Life Without Worms

Earthworms serve as vital ecosystem engineers, silently driving soil health, nutrient cycling, and water filtration for over 500 million years. Their absence triggers a catastrophic collapse in agricultural productivity, with models indicating a loss of over 6% of global grain production and increased reliance on environmentally damaging inorganic fertilizers. Beyond farming, earthworms act as a foundational protein source for numerous bird species and mammals, while their burrowing activity prevents soil compaction and mitigates flood risks. While human-led initiatives like intensive composting can provide localized support, they fail to replicate the massive, natural aeration and soil-building processes performed by these creatures. Without earthworms, the structural integrity of the soil degrades, leading to increased erosion and a fundamental shift in forest ecosystems, ultimately unpicking the biological reality that sustains human food systems and natural habitats.