Soil: Building Blocks of Knowledge to Safeguard Our Foundation for a Sustainable Future

Soil is frequently an overlooked resource but it is a foundational component of life on Earth. It supports plant growth, filters water, stores carbon, and hosts a vast array of biodiversity.

Soil’s central role is essential to building a sustainable future

Soils are ground for a multitude of ecosystem services that are crucial for human well-being and environmental sustainability. However, nutrient imbalances, acidification, organic carbon loss, peatland degradation, erosion, compaction, pollution and salinisation jeopardise their essential functions. Over 95% of the world’s food comes from soil, yet improper land use, erosion, and chemical pollution are degrading arable land at alarming rates.

Historically, land-use conversion and soil cultivation have been an important source of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to the atmosphere. On the other side, soil plays an important role in climate change mitigation strategies by reducing emissions from agriculture and other sources and by storing carbon in plant biomass.

Major Threats to Soil Health: Degaradation, Pollution, Salinization

Major threats to healthy soils are caused by intensive agricultural practices, weak management of polluters from industry and extraordinary climate events such as periods of drought or intense floods. Over 60% of European soils are unhealthy and scientific evidence shows that soils are further degrading due to unsustainable management of the land, sealing, contamination and overexploitation, combined with the impact from climate change and extreme weather events. Degraded soils reduce the provision of ecosystem services such as food, feed, fibre, timbre, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, pest control or water regulation. The loss of these essential soil ecosystem services costs the EU at least 50 billion euro per year, In addiction, long term consequences can include hunger and malnutrition.

Unlocking Soil as a Carbon Sink Through Regenerative Farming.

Aside from oceans, soils are one of the largest carbon reservoirs on Earth. This is because soil contains organic matter, which is composed of carbon, and when soils store more carbon than they release, they act as a sink. When managed sustainably, soils can sequester atmospheric CO₂, helping to combat climate change. Management techniques, which are successful in providing a net carbon sink in soils - carbon farming - include the following: - Conservation tillage minimizes or eliminates manipulation of the soil for crop production. It also reduces the fuel consumed in operations. - Cover cropping is the use of crops such as clover and small grains for protection and soil improvement. Covering crops enhances soil structure, and adds organic matter to the soil. - Crop rotation (sequence of different species in the same field) mimics the diversity of natural ecosystems. Varying the type of crops grown increases organic matter.

Soil Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: uncovering the layers of life

Soil is teeming with life —microorganisms, fungi, insects, and earthworms—which support nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and plant health. This underground biodiversity is essential for ecosystem services that benefit both nature and humanity. Protecting soil biodiversity through conservation and pollution prevention is key to maintaining resilient ecosystems and sustainable land use. While soil remediation can be used to clean up soil pollution, the ideal solution is to take a proactive approach to preventing the issues: - Proper disposal of waste - includes treatment prior to the release of waste into the environment. - Limit chemical fertilizers and pesticides - Keep land moisture and enrichment

Fostering Multilateral Cooperation to Address Global Challenges

Sustainable soil management must be supported by policy frameworks, education, and international cooperation. Programs like the FAO Global Soil Partnership and the EU Soil Strategy for 2030 aim to raise awareness and encourage best practices globally. Education initiatives are also critical—both for farmers and the broader public—to foster a culture of soil stewardship. A sustainable future is not possible without healthy soils, and collective action is needed to protect this vital resource.

About the author

Clara Rodrigues

Clara Rodrigues has been working as a sustainability manager for industry and ngos in the last 3 years, bringing knowledge and competence to conceive strategies, collect and analyse data. As a Business Consultant, she leverages certifications to provide consultancy and coaching services for innovation initiatives. I have more than 10 years of experience in developing capacitation plans, evaluating social impact, mentoring and coaching, and applying people-centered methods such as design thinking, co-creation, and UX journey maps. She worked with diverse clients, from nonprofits and social enterprises to public and private organizations, to help them achieve their goals and create positive change.

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