Youth4Soil Manifesto Hub
From Manifesto to Action
The Youth4Soil Manifesto is a global youth-driven agenda for action on soil health, co-created with 200+ young people and 50+ organisations across regions through surveys, consultations, and dialogues. Launched on World Soil Day 2025, it outlines eight global youth priorities for soil health, toward a unified youth vision for 2050.
The Youth4Soil Manifesto Implementation Guide provides actionable pathways to achieve the eight priorities, with recommendations for specific actor types, enabling conditions, illustrative examples from youth-led initiatives, and entry points for youth within global frameworks and processes. It is updated annually.
The Manifesto Hub is the living digital space that is continuously updated with case studies, tools, resources and opportunities for young people around the eight priorities.
Co-led by:
In partnership with:
8 Global Youth Priorities
The eight global youth priorities were developed by young people across regions to address the most critical barriers to youth-led action on soil health. Each priority has a dedicated space in the Hub, with case studies, tools, resources, opportunities and more.
All young people and stakeholders committed to enabling youth-led action on soil health are invited to contribute to the Hub.
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Strengthen Soil Literacy and Practical Education for Soil Health
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Enable Youth-Led Soil Innovation and Data Systems
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Ensure Meaningful Youth Participation in Soil Health Governance
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Equip Youth with the Skills and Professional Pathways for Soil Health Action
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Protect and Promote Indigenous and Local Knowledge and Practices as Co-Equal Evidence for Soil Health
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Expand Youth Access to Finance and Investment for Soil Health
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Centre Gender Equality and Inclusion of All Young People in Soil Health Action
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Secure Youth Access to Land and Tenure Rights for Soil Health
#Youth4Soil Voices
Why soil health and why now?
Soil health is the foundation of resilient food systems, climate adaptation, biodiversity, and sustainable livelihoods. Yet soil everywhere is degrading at alarming rates. Over 95% of the Earth’s soil is projected to decline by 2050 due to drought, human activity, chemicals, pollution, unsustainable land management, and other pressures.
These challenges reduce youth employment opportunities, limit access to land, increase farming costs, and heighten vulnerability to shocks. At the same time, youth voices remain underrepresented in decisions that shape our future.
Young people are already taking the lead, restoring degraded lands, practicing composting and agroecology, applying Indigenous and local knowledge, and training peers. But they continue to face barriers in knowledge, resources, land rights, financing, and participation in soil governance.
This is why the Youth4Soil Manifesto is needed now.
It explains why action is urgently needed and what meaningful youth participation and leadership in soil health should look like.
News & Updates from Youth4Soil
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For Young People
→ Join the Youth4Soil Network
→ Submit your story to be featured on the Hub
→ Apply for the Youth4Soil Mentorship Programme
→ Explore stories, resources and more under each priority and replicate what works in your context
→ Reach out to the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health
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For Organizations & Partners
→ Explore the Hub to align with your work with global youth priorities for soil health
→ Use the list of youth organizations and networks operating at global, regional, national, and local levels to engage them in your work
→ Reach out the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health and the UNCCD Youth Caucus to invite youth to engage in your activities
The fifth Soil Health Solutions Showcase by #Youth4Soil, convened under the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH), brought together young leaders, scientists and advocates to spotlight practical solutions for soil restoration and sustainable land use. The event featured innovators, researchers and community leaders presenting groundbreaking approaches to restoring degraded land and strengthening food systems.