The Nutrient Pathway – Soil Health, Food Quality, and Human Health

Soil is the foundation of agricultural systems and plays a critical role in determining the nutritional quality of the food we grow. In recent years, increasing attention has been given to how soil health influences food quality, particularly the concentration of essential nutrients and phytochemicals in crops — known as nutrient density. As public health challenges related to poor diets and micronutrient deficiencies persist globally, there is growing urgency to understand the soil–food–health connections. This Research Topic aims to explore relationships between soil health, agronomic practices, and their downstream effects on human nutrition. By focusing on nutrient density as a central concept, this collection seeks to integrate insights from soil science, plant physiology, and nutrition to better understand how agricultural systems impact and can contribute to improved health outcomes.The links between soil health, food quality, and human nutrition remain significantly under-researched. This Research Topic aims to amplify research efforts that examine how soil conditions and management practices influence the nutrient density and overall nutritional profile of crops, with implications for both human and planetary health.We aim to bring together researchers across soil science, agronomy, crop physiology, human nutrition, and public health, recognising the need for interdisciplinary and systems-based approaches to address this complex challenge. By breaking down silos between traditionally separate fields, this collection seeks to support a more integrated understanding of the nutrient pathway — from soil processes to food composition to human health outcomes.In doing so, we hope to accelerate the development of evidence-based strategies for improving food quality through soil-focused interventions and to contribute to a growing body of knowledge at the intersection of agriculture and health.In this Research Topic, we welcome studies on the following subtopics, but not limited to:– The influence of soil biology, fertility, and management practices on crop nutrient density– Comparative analyses of different farming systems (e.g. regenerative, agroecological, conventional) and their impact on crop quality– Methodologies for measuring nutrient density and nutrient bioavailability in crops– Soil–plant–human pathways and their implications for dietary quality and human health outcomes Topic editors: Jonathan Lundgren, Charles Benbrook, Andrew Smith, Muneta Grace Kangara, David Montgomery Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84823/the-nutrient-pathway---soil-health-food-quality-and-human-health