Global Film Highlights Faculty Voice on the Future of Soil

A leading expert in soil biogeochemistry and environmental engineering, UC Merced Professor Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, brings her research and perspective to a global conversation about the future of our planet.

Berhe, the Ted & Jan Falasco Chair in Earth Sciences and Geology and director of the UC Merced Earth Institute (formerly Sierra Nevada Research Institute), is one of the scientists interviewed in the new documentary "Groundswell."

The film, now streaming on Amazon Prime, spans five continents and encounters farmers, scientists, and Indigenous leaders who are reshaping humanity's relationship to land through regenerative agriculture, a specialty at UC Merced.

"Groundswell" is the final chapter of a documentary trilogy, following "Kiss the Ground" and "Common Ground." Each showcases regenerative agriculture solutions taking hold, ultimately benefiting human health and a hope for global renewal.

The film, directed by Josh Tickell and Rebecca Harrell Tickell and narrated by Woody Harrelson and Demi Moore, features a dynamic ensemble of voices and builds on a trilogy that explores solutions rooted in soil health.

Together, they explore how many of the problems ailing humans connect to the state of the world's soil. Independent farmers implementing historic indigenous techniques demonstrate how changing agricultural practices could potentially save the world.

Berhe's appearance underscores the global reach and impact of UC Merced research, emphasizing the vital role of science in addressing some of today's most urgent environmental challenges.

Through stories of innovation and collaboration, "Groundswell" offers a hopeful vision for the future - one where healthier soils can help restore ecosystems and communities around the world.