Soil is more than dirt—it’s the lifeblood of ecosystems, agriculture, and climate resilience. On this World Soil Day, we explore why protecting this vital resource is essential for a sustainable future.
“Soil is home to more than one-quarter of our planet’s biodiversity. Yet, we know only 1% of this universe,” (FAO).
Beneath our feet lies a dynamic, life-supporting world that supports nearly every aspect of human life. Soils anchor ecosystems, filter water, sequester carbon, mitigate droughts and floods, produce food, and are even the source of many modern medicines. Yet, the health of the world’s soils is under threat, with erosion, depletion, and contamination accelerating at alarming rates.
The pressures of industrial farming, deforestation, and urban sprawl are eroding soils faster than they can regenerate, and the consequences are grave. Depleted soils not only jeopardise food security but also contribute to climate instability, threatening livelihoods worldwide. This World Soil Day, the question is clear: how can we better protect and restore this vital resource?
Listening to the land
Efforts to protect and restore soil often falter when they’re imposed from a distance—when decisions are made in policy rooms, far removed from the realities of the farm. To be effective, soil management must start with those who know it best: farmers, scientists, and local land stewards. They hold invaluable knowledge about the challenges and opportunities of sustainable land management.
In Europe, for instance, the transition to regenerative agriculture is gaining momentum. Farmers adopting practices such as no-till farming, cover cropping, or agroforestry report long-term benefits to soil health. However, those wanting to transition to regenerative practices often face significant hurdles, from the upfront costs of transitioning to the lack of a functioning support system of peers, advisors, and skilled workers.
During a recent EIT Food workshop we supported in Italy, farmers shared their main challenges: transition financing remains limited, and greater investment in demonstration research is urgently needed to prove the business case for regenerative agriculture to a wider group of farmers, as well as to secure more investment from governments and the food industry.
– Gerard Don, Innovation Consultant, Nature & Agriculture
Projects like Smart Carbon Farming are starting to close these gaps, exploring new methods to track and measure soil carbon while keeping the realities of farming front and centre. To make these solutions widely accessible, they need to not only be scientifically sound but also affordable and practical for the people managing the land.
Another approach to closing this gap comes from the seven Open Labs designed and monitored by the REWET project.
Through modelling, the REWET project evaluates scenarios involving restoration status, GHG emissions, and biodiversity to support climate-smart wetland management, maximising the carbon sequestration potential of these wetland soils.
– Lisa Wiatschka, Innovation Consultant, Nature & Agriculture
The need for a bigger picture
A danger lies in viewing soil management through too narrow a lens. Carbon sequestration, while essential in combating climate change, is just one piece of the puzzle. Healthy soils are the foundation of entire ecosystems, and a focus on carbon alone risks sidelining the broader benefits of holistic soil management. From improving water retention to supporting diverse plant and animal life, soil’s value extends far beyond its role as a carbon sink.
This broader perspective is critical as governments and markets begin to recognise soil’s potential. Policy and funding must be informed by those on the ground—farmers, conservationists, and scientists—rather than being dictated top-down. Only then can we ensure that solutions are not only technically feasible but also socially and economically viable.
A soil revolution
What’s next for soil? Much remains to be discovered about the vibrant life hidden below the surface. Scientists are only beginning to understand how soil microbes influence plant health, how organic matter stores water, and how we can better measure soil’s contributions to ecosystem services. Awareness of soil’s value is growing, but it needs to accelerate—and fast.
This World Soil Day, let’s celebrate the soil not just as dirt beneath our feet but as the living, breathing foundation of life on Earth. And let’s commit to working together—farmers, researchers, policymakers, and citizens—to give it the care it deserves.
Are you also passionate about Europe’s soil systems? Reach out to see how we can collaborate.
