Agricultural practices can threaten soil resilience through changing feedback loops

Alison M. Carswell; Simon Willcock; Martin S. A. Blackwell; Hari Ram Upadhayay; Paul Harris; Graham McAuliffe; Andrew L. Neal; M. Jordana Rivero; Laura M. Cardenas; Stephan M. Haefele; Andrew P. Whitmore; John A. Dearing; Fusuo Zhang; Mark Farrell; Marijn Bauters; Pascal Boeckx; Yuri Jacques A. B. da Silva; Kwame Agyei Frimpong; Adrian L. Collins

doi:10.1038/s44264-025-00098-6

Agricultural practices can threaten soil resilience through changing feedback loops

Alison M. Carswell
, Simon Willcock
, Martin S. A. Blackwell
, Hari Ram Upadhayay
, Paul Harris
, Graham McAuliffe
, Andrew L. Neal
, M. Jordana Rivero
, Laura M. Cardenas
, Stephan M. Haefele
, Andrew P. Whitmore
, John A. Dearing
, Fusuo Zhang
, Mark Farrell
, Marijn Bauters
, Pascal Boeckx
, Yuri Jacques A. B. da Silva
, Kwame Agyei Frimpong
, Adrian L. Collins

School of Environmental & Natural Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

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Abstract

Soil has supported terrestrial food production for millennia; however, agricultural intensification may affect its resilience. Using a systems-thinking-approach we reviewed the impacts of conventional-agriculture practices on soil resilience and identified alternative practices that could mitigate these effects. We found that many practices only affect soil resilience with their long-term repeated use. Lastly, we ranked the impacts which pose the greatest threats to soil resilience and, consequently, food and feed security.

Original language	English
Article number	56
Number of pages	21
Journal	NPJ Sustainable Agriculture
Volume	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-025-00098-6
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 2 Zero Hunger
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 15 Life on Land

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Carswell, A. M., Willcock, S., Blackwell, M. S. A., Upadhayay, H. R., Harris, P., McAuliffe, G., Neal, A. L., Rivero, M. J., Cardenas, L. M., Haefele, S. M., Whitmore, A. P., Dearing, J. A., Zhang, F., Farrell, M., Bauters, M., Boeckx, P., Silva, Y. J. A. B. D., Frimpong, K. A., & Collins, A. L. (2025). Agricultural practices can threaten soil resilience through changing feedback loops. NPJ Sustainable Agriculture, 3, Article 56. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-025-00098-6

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title = "Agricultural practices can threaten soil resilience through changing feedback loops",

abstract = "Soil has supported terrestrial food production for millennia; however, agricultural intensification may affect its resilience. Using a systems-thinking-approach we reviewed the impacts of conventional-agriculture practices on soil resilience and identified alternative practices that could mitigate these effects. We found that many practices only affect soil resilience with their long-term repeated use. Lastly, we ranked the impacts which pose the greatest threats to soil resilience and, consequently, food and feed security.",

author = "Carswell, \{Alison M.\} and Simon Willcock and Blackwell, \{Martin S. A.\} and Upadhayay, \{Hari Ram\} and Paul Harris and Graham McAuliffe and Neal, \{Andrew L.\} and Rivero, \{M. Jordana\} and Cardenas, \{Laura M.\} and Haefele, \{Stephan M.\} and Whitmore, \{Andrew P.\} and Dearing, \{John A.\} and Fusuo Zhang and Mark Farrell and Marijn Bauters and Pascal Boeckx and Silva, \{Yuri Jacques A. B. da\} and Frimpong, \{Kwame Agyei\} and Collins, \{Adrian L.\}",

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Carswell, AM, Willcock, S, Blackwell, MSA, Upadhayay, HR, Harris, P, McAuliffe, G, Neal, AL, Rivero, MJ, Cardenas, LM, Haefele, SM, Whitmore, AP, Dearing, JA, Zhang, F, Farrell, M, Bauters, M, Boeckx, P, Silva, YJABD, Frimpong, KA & Collins, AL 2025, 'Agricultural practices can threaten soil resilience through changing feedback loops', NPJ Sustainable Agriculture, vol. 3, 56. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-025-00098-6

TY - JOUR

T1 - Agricultural practices can threaten soil resilience through changing feedback loops

AU - Carswell, Alison M.

AU - Willcock, Simon

AU - Blackwell, Martin S. A.

AU - Upadhayay, Hari Ram

AU - Harris, Paul

AU - McAuliffe, Graham

AU - Neal, Andrew L.

AU - Rivero, M. Jordana

AU - Cardenas, Laura M.

AU - Haefele, Stephan M.

AU - Whitmore, Andrew P.

AU - Dearing, John A.

AU - Zhang, Fusuo

AU - Farrell, Mark

AU - Bauters, Marijn

AU - Boeckx, Pascal

AU - Silva, Yuri Jacques A. B. da

AU - Frimpong, Kwame Agyei

AU - Collins, Adrian L.

PY - 2025/10/1

Y1 - 2025/10/1

N2 - Soil has supported terrestrial food production for millennia; however, agricultural intensification may affect its resilience. Using a systems-thinking-approach we reviewed the impacts of conventional-agriculture practices on soil resilience and identified alternative practices that could mitigate these effects. We found that many practices only affect soil resilience with their long-term repeated use. Lastly, we ranked the impacts which pose the greatest threats to soil resilience and, consequently, food and feed security.

AB - Soil has supported terrestrial food production for millennia; however, agricultural intensification may affect its resilience. Using a systems-thinking-approach we reviewed the impacts of conventional-agriculture practices on soil resilience and identified alternative practices that could mitigate these effects. We found that many practices only affect soil resilience with their long-term repeated use. Lastly, we ranked the impacts which pose the greatest threats to soil resilience and, consequently, food and feed security.

U2 - 10.1038/s44264-025-00098-6

DO - 10.1038/s44264-025-00098-6

M3 - Review article

C2 - 41049568

VL - 3

JO - NPJ Sustainable Agriculture

JF - NPJ Sustainable Agriculture

M1 - 56

ER -

Agricultural practices can threaten soil resilience through changing feedback loops

Abstract

UN SDGs

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