One Earth Voices | Cell Press Journal | 17 Oct 2025, Volume 8, Issue 10

Toxic pollution on croplands—from pesticides, heavy metals, and industrial waste—poses a growing threat to soil health and the safety of crops for consumption. Addressing these contaminants is essential for food security, human well-being, and ecosystem resilience, yet significant challenges remain. In this Voices article, we ask, ‘‘What innovations and actions are needed to preserve croplands as a safe, sustainable foundation for the future of food?’’

Leigh Ann Winowiecki

Leigh Ann Winowiecki is the global research lead for Soil and Land Health at CIFOR-ICRAF, based in Nairobi, Kenya. A soil scientist, her research focuses on scaling farmer-centred landscape restoration, understanding drivers of degradation and quantifying the impacts of land management on soil health.

l.a.winowiecki@coalitionforsoilhealth.org

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Soil First: Advancing Food System Transformation from the Ground Up