Volcanic Agriculture; An Introduction

Since the creation of agriculture (beginning the anthropocene era roughly 12,000 years ago,) people have used volcanic land for farming. Volcanic deposits create mineral-rich, fertile soil which increase the yields of harvests in years following eruptions. Volcanic ash acts as a natural fertiliser, and the deposits retain moisture more than most non-volcanic soils. The ability to cultivate this land comes from sets of skills farmers have passed down through generations, as the terrain is difficult to work with, so mainstream agricultural techniques are not possible to use here.

The figure above shows the location of the World's volcanoes, both active and inactive. A study in 2015 showed that 21 million people are living with 10km of volcanos globally. Volcanoes disrupt the land patterns locally, and since agriculture varies depending on land types, the steep slopes and uneven ground created from them can prove a difficulty in terms of crop growth. Regardless, the majority of these regions utilise the mineral-rich soils for food production.

Dependent on where the volcanic region is geographically will affect the type of crops that can be grown; the Campania region in Italy (by Mount Vesuvius) has vineyards, growing grapes for wine, as well as many orange and lemon trees, herbs and flowers. There are also tomatoes, figs, artichokes, and more grown in the region. Southern Italy has a Mediterranean climate, allowing crops to thrive in the long growing season.

91% of the Campania region is rural, 40% of this being agricultural. There is a focus on promoting agricultural competition in the region, and incentivising young people to go into agriculture to prevent the ageing farming demographic. They maximise the usage of fertile volcanic soils by filling fields with inter-culture; trees growing fruits, crops along the ground and vineyards stretching out up mountains. The yields are high and the produce benefits from volcanic, Mediterranean conditions. New Zealand is another example which benefits agriculturally from historical volcanic activity from long growing seasons and mild winters, particularly on North Island.

Countries with dormant volcanoes are not the only ones to benefit from volcanic minerals in the soil; the 'modern Pompeii'- Monserrat - has had to adapt in recent years, with their agricultural sector being controlled by volcanic activity. Eruptions initially ruin land and destroy crops, leading to potential famines and mass economic loss. However, adaptation is key, and volcanic ash weathers into productive soil anywhere from 2 to 15 years after an eruption.

There will never be an even playing field for humans versus the planet's natural forces, but human's ability to interact with and utilise this land shows a great potential for food security in the future; being able to transform an otherwise destructive event and create new life and vitality out of it- in a sustainable manner- is promising for future generations.