Summary
Montgomery and Biklé's 'The Hidden Half of Nature' (W. W. Norton, 2016) presents a wide-ranging synthesis of scientific literature on the role of microbial communities in soil and in the human body. The authors draw on ecology, agronomy, and medicine to argue that the degradation of microbial diversity — through industrial farming practices and modern diets — has significant consequences for both land productivity and human health. The book is a trade science title rather than a peer-reviewed article, but it is grounded in and references substantial empirical research.
UK applicability
Although the book is written from a North American perspective, its core arguments regarding soil biology, regenerative agriculture, and the human microbiome are broadly applicable to UK farming systems and align with growing UK policy interest in soil health and nature-friendly farming.
Key measures
Qualitative synthesis of soil microbial ecology, plant-microbe interactions, human gut microbiome research, and agricultural practice outcomes
Outcomes reported
The book explores how microbial life in soil and the human gut shapes plant health, agricultural productivity, and human wellbeing, drawing parallels between below-ground ecology and the microbiome. It argues that restoring soil biology through regenerative practices offers benefits for both ecosystem function and human health.
Topic tags
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