Comments to HHS: Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
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Comments To HHS
Re: The Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
January 16, 2025
Re: Doc HHS-OASH-2024-0017-0001
Although Land Core is focused specifically on the soil health and the importance of supporting US agriculture in ensuring that we have the ability to independently grow the healthy foods, fibers and fuels that we need to thrive as a nation, there is an undeniable correlation between the crops grown in healthy soils (vs degraded soils) and the health and well-being of those who consume them.
Preliminary studies have shown that soil organic matter and microbial diversity are key attributes in growing food with adequate nutritional quality. Investing in the proliferation of fresh fruits and vegetables, protein, and dairy products that utilize land management strategies to enhance soil health thereby increasing the nutritional quality and diversity of food products to meet the dietary needs for critical developmental periods in the lifespan.
Simply put, healthy soils are the foundation of nutrient-dense food. Rich in organic matter and teeming with microbial activity, they enable the natural cycling of essential nutrients like zinc, iron, and magnesium, ensuring crops are packed with vital vitamins and minerals. Research published in the Journal of Environmental Quality (2015) highlights how thriving soils support the bioavailability of these nutrients, while a study in Frontiers in Plant Science (2017) underscores the link between soil health and the nutritional quality of food. By fostering soil vitality, we can enhance nutrition and promote healthier, more resilient food systems.
90% of the nutrients in food originate from the soil (FAO, 2015)
The following, high-level policy recommendations were developed to help identify pathways for advancing soil health while improving the health and nutrition of Americans.
As with our recent recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services, we recommend that policies and programs related to production agriculture be developed or refined in close collaboration with the US Department of Agriculture.
Recommendations to Amend U.S. Dietary Guidelines to Prioritize Soil Health and Healthy Food
Promote Soil Health in Agriculture
Encourage dietary choices and food systems that support soil health, including food grown from farms or ranches that implement soil health management practices, and that increase the diversity of foods grown and consumed.
Highlight the importance of consuming foods grown in nutrient-dense soils, emphasizing how soil health-focused farming practices can improve the nutritional quality of food.
Support Local and Seasonal Eating
Encourage diets that prioritize locally grown, seasonal foods to support farmers utilizing soil health practices and increase markets for domestically grown products.
Education on Soil-Food-Nutrition Links
Include educational materials on the connection between soil health and human nutrition in the guidelines, targeting both consumers and healthcare professionals.
Encourage Perennial Crops
Support dietary shifts that include crops from perennial farming systems, which improve soil structure and reduce erosion.
Incentivize Soil-Friendly Food Procurement
Encourage public and private institutions such as schools and hospitals to source food from farms practicing soil health conservation.
Highlight Plant and Animal Synergy
Promote dietary guidelines that consider integrated farming systems, such as rotational grazing, that enhance soil fertility and nutrient cycling.
Advocate for Diverse Crop Consumption
Encourage dietary diversity to support farming systems that grow a variety of crops, improving soil biodiversity and resilience.
Public-Private Partnerships
Collaborate with food producers, farmers, and policymakers to align dietary recommendations with soil conservation goals.
Land Core is a 501(c)3 organization that works closely with the USDA, legislators, producers, scientists, NGOs and financial institutions across the country to develop policy recommendations that build healthy soils, resilient farmers and national food security. This includes guiding the successful passage of language in both the House and Senate supporting soil health outcomes at the USDA and helping to secure over $50M in federal investment in Soil Health in the 2018 Farm Bill.
Resources: The Land Core Soil Health Bill Tracker is a comprehensive tool designed to monitor and analyze legislation related to soil health and resilience. It can be used to support bills that align with the priorities of strengthening American agriculture, promoting energy independence, and revitalizing rural communities.
Contact: Aria McLauchlan, Co-Founder & Executive Director, aria@landcore.org