David R. Montgomery, a geomorphologist and director of the University of Washington’s Geomorphological Research Group, is among the 25 recipients of the yearly “genius award” that bestows $500,000 to each recipient with no strings attached. Montgomery has been an outspoken advocate of agricultural reforms to protect soil from erosion.
In his book, Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations, MacDonald argues that soil is our most precious natural resource. He documents how human societies have collapsed when they have exhausted the soil, and argues that future generations don’t have the option to just move elsewhere because there isn’t enough land. He argues for a new agricultural revolution that centers on soil conservation and no-till agriculture.
Montgomery’s other published work includes studies of the evolution and near-extirpation of salmon, fluvial and hillslope processes in mountain drainage basins, the evolution of mountain ranges (Cascades, Andes, and Himalaya), and the analysis of digital topography. A paper titled, “Soil Erosion and Agricultural Sustainability,” from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences is available for download in PDF format here.
It’s gratifying to see this sustainability science receive such recognition. This win can certainly be claimed in part by the geospatial community, for Montgomery’s in-depth analysis of global soil production and erosion wouldn’t have been possible without this toolset.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
The “revolution” has been going on for a while. It still has a long way to go, especially overseas. Here in the states its moving along relatively well. There still a long ways to go too.
The biggest key to get farmers to adopt no-till, positive word of mouth by other farmers. Basically, show other farmers that productive increases, costs and loss of soil resources decrease. It takes real examples, not words, to convince farmers to adopt those practices.
It also, “helps”, we pay farmers to adopt some of these practices. Even with that, word of mouth, is the biggest tool to implement those practices.
There are plenty of people who have been working hard and continue to work hard in this area. It seems odd giving a “genius award” to one person for something which isn’t an original idea.
KoS
Interesting post. It is nice to see that the importance of soil is *starting* to be recognized by those outside the conventional circles (soil science, agronomy, plant science), but I would have to agree with KoS– it is a little surprising that a geomorphologist was given this award. There is a nice record in the Soil Science literature (nearly 100 years of it) talking about this very idea. Another book on this topic, written by a soil scientist– Daniel Hillel — is called “Out of the Earth” :
http://www.amazon.com/Out-Earth-Civilization-Life-Soil/dp/0520080807/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222268520&sr=1-1
Great to see soil-related issues showing up more and more!
Dylan