Save Our Soil, Save Our Planet: Richard Cruse, TEDx Iowa State University, April 2018

Rick Cruse's TEDx talk highlights how soil, a foundation of civilization, is eroding in Iowa up to ten times faster than it is being naturally replaced, with direct implications for food, water, and climate resilience. He explains that historical societies collapsed after failing to protect soils, and today, extreme rainfalls and urban expansion increase pressure on farmland. Cruse warns that neither advanced technology nor high-yield genetics can replace healthy, well-managed soils, and shares how the Daily Erosion Project tracks ongoing losses to highlight urgent conservation needs. He passionately advocates for everyday soil stewardship, emphasizing conservation farming and public education. He ends with a playful poem urging everyone to support sustainable practices like no-till, cover crops, and prairie strips for a healthier future.