Soil Health Program

Organized large-scale four-point soil analysis of lands available for restoration in Rio’s favelas as a way to determine the toxicity, so as to indicate what functions the land can or should perform. The analyses were conducted in collaboration with EMBRAPA, Brazil’s federal soil research facility, to determine heavy metal bio-accumulator levels (in particular, lead) in favela food gardens. This is especially important in favelas such as Manguinhos, where incidents of cancer and neurological disorders are 500 times higher in youth than in other parts of the city (FIOCRUZ 2009). Soil analysis is critical to assure the suitability for land restored for growing food. If the soil was found to be healthy, it was then enriched with worms donated by EMBRAPA. Worm bins were also constructed and placed in the gardens so vermicast could be produced and soil enrichment could continue to improve.