Health Begins in the Soil - A conversation with Stefan Schwarzer about soils, microbes, and our future
“Everything is connected.” For Stefan Schwarzer, this is not a cliché but a scientifically grounded insight – and the red thread running through his new book, Health Begins in the Soil. The environmental scientist, author, and Head of Certification at Regenerate Forum shows how deeply our wellbeing is intertwined with soil fertility, microbial diversity, and the health of ecosystems within ecosystems.
The human body consists of only about half human cells – slightly more are actually bacteria,” Schwarzer explains. These microbes have a profound influence on digestion, the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and even our psyche. But they don’t live and act in
isolation: their diversity and vitality are directly linked to the microbiome of soils, plants, and animals. “We have to nurture our inner field just as much as the outer one – the soil that feeds us,” he says.
Schwarzer’s understanding of soil health comes not only from scientific studies but also from hands-on experience. In his own forest garden, he has for years cultivated perennial edible wild plants – without tillage, without fertilisers, and with continuous ground cover. The result: thriving soil life, humus-rich earth, and plants full of vitality. “You can feel it immediately when eating a wild herb salad,” he says.
On an analytical level, he is particularly fascinated by the interplay between plants and microorganisms. Plants release sugary root exudates to attract bacteria and fungi, which in return provide nutrients. Roots even absorb bacteria, use their minerals, and at the same time allow them to multiply. “It’s incredible what nature has come up with,” Schwarzer says with a smile.
“It’s fascinating how quickly nature can recover – even on almost dead land, life returns surprisingly fast: microbes, plants, and animals.”
Dr. Jan-Gisbert Schultze, Gründer & Co-Geschäftsführer
For Schwarzer, soil health is not just an agricultural issue but a societal one. Healthy soils rich in humus store water, buffer floods, and withstand droughts far better. “More water in the soil means less drought stress, healthier growth, and better nutrient supply – not just for plants but ultimately for us humans.
The same applies to the climate: green, living landscapes act as natural air conditioners. “A single tree cools its surroundings on a hot summer day as much as five air conditioners running all day,” he explains. Bare soils, on the other hand, heat up and intensify extreme heat.
Health Begins in the Soil is already Schwarzer’s third book. In The Humus Revolution, he explored the role of soil in agriculture; Rising Up Against Drought examined the connections between land use, climate, energy, and water cycles. His new book brings health to the centre – the health of soils, plants, animals, and people. “At the heart of all three books is the question of how we shape our life-support systems – working with nature, not against it. It’s about creating win-win-win situations for agriculture, nature, and society.
“Our health depends directly on the soil – on the microbiome in the field just as much as the one within ourselves.”
Dr. Jan-Gisbert Schultze, Gründer & Co-Geschäftsführer
Agriculture today, Schwarzer says, faces enormous pressure to act. “Soil is, for us humans, an almost non-renewable resource – yet we treat it as if it were infinite.” His list of needed changes is clear: lighter machinery, permanent plant cover, mixed crops, cover crops,
undersowing, wider crop rotations, compost, and the integration of trees and animals – combined with a sharp reduction in chemical-synthetic inputs. Only then, he says, can we rebuild soil life, secure fertility, and build resilience.
Despite the challenges, Schwarzer remains optimistic. “It’s fascinating how quickly nature can recover. Even on almost dead land, microbes, plants, and animals return with astonishing speed,” he says. The key is to allow and support this process. “The smallest forms of life – microbes – prepare the ground for everything we associate with vitality, beauty, and joy.
As Head of Certification at Regenerate Forum, Schwarzer is putting his vision directly into action – helping farmers transition to regenerative methods. The goal: to move away from extractive practices toward agriculture that rebuilds resources. “With relatively little effort and
in a short time, we can achieve greater soil fertility, biodiversity, yields, and nutrient density. Many farmers are already showing this impressively,” he says.
