Can AI Help AI (to save water and restore soil)?
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Seth Itzkan
Feb 23, 2026, 12:38:30 PM (3 days ago) Feb 23
to Soil Age, Healthy Soils Coalition, Grassroots Network Food and Ag Forum, Sequestering Carbon in Soil: Addressing The Climate Threat, Healthy Soils Legislation
Are there soil restoration methods that AI firms could support to help compensate for data center water use?
Yes, AI firms can support various soil restoration and regenerative agriculture methods to significantly improve water retention, helping to compensate for the high water usage of data centers. Soil restoration techniques, such as increasing organic matter, can allow soil to hold 20,000 more gallons of water per acre for every 1% increase in organic matter, reducing the need for irrigation and enhancing groundwater recharge. [1]
Key soil restoration methods suitable for corporate support include:
- Increasing Soil Organic Matter (SOM): Incorporating compost, manure, or plant residues improves soil structure, creating micropores that act like a sponge to absorb and retain water.
- Regenerative Agriculture Practices:
- No-till or Low-till Farming: Minimizing soil disturbance preserves existing soil structure and increases infiltration, reducing water runoff.
- Cover Cropping: Planting crops between seasons protects the soil surface from evaporation, improves structure, and maintains living roots that aid in water movement.
- Mulching: Applying organic materials like wood chips or straw to the soil surface reduces evaporation, regulates soil temperature, and enhances moisture retention.
- Landscape "Sponge" Methods: Creating sunken beds and using biochar or other absorbent amendments in arid regions can catch water and allow it to percolate into the water table, rather than running off.
- Grazing Management: Prohibiting grazing in degraded areas or implementing planned, rotational grazing can significantly improve soil water retention by reducing compaction and allowing vegetation to recover. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
How AI Firms Can Support These MethodsAI firms are uniquely positioned to accelerate these solutions through:
- Precision Agriculture Tools: AI-powered platforms (e.g., Kilimo) analyze real-time data on soil, weather, and crops to optimize irrigation, reducing water waste.
- Satellite Imagery and Mapping: AI can map high-potential areas for water restoration, track soil moisture, and measure the impact of regenerative practices.
- Predictive Modelling: AI can simulate different rewilding and restoration scenarios to maximize the impact of investments in nature-based interventions. [11, 12, 13]
Major data center operators are already partnering with organizations to drive water replenishment and watershed health using these technologies. [11]
AI responses may include mistakes.
[7] https://www.woollets.net/blog-woollets/why-soil-water-retention-matters-in-sustainable-gardening
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