The Philippines' soils are under threat, and this could lead to a "worse crisis" in the future if neglected.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. sounded this alarm during the first National Soil Health Summit on Wednesday, June 21.

"Needless to say, our soil is under threat and to continue to neglect this vital agricultural component will lead to even worse crisis in the future," Marcos said.

The President pointed out several growing problems that significantly affect the country's soils, which he labeled as "grave and urgent."

These problems, he said, include degradation, acidification, and pollution in the country's soils.

He cited a report from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) which showed that 75 percent of the country's total cropland is vulnerable to erosion in various degrees, with agriculture losing about 457 million tons of soil annually.

The conversion of lands for settlements and the loss of about 47,000 hectares of forest cover every year contributes significantly to soil degradation, he added.

He further said that around 11 to 13 million hectares are considered degraded, on top of the 2.2 million hectares that suffer from insufficient levels of soil fertility.

Making matters worse is the improper use of fertilizers and pesticides that pollute and acidify our soil, he added.

"Therefore, I cannot emphasize enough how significant and influential this First National Soil Health Summit is," Marcos said.

The chief executive, who also serves as the Agriculture Secretary in a concurrent capacity, stressed that the conduct of soil health summit  "is something that is so critical" as  various local government units and cooperatives have been requesting to do soil analysis in their respective places.

He expressed hopes that the summit will spark more informed decisions and much-needed innovation in the coming years.

The summit is spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM).

It aims to implement a more systematic and holistic approach in addressing matters concerning soil health in the country. It also promotes the sustainable use and management of soil resources towards a more enhanced crop productivity and local farmers’ income.

Anchored in the theme, ‘Securing Food and Nutrition Security Through Healthy Soils’, the Summit aims to push for collaborations and improve partnership with various stakeholders geared in the implementation of soil health improvement strategies and agricultural productivity in the country.