Our Food Is Less Nutritious Than It Was: Why You Should Be Concerned With Soil Nutrient Depletion

Introduction

It has been said repeatedly by scientists that we are an overfed yet undernourished generation (1). Our food today is less nutritious than it used to be, resulting in a diet lacking in essential micronutrients such as iodine, folate, copper, and magnesium (2). This begs the question: what has happened over the past century to make our food less nutritious than it used to be?

The answer: the decline in soil health.

Soil health plays a critical role in determining the nutritional density of the crops grown. Plants absorb nutrients directly from the soil and, ultimately, pass them on to humans. When soil health declines, the essential nutrients available to plants diminishes.

Since the 1940s, factors like monocrop agriculture, artificial fertilization, synthetic pesticides, and soil erosion have contributed to soil nutrient depletion. Here, we discuss why this decrease in nutritional value is concerning and what we can do to remedy it to ensure our nutritional needs are met.

Causes of Soil Nutrient Depletion

Numerous studies comparing the nutrient content of today’s fruits, vegetables, and grains with those in the past have shown a decrease in key vitamins and minerals. A 2004 study from the University of Texas reviewed USDA food nutritional data from 1950 and 1999 from a wide variety of different fruits and vegetables to find significant declines in calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin B2, and vitamin C (3). Similarly, a study in the British Food Journal compared data from 1930 and 1980 and reported a 19% decline in calcium, a 22% decline in iron, and a 14% drop in potassium (4).

The most common causes of soil nutrient depletion include:

1. Monocrop Agriculture

Monocrop agriculture is when the same crop is grown repeatedly on the same land. This exhausts specific nutrients from the soil over time such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, without giving the soil a chance to recover. Pests can also spread more quickly when they find a crop to feed on, which leads to an increased use of pesticides. Monocrop farming practices have become widespread due to their efficiency and hope of increasing the food supply, but the consequence is that the soil becomes less fertile and less capable of producing nutrient-dense foods (5). A classic example is corn monoculture, which exhausts soil nitrogen.  The most common examples of monocrop agriculture are corn, wheat, soybeans, cotton, and sugar cane.

2. Artificial Fertilization and Synthetic Pesticides

The overuse of chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides disrupts the soil’s natural ecosystem. Healthy soil relies on diverse microbial life—bacteria, fungi, and other organisms—that decompose organic matter and make nutrients available for plant roots. Pesticides reduce soil biodiversity, resulting in fewer microorganisms, which in turn impacts plants’ ability to absorb nutrients (6). Moreover, synthetic fertilizers mainly supply nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium but lack many other trace minerals, leading to imbalances that decrease overall nutrient availability.

3. Soil Erosion and Tillage Practices

Frequent tilling, a practice of turning over soil before planting, disrupts soil structure, making it more prone to erosion (7). Erosion removes the nutrient-rich topsoil layer, which is vital for growing nutrient-dense plants. Each year, millions of tons of topsoil are lost, and without this protective layer, soil fertility declines. This issue is exacerbated by heavy rainfall and other climate change effects, which further wash away essential nutrients, leaving behind soil that is less capable of supporting nutritious crops.

Why We Should Be Concerned

Declining soil nutrients directly affect human health. When foods contain fewer vitamins and minerals, our diets become less effective in meeting our nutritional needs. The deficiency in micronutrients—known as “hidden hunger”—can lead to compromised immune function, developmental delays, and chronic diseases (8). This is especially concerning for plant-based eaters, who rely on fruits, vegetables, and grains as their primary sources of vitamins and minerals. With nutrient-depleted soil, even a well-balanced plant-based diet may fall short in delivering essential nutrients. We created the plant-based essentials, our vegan supplement, for this exact reason: to fill in the common nutrient gaps often seen on vegan and plant-based diets. Learn more about our all-in-one multivitamin here.

The Solution: Regenerative Agriculture

Soil nutrient depletion will continue to get worse for the generations to come if we don’t do anything about it. The solution lies in regenerative agriculture, which is a farming approach focused on restoring soil health (9). Regenerative practices include:

Crop Rotation: Alternating crops on the same land helps maintain soil health by allowing different plants to replenish different nutrients

Reduced Tillage: Minimizing tilling helps retain topsoil structure and reduces erosion

Organic Matter Addition: Compost, manure, and cover crops add organic matter, fostering microbial life and restoring soil nutrients

Limiting Pesticides and Synthetic Fertilizers: Reducing chemical inputs can help restore microbial diversity, which, in turn, supports healthier crops

