Research & Innovation
Advancing soil science through research expeditions and scientific collaboration
Supporting Scientific Research
Our solutions are backed by peer-reviewed scientific studies
Lal, R. (2004)
Science, 304(5677), 1623-1627
Highlights that soil degradation costs the global economy billions annually due to reduced agricultural productivity and ecosystem damage.
Milesi, C., et al. (2005)
Environmental Management, 36(3), 426-438
Found that U.S. lawns consume nearly 9 billion gallons of water daily, driving up utility bills and straining local water resources.
Díaz, R. J., & Rosenberg, R. (2008)
Science, 321(5891), 926-929
Links agricultural runoff to oceanic dead zones, areas depleted of oxygen due to excess nutrients from fertilizers.
Letourneau, D. K., et al. (2011)
Ecology Letters, 14(5), 457-467
Shows that increasing plant biodiversity naturally reduces pest outbreaks by 50%.
Augé, R. M. (2004)
Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 84(4), 373-381
Shows that mycorrhizal fungi can increase plant water absorption by up to 300%, reducing the need for excessive irrigation.
Poeplau, C., & Don, A. (2015)
Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 200, 33–41
Planting living covers between cash crops adds roots and residues that lock away carbon—about 0.3 metric tons per hectare per year (~285 lb per acre). Over time, this creates spongier soil that soaks up rain and holds moisture better, boosting resilience in dry or heavy-rain periods. (sciencedirect.com)
How This Works
Healthy landscapes start with living soil. We build plant health by nurturing the microscopic life around roots (the rhizosphere) and creating the right soil environment for them to thrive.
Plants release sugars and other compounds ("root exudates") that recruit beneficial microbes around their roots. Those microbes free up nutrients, produce growth-supporting hormones, and can help prime plant defenses.
Beneficial mycorrhizal fungi fuse with roots and spread hair-thin filaments through the soil, tapping water and nutrients the roots can't reach—especially phosphorus and micronutrients—and improving drought tolerance.
Soil organisms secrete natural "glues" (extracellular polymeric substances) and weave hyphae that bind particles into stable aggregates. Well-aggregated soil soaks in rain, stores moisture, and resists erosion and compaction.
Over time, balanced, biologically active soils can become "disease-suppressive," where beneficial communities out-compete pathogens or trigger plant immunity—reducing reliance on pesticides.
Microbial life needs air, moisture, and the right chemistry. Compaction cuts off oxygen and water flow; correcting it restores root growth. Keeping soil near neutral pH supports the most nutrient-cycling microbes.
Planned humanitarian aid initiative, developed in coordination with Rotary International, addressing soil challenges in West Africa (currently in development)
3-Step Plan
- Establish a seed bank in the center of the chiefdom for annual seed access.
- Supply agricultural tools to improve productivity.
- Train local experts in each community to manage and expand sustainable, profitable production with local institutions.
Studying the world's most fertile soil in the Amazon rainforest
Duration
30-40 Days
Location
Manaus, Brazil
Collaboration
SGS Brazil Labs
Primary Objectives
- • Analyze core samples of Terra Preta throughout the rainforest
- • Correlate soil composition with surrounding plant growth characteristics
- • Perform Genetic Sequence Tests on Samples Acquired
- • Study mineral content, texture, moisture, and organic matter
- • Map relationships between soil biodiversity and plant growth
Expected Impact
The findings could lead to new agricultural treatments focused on soil inoculation and organic amendments to enhance soil fertility and productivity worldwide. This research aims to launch innovations in restoring urban and desolate soils globally.