Soil is living and life-giving in more ways than we might think. By caring for the soil, we can build healthier communities, stronger economies, and a more resilient landscape. Let's celebrate World Soil Day!
In 2002, the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) recommended a worldwide day to highlight the importance of soil. The Kingdom of Thailand led the initiative through the Global Soil Partnership framework. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), "[The] Conference unanimously endorsed World Soil Day in June 2013 and requested its official adoption at the 68th UN General Assembly. In December 2013, the UN General Assembly responded by designating 5 December 2014 as the first official World Soil Day." Learn more about the history of World Soil Day on FAO's website.
FAO defined this year's theme as "Soil and Water: A Source of Life." Building soil health leads to healthier water ways, and we can help preserve these vital resources for future generations.
Soils vary in color, texture, structure, and chemical, physical, and biological composition across our planet. The United States Department of Agriculture uses Soil Taxonomy to classify 12 major orders of soil. Each order has distinct characteristics and ecological significance, similar to how biologists classify animals and plants. The Soil Science Society of America digs into these categories and maps them out on their web page "Around the World."
Here at 4 The Soil, our conversations with farmers, conservationists, extension agents, and community leaders worldwide show us ways to advocate for soil and recognize its impacts. Listen to their stories and expertise on 4 The Soil: A Conversation anywhere you get your podcasts. Through our website, you can find episodes that explore specific topics and keywords by using the "Search podcast" bar. For instance, if you are interested in how healthy soils impact our water ways, search "water."
Building healthy soils might seem like a massive undertaking. Everyday it faces erosion, compaction, nutrient imbalance, acidification, pollution, and decreased water retention. But we can all help safeguard healthy soils for future generations. Many champions manage soil health locally, but our collective action can become global.
Supporting healthy management looks different for everyone. Whether you're a farmer, a conservation professional, nature lover, or a food lover, you can advocate for and support healthy soils.
Additional Resources
This World Soil Day, take a look at the surprising science of soil || NPR, December 4, 2023
World Soil Day, 5 December || Food and Agriculture Organization, December 2023
Soil: The Bridge Between Global Environmental Challenges || Forbes, December 5, 2023
The Twelve Soil Orders || Image courtesy of the University of Idaho
Thank you to Social Impact Studios for the World Soil Day graphic that shows "soil" in fifteen languages:
Arabic → تربة
Armenian → պարարտանյութ
Chinese (Simplified) → 泥土
German → die Erde
Haitian Creole → tè
Hindi → धरणी
Indonesian → tanah
Japanese → 土壌
Korean → 농토
Sanskirt → मृदा
Spanish → la tierra
Swahili → udongo
Ukrainian → земельна ділянка
Urdu → مٹی
Vietnamese → đất