World Soil Day 2022 Message

By: Murukesan Krishnapillai

How often do we appreciate the ground beneath our feet when we know our future depends on healthy soil? Much underrated yet incredibly vital — the world will be food insecure without soil. We may not realize it, but our existence and survival are impossible without soil. Thankfully, each year there is a day dedicated to the importance of healthy, sustainable soil management. World Soil Day is held annually on December 5 to focus on the importance of healthy soil and advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources.

The 2022 World Soil Day theme, “Soils: Where food begins,” aims to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being by addressing the growing challenges in soil management, increasing soil awareness, and encouraging societies to improve soil health. All around the world, people use the day to inform and inspire.

Healthy soil is the foundation for agriculture and is critical to human health and achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Judicious soil management plays a vital role in realizing SDG2, which aims to ‘end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.’ This is particularly reflected in action point 2.4: "By 2030 ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters, and that progressively improve land and soil quality.” In other words, achieving food security is a challenge, and maintaining it is another, and soils are a vital part of the solution.

It is estimated that over 95% of our food is directly or indirectly produced on our soils. Healthy soils supply the essential nutrients, water, oxygen, and root support that our food-producing plants need to grow and flourish. Soils also serve as a buffer to protect delicate plant roots from drastic fluctuations in temperature. To keep soils capable of delivering such essential services, it is crucial to manage them with care.

On this World Soil Day, let us unite to save this precious resource. A general engagement, both individual and collective, is required for disseminating knowledge and awareness of the value of soil beneath our feet. Pretend that there is no Wi-Fi today; instead, talk to your students, talk to your colleagues, talk to your friends and families, and talk to your neighbors. Spread this message. 

Happy World Soil Day!