlSkh
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How Walmart Is Hoping Its New Tech Will Help Shoppers And Employees
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Chinese companies are using prefabricated construction to build data centers faster and more efficiently. As America’s AI-driven data center boom accelerates, China’s BrightRay hopes to win U.S. business with its modular approach. But growing U.S.-China tensions, national-security concerns and restrictions on some Chinese-made products could limit that opportunity. CNBC’s China Bureau Chief Eunice Yoon reports.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:39 Chapter 1 – Prefabricated data centers
4:48 Chapter 2 – China’s focus on the U.S. market
8:20 Chapter 3 – Public vs. government reactions
Reporting by: Eunice Yoon
Produced by: Natalie Rice
Editing by: Darren Geeter
Animation: Jason Reginato
Senior Managing Producer: Tala Hadavi
Additional Footage: Getty Images, BRIGHTRAY
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Inside China’s Race To Build The World’s Data Centers
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