With microplastic pollution invading our oceans and the soil, few places have been spared. Could it also enter the food chain? Scientists in the Netherlands are beginning to uncover the tip of the iceberg – so far, with more questions than answers.

In France, working the soil is often a family business. In the western city of La Rochelle, we meet three generations of cereal farmers who have been working the fields since 1912. A little further north, in the Mayenne region, a whole family has converted to organic farming. For all of them, each working day is a chance to learn or pass on know-how.

Indian mystic and visionary Sadhguru is making a 100-day motorbike journey from Europe to India to raise awareness of soil erosion. He told FRANCE 24's Delano D'Souza why he feels his mission is important for humankind. With more than half of agricultural soils are already degraded, Sadhguru warned that "there is no alternative to soil". He also described his own personal journey, saying that he does not see himself as a guru.

The spekboom plant, excellent at sucking CO2 out of the atmosphere, has been badly degraded in South Africa. Now an initiative is using innovative planting methods to bring back the plant and restore soil and biodiversity.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tells the United Nations that no country should exploit the turmoil in Afghanistan for its own advantage after Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan appealed for nations to work with the Taliban.

Farming using hydroponics is becoming increasingly popular throughout Africa. The method saves on water and soil by instead using organic materials like coconut fiber or clay balls to grow crops.

Nigerian farmer, Samson Ogbole is promoting the use of aeroponics, a soilless technology that delivers 'nutrient mist' directly to plant roots in urban indoor farms eliminating the need to cultivate crops in soil.

As desertification and soil erosion have led to the loss of arable land in Nigeria, could hydroponic farming be a sustainable alternative?

There's a lot more to that brown stuff under your feet than meets the eye! Soil is the link between the air, water, rocks, and organisms — and its health is vital in keeping ecosystems alive.