Losing the soils that feed us Michael Gross  Current Biology  Volume 27, Issue 5, Pages R163-R166 (March 2017) DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.02.038 Copyright © 2017 Terms and Conditions

Dirty work: We often dismiss soil as the dirt below our feet, yet it is a vital resource for food production as well as a highly complex and insufficiently understood ecosystem. The image shows farmers in Kyuso, Kenya terracing part of their land in order to minimise erosion losses. (Photo: ©FAO/Thomas Hug.) Current Biology 2017 27, R163-R166DOI: (10.1016/j.cub.2017.02.038) Copyright © 2017 Terms and Conditions

Ploughing on: Bare soils and frequent ploughing speed up erosion and thus contribute to the loss of soil that is occurring 60 times more rapidly than before the intensification of agriculture. (Photo: Scott Bauer, U.S. Department of Agriculture.) Current Biology 2017 27, R163-R166DOI: (10.1016/j.cub.2017.02.038) Copyright © 2017 Terms and Conditions

Hidden helpers: The complex ecological networks of organisms in the rhizosphere of plants remains insufficiently understood. However, these interactions are crucial for the health and yield of plants. (Photo: Cross-section of mycorrhizal fungi © David Genney.) Current Biology 2017 27, R163-R166DOI: (10.1016/j.cub.2017.02.038) Copyright © 2017 Terms and Conditions

Growth factors: Experiments combining plants with different soil biota have helped to elucidate the role of feedback interactions between plants and soil organisms. (Photo: François P. Teste http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aai8291.) Current Biology 2017 27, R163-R166DOI: (10.1016/j.cub.2017.02.038) Copyright © 2017 Terms and Conditions