As the world population approaches 9.7 billion by 2050, the monumental task of feeding everyone against the backdrop of climate change becomes increasingly daunting. While many turn to technological advancements, scientific breakthroughs, or even industrial farming as the obvious solutions, a simpler yet far more profound answer exists. Love.
Love isn’t naive; it’s transformative. It’s what turns soil into life, sustains the hands that cultivate our food, and fosters a future where the earth and its people can thrive together.
At its core, love for the planet and its inhabitants translates into sustainable agricultural practices that are not only environmentally sound but also economically viable for small-scale farmers, who are the backbone of global food production.
This heartfelt approach was recently celebrated by The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s 2024 Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity, as it honored pioneering solutions in sustainable agriculture.
“Access to high-quality food is of existential importance to everyone,” said Dr. Angela Merkel, former Chancellor of Germany and President of the jury of the Gulbenkian Prize. “Climate change and the resulting global warming have led to an increase in extreme weather events and are endangering food security around the world. This presents everyone engaged in the agriculture sphere with particular challenges. This year’s winners have demonstrated in an exemplary fashion how climate-resilient and sustainable food systems can be developed and put into practice.”
The winners of the Gulbenkian Prize were Dr. Rattan Lal, a U.S.-based professor from India, SEKEM in Egypt, and Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming in India. These pioneers of nature-based agricultural practices were awarded a €1 million prize to support and expand their transformative work toward more secure, sustainable, and compassionate food systems.
Cultivating Love for the Soil: Dr. Rattan Lal
Through his groundbreaking research and passionate advocacy, Dr. Rattan Lal, a Professor of Soil Science at Ohio State University, is a leading voice in the movement to transform our relationship with the soil, nature, and the practice of agriculture.
His lifelong dedication to soil health exemplifies how a deep, unwavering love for the earth beneath our feet can drive the sustainable change needed to feed the world by 2050— and even foster global peace.
“We must make famine and wars politically intolerable, morally toxic, ethically unthinkable, and humanly unacceptable,” he passionately declares.
In 2007, Dr. Lal was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his groundbreaking research on soil health and for championing practices that honor nature’s balance. He argues that soil degradation— often a precursor to food crises— is not just an environmental issue but a root cause of conflict. As wars destroy land, they set in motion a vicious cycle where degraded soils further deepen human suffering, leading to instability and more conflict.
“There are three parties to a war— two armies fighting with one another, and a third party— the land on which they are fighting,” he says emotionally. “It will take generations to heal that land.”
Dr. Lal’s passion was conceived in his childhood, growing up in rural India, where he witnessed firsthand the intricate relationship between farmers and the soil. To him, soil is not just a resource but the very foundation of life, with farmers as its devoted caretakers. This deep reverence has shaped his entire career, pushing him to advocate for sustainable agricultural practices that enhance productivity while protecting the environment.
He underscores the urgent need for policies that are “pro-nature, pro-agriculture, and pro-farmer,” stressing that sustainability is about balance— what he refers to as the “Law of Return.”
Soil is like a bank account,” he explains. “You can never withdraw more than what you’ve put in.”
This principle of reciprocity has driven some of Dr. Lal’s most significant breakthroughs in carbon sequestration and food security. His work has earned him global recognition, including the World Food Prize in 2020.
As the “godfather of soil science,” Dr. Lal has inspired a new generation of scientists and activists to view soil as a critical tool in addressing climate change and feeding a growing population.
Through his work, Dr. Lal emphasizes that the future— both in feeding the world and fostering peace— depends on how humanity cares for, and loves, the soil beneath its feet.
Economy of Love: SEKEM
The term “Economy of Love” (EoL) is an English translation of an Arabic expression that captures the essence of a stakeholder economy. This concept stems from the visionary efforts of the Egyptian Biodynamic Association (EBDA) and SEKEM, a pioneering Egyptian social enterprise dedicated to sustainable development, founded in 1977 by Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish.
EoL reflects SEKEM’s core belief that businesses should go beyond profit-making to generate positive social and environmental impacts through ethical practices and meaningful relationships.
“EoL is a standard addressing economic, social, cultural, and environmental factors,” outlines Naglaa Ahmed, Social Development Manager at SEKEM. It is not just an economic model but a holistic framework for fostering an economy rooted in respect, compassion, and ecological balance.
The EoL Standard is the foundation of a certification program that supports biodynamic farmers in Egypt. It aims to drive positive environmental change by rewarding farmers for carbon sequestration and enhancing biodiversity on their farms.
