Awareness that grows: soil and society

Activation: one meal, many layers

Estimated time: 15–20 minutes

Objective

Explore how everyday food choices connect to soil processes, land systems, actors, and societal decisions.

Step 1 – Capture your plate

Take a photo of a recent meal, snack, or drink.

It can be simple:

• breakfast;
• lunch;
• coffee and bread;
• fruit;
• takeaway meal;
• tea, cocoa, or another drink.

Upload the photo to the Forum or keep it in your Soil Diary.

Step 2 – Trace the soil connections

In 3–5 sentences, reflect on the soil behind the ingredients.

You may consider:

• Which ingredients likely depended on soil?
• What landscapes or farming systems might they come from?
• Which soil services supported their production, such as nutrient cycling, water retention, biodiversity, or carbon storage?
• Which soil impacts might remain invisible?

You do not need exact answers. The aim is to reveal how much of soil remains hidden in everyday life.

Step 3 – Identify the hidden actors

Briefly identify some of the actors who helped bring this meal to your plate.

Examples may include:

• farmers;
• soil organisms;
• food processors;
• transport systems;
• retailers;
• policymakers;
• certification schemes;
• consumers.

Step 4 – Reflect

Write a short reflection (80–120 words):

Did you usually associate this meal with soil before this exercise?

What became more visible?

Is there one question you would now ask about the soil behind your food?

Optional: Engage with others

Comment on one other post in the Forum. You may reflect on:

• similarities or differences in ingredients;
• possible land-use systems;
• surprising soil connections;
• hidden actors;
• what remains unknown.