Soil - Not Oil

Soil, Not Oil, Is Essential to Sustainability

By Henry Lin - Pennsylvania State University  - henrylin@psu.edu
Published in Soil Survey Horizons - Fall 2010

The unsung hero of our planet
  is quiet, invisible and hidden underground
  yet it gives us everyday food, fee, fiber, and fuel

The underappreciated gift from nature
  is fragile, sensitive, and complex
  yet it is the home to the largest biodiversity on Earth

The crucible of all terrestrial life
  is fundamental, conservable, but hard to be renewed
  yet is suffers increasing wounds from anthropogenic impacts

The hidden half of the world underneath feet
  holds a key to global sustainability
  yet has no price tag while oil holds extreme high price

However, it is soil, not oil
  that feeds the world
  and controls environmental quality

Without soil there would be no life
  without soil, there would be no oil
  without soil, there would be no sustainability