10 Emerging Technology Solutions for Planetary Health 2025

Rattan Lal Professor of Soil Science, Ohio State University Fawad Qureshi Global Field Chief Technology Officer, Snowflake Gerard H. Ros Senior Research Associate, Earth Systems and Global Change, Wageningen University & Research Wim de Vries Professor of Environmental Systems Analysis, Wageningen University & Research Healthy soils are critical to food production, water storage and climate regulation. Yet, more than one- third of Earth’s soils are already degraded,89 with major consequences for ecosystems and economies alike. A convergence of emerging technologies – including proximate and remote sensing, microbiome engineering and AI-enabled diagnostics – is making soil health maintenance visible, measurable and actionable. If widely adopted, these technologies may ease pressure on planetary boundaries related to nutrient cycles, climate change, land-system change and biosphere integrity.90,91 Proximate sensing technologies enable assessment of chemical and physical soil conditions directly in the field, with unprecedented speed and resolution. Handheld or in-situ devices using near-infrared spectroscopy, electrochemical sensors or multi- sensor arrays can now measure key indicators of soil health like pH, moisture, organic matter and nutrient availability within seconds.92 By eliminating the need for lab-based testing, these technologies permit frequent, localized soil monitoring. Proximate sensor data can be used in site-specific decision- support tools that integrate chemical, physical and biological soil data to inform sustainable, site- specific soil and nutrient-management practices.93 These practices support long-term improvements in soil resilience and crop productivity, while reducing nutrient runoff and enhancing carbon storage. Soil microbial communities – collectively known as the soil microbiome – are one key component of soil health that could be assessed using proximate sensing tools, permitting a holistic soil health assessment by integrating biological, chemical and physical soil indices. Soil microbes regulate nutrient cycling, carbon storage and plant interactions, making them a logical target for intervention. Microbiome engineering seeks to enhance soil function by introducing targeted mixes of beneficial species or stimulating native populations using prebiotics or soil amendments. Recent developments in AI, such as machine learning, can support the integration of soil data from multiple sources – including proximate sensing tools, microbial profiles, satellite imagery and historical land use – into the aforementioned decision-support tools that can diagnose soil health conditions and allow targeted land management practices.94 Open-source platforms and shared soil health indices are beginning to standardize interpretation across locations and data types, creating a more coherent foundation for sustainable land management. The Open Soil Index, for example, is used by governments, farmers and banks to support sustainable soil management, unlocking the associated societal and environmental benefits.95 As soil health technologies advance, impacts are becoming visible across environmental, economic and social dimensions. By optimizing fertilizer use, soil health technologies reduce runoff, supporting the biogeochemical cycles planetary boundary. Microbial amendments and carbon-focused practices increase soil carbon retention, contributing to climate change mitigation. Site-specific interventions can help maintain ground cover and prevent degradation, reducing pressure on land-system change. Industrially, the convergence of proximate sensing, microbial interventions and AI could create new markets for microbial soil treatments, sensor-linked diagnostics and precision agriculture advisory tools. Soil health technologies may lower farmers’ input costs and improve crop yields, while generating new roles in environmental analytics, digital agronomy and microbial product development. However, benefits may remain concentrated in well-resourced regions if infrastructure, training and data protections are not addressed – highlighting the importance of inclusive design as the sector scales. When adopted systemically, soil health technologies could shift agriculture from an extractive model to one that restores soil function, reduces external inputs and supports both food and ecosystem resilience.96 Soil health technologies may lower farmers’ input costs and improve crop yields, while generating new roles in environmental analytics, digital agronomy and microbial product development. 10 Emerging Technology Solutions for Planetary Health 35