Sustainable futures over the next decade are rooted in soil science

Abstract

The importance of soils to society has gained increasing recognition over the past decade, with the potential to contribute to most of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With unprecedented and growing demands for food, water and energy, there is an urgent need for a global effort to address the challenges of climate change and land degradation, whilst protecting soil as a natural resource. In this paper, we identify the contribution of soil science over the past decade to addressing gaps in our knowledge regarding major environmental challenges: climate change, food security, water security, urban development, and ecosystem functioning and biodiversity. Continuing to address knowledge gaps in soil science is essential for the achievement of the SDGs. However, with limited time and budget, it is also pertinent to identify effective methods of working that ensure the research carried out leads to real‐world impact. Here, we suggest three strategies for the next decade of soil science, comprising a greater implementation of research into policy, interdisciplinary partnerships to evaluate function trade‐offs and synergies between soils and other environmental domains, and integrating monitoring and modelling methods to ensure soil‐based policies can withstand the uncertainties of the future. Highlights We highlight the contributions of soil science to five major environmental challenges since 2010. Researchers have contributed to recommendation reports, but work is rarely translated into policy. Interdisciplinary work should assess trade‐offs and synergies between soils and other domains. Integrating monitoring and modelling is key for robust and sustainable soils‐based policymaking.

A new theory for soil health

“…In recent years, there has been surging recognition about the importance of soils (Cimpoiasu et al, 2021; Evans et al, 2021; Keesstra et al, 2016). Soils have always been a fundamental part of terrestrial ecosystems, supporting functions and biodiversity and key in food production, storing and cleaning water, accumulating carbon, regulating climate, safeguarding energy, providing raw materials, and supporting critical infrastructure (Blum, 2005).…”

“…To summarise, the conventional approach of describing 'soil health' has focussed on simple, in-situ, point-based measurements of key "proxy" variables (e.g., soil carbon stocks) or studying basic sub-component interactions (e.g., colloid to mineral, microbe-nutrient). Over recent decades these techniques have evolved with varying levels of sophistication and complexity (Neal et al, 2020), spurred, in part, by a wave of innovations in metagenomics, sequencing, and informatics (Evans et al, 2021). Indeed, Powlson (2020) asserts recent technological innovations have enhanced our capabilities to conduct not only measurements of soil properties, but continuous or routine soil monitoring which can assist farmers with their in-season and long-term decision-making and, at larger scales, detect trends not so easily discernible at the individual farm scale.…”

How about the role of farmers and of pragmatic approaches when aiming for sustainable development by 2030?

“…How about the role of farmers and of pragmatic approaches when aiming for sustainable development by 2030? Evans et al (2021) have presented a comprehensive, valuable review describing possible contributions by the soil science profession to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, presenting a positive outlook in line with another recent review (Lal et al, 2021). Evans et al (2021) rightly state that 'the issue is not "what" should be researched but "how" soil science can best assure that research is substantially contributing to realising the SDGs'.…”

“…Evans et al (2021) have presented a comprehensive, valuable review describing possible contributions by the soil science profession to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, presenting a positive outlook in line with another recent review (Lal et al, 2021). Evans et al (2021) rightly state that 'the issue is not "what" should be researched but "how" soil science can best assure that research is substantially contributing to realising the SDGs'. The 'how' question is next specified in three broad categories: (1) greater implementation of research into policy; (2) interdisciplinary partnerships; and…”

An Overview of Sustainability Assessment Frameworks in Agriculture

“…The pressure on the agriculture sector will continue to rise due to global challenges, such as an increasing population and food requirements, and climate change [10]. To meet the world's projected food demands by 2050, food production must increase by 60-100% [11].…”