From Soil Microbiomes to Human Nutrition: Evaluating Microbial Soil Health as an Indicator of Food Quality in Regenerative Farming Systems

Microbial soil health indicators show growing promise as practical tools for evaluating agricultural sustainability and food quality — a connection with significant implications for Sustainable Food Systems research. Agricultural soils contain complex microbial communities that play a fundamental role in nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, plant health, and ecosystem resilience. Increasing concerns regarding soil degradation, declining biodiversity, and the long-term sustainability of conventional agricultural systems have intensified interest in regenerative farming practices that emphasize soil health restoration. While regenerative agriculture is often associated with environmental benefits such as carbon sequestration and reduced erosion, growing evidence suggests that soil microbial communities may also influence crop quality and nutritional outcomes. This paper examines the relationship between soil microbial health, crop quality, and human nutrition within regenerative agricultural systems. Current research indicates that diverse microbial communities contribute to nutrient availability, plant resilience, and the synthesis of bioactive compounds that influence the nutritional characteristics of agricultural products. Regenerative practices including cover cropping, compost application, reduced tillage, crop diversification, and integrated livestock management have been associated with improvements in microbial abundance and diversity across a range of agricultural environments. By synthesizing current scientific literature from soil microbiology, agronomy, and food systems research, this review highlights the importance of viewing soil ecosystems as foundational components of human nutrition. The findings suggest that microbial soil health represents a meaningful link between ecological sustainability and food quality outcomes, supporting its growing relevance within sustainable food system frameworks.