Soils: Where food begins
29/11/2022
About 95% of the food is directly or indirectly produced on our soils, which have a natural capacity to support plants by providing them with nutrients through the soil solution. Healthy soils are crucial to our basic survival as well as our planet’s sustainable future.
With the theme "Soils: Where food begins", World Soil Day (WSD) 2022 and its campaign aim to raise awareness on the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being by addressing the key challenges related to soil fertility, soil health and nutrient imbalance. WSD is a unique platform that celebrates soils and engages citizens around the world to improve soil health.
Browse a selection of FAO publications that showcase the Organization’s work on fighting soil erosion, increasing soil awareness and proactively improving soil health.
JUST RELEASED: Global Status of Black Soils
This report provides strategic information about the distribution, state and management of black soils and can guide decision-making regarding the sustainable management and conservation of black soils. It recommends establishing a global agreement for the sustainable management (for conservation, protection and production) of black soils, among other things.
Soils for nutrition: state of the art
This booklet offers a review of literature and practices that can provide a more nutritious agrifood system for enhancing human health and wellbeing while protecting the environment. These include integrated soil fertility management, soil microorganisms, and sensor technology.
The International Code of Conduct for the sustainable use and management of fertilizers
This document is an important tool for implementing the Voluntary Guidelines for sustainable soil management with special regard to nutrient imbalances and soil pollution. It addresses the judicious use and management of fertilizers to prevent misuse, underuse and overuse.
Global assessment of soil pollution
World soil health is under pressure from 10 main soil threats, including erosion, loss of soil organic carbon and biodiversity, pollution, and salinization. This report presents the status and drivers of global soil pollution, as well as recommendations to address the issue such as using bioremediation technologies.
Further reading
- State of knowledge of soil biodiversity – Status, challenges and potentialities. Report 2020
- Keep soil alive, protect soil biodiversity
- Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management
- Status of the World's Soil Resources
- Revised World Soil Charter
- Sampling of agricultural soils and plants for radioactivity analysis
Forthcoming
- Soil Atlas of Asia
Additional resources
