Ever heard your grandparents say things like, “Fruit and veggies just don’t taste like they used to”? Turns out, they’re not imagining things. Modern fruit and veg really aren’t what they used to be, and it’s not just about flavour. Studies show that today’s produce actually contains fewer nutrients than the same crops grown decades ago.
So what the hell happened? It all comes down to the ground beneath our feet.
The Secret Ingredient Is in the Soil
Soil isn’t just dirt; it’s a living ecosystem packed with fungi, bacteria, earthworms, and minerals that work together to feed plants. When the soil’s alive and healthy, it produces food that’s bursting with flavour and nutrition.
But here’s the issue: we’ve spent the last 70 years-or-so farming in ways that strip life (and nutrients) out of the soil. Synthetic fertilisers, monocropping, over-tilling, and of course, chemical pesticide sprays have left many farms with depleted, nutrient-poor land. And when the soil runs on empty, so do the plants.
As the saying goes: “If it’s not in the soil, it’s not in your food.”
The Evidence Is Piling Up
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A landmark study in the US comparing data from 1950 to 1999 found that the mineral content in 43 different fruits and vegetables dropped by 5–40% on average (Davis et al., 2004, Journal of the American College of Nutrition).
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Another study found that crops grown on regenerative farms (where the focus is on building soil health) contained higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than those grown conventionally (Montgomery et al., 2022, PeerJ).
The Main Culprits Behind Nutrient Decline
1. The “Yield at All Costs” Mentality
Modern agriculture has prioritised bigger yields and faster growth over nutrient quality. The result is the “dilution effect”: crops grow faster and bulkier, but the minerals and vitamins don’t keep up.
2. Soil Depletion
Soils naturally hold a buffet of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, and more. But constant cropping without giving back drains those nutrients. According to the FAO, over a third of the world’s soils are already degraded.
Here in Australia, the Queensland Government warns that “soil fertility decline occurs when nutrients removed in harvest exceed those being replaced.” And when that happens year after year, you end up with lifeless, dusty soil that can barely grow anything worth eating.
3. Chemical Shortcuts
Fertilisers and pesticides might help crops grow faster with less ‘imperfections’, but they come with a trade-off. Chemical fertilisers often focus on just three nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Meanwhile, the 20+ other trace minerals that plants (and humans) need, like selenium, zinc, and magnesium, get left behind.
On top of that, pesticides and herbicides disrupt the soil’s microbes that actually help plants absorb nutrients. In other words, we’ve traded long-term nutrition for short-term convenience.
Why This Matters for You
When your veggies have fewer nutrients, your body misses out, even if you’re eating your “five a day.” This can contribute to things like fatigue, lower immunity, and micronutrient deficiencies, even in countries where food is abundant. Billions of people globally are suffering from micronutrient insufficiency, especially iodine, iron, folate, vitamin A, and zinc (Montgomery & Biklé, 2021).
You could eat the same amount of food as your grandparents and still get less nutrition overall. Not to mention, consuming pesticides on conventional produce is actually detrimental to your health.
That’s why the conversation around regenerative agriculture matters so much, because it’s not just about sustainability; it’s about nutrition, flavour, and human health.
Regenerative Farming Is the Way Back
Regenerative farming focuses on rebuilding the soil’s natural balance through methods like crop rotation, composting, cover crops, minimal tilling, and grazing animals in harmony with the land.
These systems don’t just stop the decline, they reverse it.
When farmers treat soil like the living system it is, incredible things happen:
🌱 Crops get stronger, tastier, and more nutrient-rich.
🌎 Carbon is stored underground, helping to balance our climate.
🐄 Animals thrive on natural pastures, without chemical feed.
And as eaters, we get to enjoy food that tastes the way it should.
Further research shows that crops harvested on regenerative farms have, on average, compared to conventionally grown crops:
- 34% more vitamin K
- 15% more vitamin E
- 14% more vitamin B1
- 17% more vitamin B2
- 15% more carotenoids
- 20% more phenolics
- 22% more phytosterols
- 11% more calcium
- 16% more phosphorus
- 27% more copper
Meet our regenerative farmers who are making a difference to the health of our soil here.
How You Can Help
You don’t need to be a farmer to make a difference. Here’s what you can do:
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Support regenerative farmers. Every dollar you spend on local, spray-free or organic produce helps rebuild soil health. It’ll return the favour in flavour. The more we support these farmers who are doing good things for the planet, the more backing they’ll have to keep doing what they do best.
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Ask questions. Where was it grown? How was it farmed? If your local farmer lights up when talking about their soil, you know you’re in good hands.
Back to the Tomatoes
So yeah, your grandparents’ tomatoes were healthier and more flavoursome back in the day, but that’s not a reason to settle for bland, nutrient-poor food… It’s motivation to rebuild. The good news is that there is a clear path to fixing this issue. By healing the soil, we can bring back the nutrition, flavour, and vitality our food and our planet once had.
It’s time to give the ground beneath us a little more love, because the road to better health doesn’t start in a supplement bottle. It starts in the soil.
Want access to food that's been grown in nutrient-rich soil by farmers who give a damn about your health? Start here.
References:
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Davis, D.R., Epp, M.D., Riordan, H.D. (2004). Changes in USDA Food Composition Data for 43 Garden Crops, 1950 to 1999. J Am Coll Nutr.
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FAO (2006). Plant Nutrition for Food Security: A Guide for Integrated Nutrient Management. fao.org
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Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems (2021). The Link Between Soil Health and Crop Nutrition.
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Hirsch, S. (2025, May 6). Sustainably grown food: A win-win for the planet and your nutritional health. Center for Food as Medicine & Longevity. https://foodmedcenter.org/sustainable-farming-nutrient-density/
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Montgomery, D. R., & Biklé, A. (2021). An Alarming Decline in the Nutritional Quality of Foods: The Biggest Challenge for Future Generations’ Health. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5, Article 699147. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.699147
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Montgomery, D.R. et al. (2022). Soil health and nutrient density: preliminary comparison of regenerative and conventional farming. PeerJ, 10:e12848.
- Queensland Government, Soil Fertility Decline. https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/soil/degradation/fertility-decline