“In the natural ecological balance— forests, soils, oceans— emissions are constantly being offset, with their sequestration potential matching the emissions from humans and their activities,” explains Helmy Abouleish, CEO of SEKEM and son of its founder. “This system worked for thousands of years, but at some point, emissions began to exceed the planet’s ability to sequester them.”
The EoL Standard extends beyond traditional economic metrics, advocating for an economy that restores ecological balance.
“Potentially, 18 gigatons of carbon could be sequestered if agriculture undergoes a systemic change,” Abouleish adds. “In Egypt, a smallholder farmer with just one acre has the potential to sequester five, six… up to 10 tons of CO2 through sustainable farming activities.”
EoL certification is grounded in a carbon credit system established in partnership with the Carbon Footprint Centre of Heliopolis University. This system uses internationally recognized United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) models and methodologies to measure and report the carbon removed by certified farms. It emphasizes transparency and true cost accounting across the entire value chain. By embracing sustainable practices, farmers can generate extra income through carbon credits, which, in turn, motivates them to further invest in environmentally friendly methods.
“We started with 2,000 farmers, then 5,000 last year, and another 10,000 this year,” Helmy Abouleish notes proudly. “More and more farmers are becoming climate heroes, getting paid for ecosystem services. This is a scalable model for Egypt and for every other country in the world.”
The Economy of Love Standard serves as a testament of how ethical and sustainable practices— centered on social, economic, human, and environmental well-being— can cultivate a more compassionate and harmonious world. It illustrates that by prioritizing the health of the planet and communities, it is possible to create an economy that thrives in balance with nature.
Love for Women Farmers: Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming Programme
In the sun-drenched fields of Andhra Pradesh, a quiet revolution is being led by women farmers determined to nurture their land and communities through natural, sustainable farming practices. Among these inspiring women is Nagendramma Nettem, one of the six million farmers that are being transitioned on the path to natural farming by 2031, under the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme.
Nagendramma’s journey into natural farming began with a deeply personal motivation. Her daughter was struggling with low hemoglobin and related health issues. Desperate for a solution, Nagendramma planted a small kitchen garden, cultivating leafy vegetables, free from synthetic chemicals.
“Within 15 days of feeding her these chemical-free vegetables, I saw a change in her symptoms,” she recalls. This simple act of love set her on a path to becoming an APCNF Champion Farmer Coach, advocating for natural farming methods that promise healthier food, reduced farming costs, and alleviated farm distress.
The APCNF natural farming ideology promotes non-synthetic chemical pest management, soil health, and water conservation.
“The most important principles in our strategy of natural farming are 365 days green cover, crop diversity, minimizing tillage and activating the soil microbes,” explains Vijay Kumar, Executive Vice Chairman of Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, the non-profit farmers’ empowerment organization leading APCNF.
“If you do this, then you are also cooling the planet, but more importantly, you are increasing the food supply. You are increasing the nutrient quality of food. You are improving farmers livelihoods. You are conserving water. And by the way, you are also solving the climate problem.”
The program leverages the southern state’s existing network of women’s self-help groups and federations, which already discuss credit, thrift, and livelihood issues, to foster natural farming practices. These women’s groups have been central to the success of the program.
In India, where men traditionally own the land and women perform most of the agricultural labor, this movement is transformative. Nationally, more than three-quarters of rural women are engaged in agriculture, compared to 55% of men. Andhra Pradesh stands out with the highest proportion of women-owned operational holdings in the country.
The impact of APCNF is already evident. In 2020, crop yields cultivated using natural farming methods increased in five of the top six crops in Andhra Pradesh. By avoiding high costs associated with seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs, farmers are reducing debt and also conserving water and electricity compared to conventional farming.
Promoting natural farming through APCNF has not only enhanced crop yields and incomes but also brought significant social, economic, and environmental benefits to women and the state as a whole.
As the world confronts the monumental task of feeding 10 billion people by 2050, it is love for the land and the hands that cultivate it that offers a true way forward.
Dr. Rattan Lal’s groundbreaking work in soil health, SEKEM’s Economy of Love, and the Andhra Pradesh Community-Managed Natural Farming initiative’s dedication to empowering women demonstrate that respect for the earth, for farmers— both women and men— and for local communities can lead to a future where food security and ecological balance are attainable.
“Their work also demonstrates the co-benefits of sustainable agriculture for communities as well as the planet,” says António Feijó, President of the Board of Trustees of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
“We believe their stories will inspire others to apply similar approaches in other regions and help us build a sustainable future for all.”
