To what extent is soil degradation an issue for humans? (introduction)

Soil is extremely important to sustain human life, with 95% of food coming from soil. Soil degradation has occurred globally due to mass farming and the use of unsustainable techniques such as using heavy machinery which has compacted the soil over years. Cattle can also achieve the same effect as they can stomp the ground and flatten it, thus reducing the permeability of the soil by changing its structure. Soil degradation is worsened by climate change, and many countries in sub-Saharan Africa (such as Ethiopia, South Sudan and Kenya) will be greatly impacted by this in the near future. Some predict that all of the world’s soil will be degraded in 60 years from now, and that other means of growing food will have to be designed to prevent mass starvation.