Our Role: What Can We Do

Buy Local and Seasonal: Purchasing produce from local farmers who practice sustainable farming methods supports soil health and ensures fresher, more nutrient-dense food

Grow Your Own Produce: Gardening, even on a small scale, allows you to control soil quality and use organic methods that prioritize nutrient retention

Eat a Diverse Diet: Consuming a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes helps ensure you are consuming a broad range of nutrients

Supplementation: Given the challenges of achieving optimal nutrition solely through diet, supplementing with key vitamins and minerals is more important than ever

Supplementation: Why It’s Essential in Our Modern Era

Today, due to soil nutrient depletion, it’s increasingly difficult to rely solely on diet to meet daily nutritional needs. The reduced levels of micronutrients in fruits, vegetables, and grains mean that even a balanced diet may fall short. This is particularly relevant for those on plant-based diets, as many essential nutrients—such as B12, iron, and omega-3s—are less readily available in plant sources and often require higher intake levels to meet the same requirements.

Read more about the symptoms of nutrient deficiencies on plant-based diets here.

Supplements are a practical solution to ensure you’re receiving adequate levels of essential nutrients, regardless of soil quality. Choosing high-quality, third-party tested supplements can provide confidence that you’re addressing potential nutrient gaps. Shop our third party tested vegan supplement here. Supplementation is not a substitute for a healthy diet, but it can serve as a necessary addition, especially in today’s food landscape where nutrient density is in decline. Here, you can read more about choosing the best vegan supplements for your vegan or plant-based lifestyle.

Conclusion

Soil nutrient depletion is a silent but significant threat to the nutritional quality of our food. As soil health deteriorates, the food we consume becomes less capable of meeting our dietary needs, leading to widespread nutrient deficiencies. Regenerative agriculture practices offer a solution by focusing on restoring soil biodiversity and nutrient content. However, for individuals, prioritizing local produce, consuming a varied diet, and considering supplements are steps we can take to safeguard our health. Wellness, after all, begins with what we put into our bodies—and ensuring that it’s as nutrient-dense as possible is a commitment we owe to ourselves and future generations.

References:

1. Davis, Donald R. "Declining Fruit and Vegetable Nutrient Composition: What Is the Evidence?". HortScience horts1 (2009): 15-19. <https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.44.1.15>. Web. 11 Nov. 2024.
2. Bhardwaj RL, Parashar A, Parewa HP, Vyas L. An Alarming Decline in the Nutritional Quality of Foods: The Biggest Challenge for Future Generations' Health. Foods. 2024 Mar 14;13(6):877. doi: 10.3390/foods13060877. PMID: 38540869; PMCID: PMC10969708.
3. Davis DR, Epp MD, Riordan HD. Changes in USDA food composition data for 43 garden crops, 1950 to 1999. J Am Coll Nutr. 2004 Dec;23(6):669-82. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2004.10719409. PMID: 15637215.
4. Mayer, A.(1997), "Historical changes in the mineral content of fruits and vegetables", British Food Journal, Vol. 99 No. 6, pp. 207-211. https://doi.org/10.1108/00070709710181540
5. Jacques, Peter J. and Jacques, Jessica Racine. “Monocropping Cultures into Ruin: The Loss of Food Varieties and Cultural Diversity.” Sustainability, vol. 4, no. 11, 2012, pp. 2970-2997., doi:10.3390/su4112970
6. Aktar MW, Sengupta D, Chowdhury A. Impact of pesticides use in agriculture: their benefits and hazards. Interdiscip Toxicol. 2009 Mar;2(1):1-12. doi: 10.2478/v10102-009-0001-7. PMID: 21217838; PMCID: PMC2984095.
7. Srour AY, Ammar HA, Subedi A, Pimentel M, Cook RL, Bond J, Fakhoury AM. Microbial Communities Associated With Long-Term Tillage and Fertility Treatments in a Corn-Soybean Cropping System. Front Microbiol. 2020 Jun 25;11:1363. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01363. PMID: 32670235; PMCID: PMC7330075.
8. Weffort VRS, Lamounier JA. Hidden hunger - a narrative review. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2024 Mar-Apr;100 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S10-S17. doi: 10.1016/j.jped.2023.08.009. Epub 2023 Oct 30. PMID: 37918810; PMCID: PMC10960185.
9. Montgomery DR, Biklé A, Archuleta R, Brown P, Jordan J. Soil health and nutrient density: preliminary comparison of regenerative and conventional farming. PeerJ. 2022 Jan 27;10:e12848. doi: 10.7717/peerj.12848. PMID: 35127297; PMCID: PMC8801175.