Agricultural intensification is threatening the functioning of our soils as the basic life support system of our planet. Organic agriculture has the potential to regenerate our soils, but it alone cannot meet the global food demand. Future sustainable agriculture therefore requires a colorful tapestry of different solutions to meet global food demand while preserving our planet. Martin Hartmann is a Senior Scientist at ETH Zurich and a distinguished researcher specialized in microbial ecology and soil science. His research centers around the pivotal role of soil biodiversity for the functioning of agroecosystems and the impact of human activities and climate change on this vital resource. His primary interest lies in leveraging microbial functions to enhance soil health and promote sustainable crop production. As lecturer at ETH Zurich, he is passionate about educating the next-generation of scientists. Dr. Hartmann is the Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Soil Biology and a member of the International Society for Microbial Ecology. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx