US scientists have found that earthworms may contribute 140 million tons of food globally each year, including 6.5% of grains and 2.3% of legumes. Researchers believe that investment in agricultural ecological policies and practices that support earthworm populations and overall soil diversity is crucial for achieving sustainable agricultural goals.
Earthworms are important builders of healthy soil and support plant growth in many aspects, such as affecting soil structure, water acquisition, organic matter cycling, and nutrient availability. Earthworms can also drive plants to produce growth promoting hormones, helping them resist common soil pathogens. But their contribution to global agricultural production has not yet been quantified.
To evaluate the impact of earthworms on global important crop production, Steven Fonte and colleagues from Colorado State University analyzed maps of earthworm abundance, soil characteristics, and crop production from previous data. They found that earthworms contribute about 6.5% of global grain production (including corn, rice, wheat, and barley), and 2.3% of legume production (including soybeans, peas, chickpeas, lentils, and alfalfa), equivalent to over 140 million tons of grain annually. The contribution of earthworms is particularly high in the global south, contributing 10% to grain production in sub Saharan Africa and 8% in Latin America and the Caribbean.
These findings are among the first attempts to quantify the contribution of beneficial soil organisms to global agricultural production. Although these findings are based on analysis of numerous global northern databases, researchers believe that earthworms are important drivers in global food production. People need to research and promote ecological agricultural management practices, strengthen the entire soil biota, including earthworms, to support various ecosystem services that promote long-term sustainability and agricultural resilience.
Post time: Oct-16-2023