2025-2034: Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development 

Written By Hanna Linden (she/her) | CA4SH Secretariat

Lead Institution: International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS)

Short name and/or acronym of the initiative: Healthy Soils for Humanity

Start date: 01/01/2025

End date: 31/12/2034

The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) is the global organization of soil researchers (https://www.iuss.org/). The IUSS aims to advance all areas of soil sciences and its applications, foster connections among researchers and practitioners involved in soil sciences, encourage and support the implementation of soil research, and promote soil in education. The IUSS states that healthy soils underpin healthy societies: healthy soils are the foundation of social, ecological, and economic sustainability. IUSS, therefore, advocates for soil health to be included in all areas of sustainability research. Societies depend for their sustainability on healthy and well-functioning soil ecosystems, which can underpin biodiversity and the quality of air and water. Soil provides essential ecosystem services such as flood and erosion control, pest and disease regulation, climate change mitigation, waste recycling, water purification, biodiversity support, cultural heritage preservation, food security, material provision, and development space. To ensure the continuation or restoration of those services, sustainable management of the soil needs to become part of all areas of social action. This means maintaining or enhancing soil health and protecting it from destruction, pollution, and exploitation in all social activities, including extensive urban development. 

IUSS advocates for soil health to be included in all areas of sustainability research. We believe that progress towards achieving many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets is behind schedule due to insufficient attention to the impact of human activities on soil health. Through structured activities, knowledge dissemination, and international cooperation, the decade will contribute to a future where healthy soils support resilient ecosystems, food security, and sustainable development worldwide.

In consideration of the need to prioritize production, dissemination, and use of actionable scientific knowledge to achieve the targets of the SDGs, the IUSS has launched the 2025-2034 Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development (DSSSD). The Research Forum of the IUSS, in collaboration with the Executive Committee and the Council, will play a crucial role in enabling activities during this period, promoting research and innovation on sustainable soil management.

The DSSSD is a strategic initiative highlighting the critical role of soil health in achieving sustainable global development. The programme aims to ensure that regenerative and sustainable soil management remains a top priority in global sustainability efforts. In consideration of the need to prioritize production, dissemination and use of actionable scientific knowledge, and promote solutions to support the achievement of the SDGs, the programme's key objectives include:

  • Create a strong science-policy-society interface on soil health and protection for sustainability

  • Advance practical understanding on soil sciences for sustainable development.

  • Support scientific research and innovation in integrating sustainable soil management in all areas of social action.

  • Promote initiatives which engage society with soil research, including citizen science, knowledge co-production, science communication, and soil in education.

  • Foster meaningful cooperation between soil research and society to enhance trust in science

  • Diversify and strengthen social, cultural, and artistic research on soils.

  • Strengthen international collaborative and transdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research initiatives.

The Research Forum will detail the annual work plan in collaboration with partner organizations. Planned specific activities during the decade comprise the following:

  • Publishing review papers, reports, and thematic books on the contribution of Soil Sciences to sustainable development and the targets of the SDGs.

  • Issuing policy briefs on the recent advances in all fields of soil sciences

  • Promoting selected papers dealing with actionable scientific knowledge to achieve the targets of the SDGs

  • Hosting thematic Webinars on these topics

  • Organizing one or more Sessions on the connections between SDGs and soils at the next WCSS in Nanjing 2026 

  • Organizing one or more Sessions on the connections between soils and SDGs at the next WCSS in Toronto (Canada) 2030. 

  • Organizing one or more Sessions on the connections between soils and SDGs at the next WCSS in Leipzig (Germany) 2034.

  • Working with UNESCO, FAO, ISC, and other organizations for the implementation of IDSSD initiatives at various levels, including national soil science societies

  • Collaborating with UNESCO’s initiatives focused on leveraging the organization’s designated sites as monitoring points for soil, water, landscape, and biodiversity impacts associated with climate change and land degradation.

  • Proclamation of the World Soil of the Year (WSY). In recognition of the success of various national programs, the IUSS WSY program has been implemented to enhance soil literacy across numerous countries and on a global scale. 

  • Delivery of awards to champions of policy implementation, production of innovation, and communication activities 

  • Educational activity and production of educative tools, also made in collaboration with partner organizations, such as the FAO-GSP.

The DSSSD is officially endorsed by the UNESCO and is part of its 2024-2033 Decade of Science for Sustainable Development (https://www.un-sciences-decade.org/en), allowing the use of the UNESCO logo for related activities of the DSSSD. The DSSSD has been also endorsed by the Global Soil Partnership of the FAO, The International Science Council (ISC), the Coalition for Soil Health (CA4SH), the European Society for Soil Conservation (ESSC), and the 4 per 1000 initiative.

The long-term impact of the 2025-2034 Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development is the realisation of a strategic initiative highlighting soil's critical role in achieving sustainable global development. By fostering scientific collaboration, advancing research, and engaging with policymakers and the broader society, the IUSS aims to ensure that soil management remains a top priority in global sustainability efforts. DSSSD will contribute to a future where healthy soils support resilient ecosystems, food security, and sustainable development worldwide through structured activities, knowledge dissemination, and international cooperation. 

Ultimately, the Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development represents a pivotal commitment to advancing soil health as a cornerstone of global sustainability. By prioritizing the production, dissemination, and application of actionable scientific knowledge, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between science, policy, and society, ensuring that soil health is integrated into all areas of sustainable development. The DSSSD’s objectives—ranging from fostering international collaboration and supporting innovative research, to engaging society through education and citizen science—underscore the essential role of soils in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Edoardo A.C. Costantini

Past President and Chair of the Research Forum

Hanna Linden (she/her) | CA4SH Secretariat https://www.hannanorth.com/
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