Soil erosion has a devastating effect on our water resources.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, half of the topsoil on the planet has been lost in the last 150 years. "The effects of soil erosion go beyond the loss of fertile land. It has led to increased pollution and sedimentation in streams and rivers, clogging these waterways and causing declines in fish and other species. And degraded lands are also often less able to hold onto water, which can worsen flooding."
As part of this year's World Water Week, the Stockholm Junior Water Prize was awarded to Hiroki Matsuhashi and Takuma Miyaki at an award ceremony on 25 August 2020. The Japanese team greatly impressed the jury with their innovative approach to soil erosion, to control soil runoff and increase food production. They suggested tataki, a traditional technique usually used in Japanese architecture, as a soil stabiliser. Tataki is made by kneading and then pounding a mixture of soil, slaked lime, bittern, and water.
While tataki may be viable in areas were the raw materials are available, Permazyme(TM) bio-enzyme soil stabilizer is a readily available, eco-friendly alternative that can be applied to improve soil composition.
