TY - JOUR

T1 - Sustainable futures over the next decade are rooted in soil science

AU - Evans, Daniel L.

AU - Janes-Bassett, Victoria

AU - Borrelli, Pasquale

AU - Chenu, Claire

AU - Ferreira, Carla S. S.

AU - Griffiths, Robert I.

AU - Kalantari, Zahra

AU - Keesstra, Saskia

AU - Lal, Rattan

AU - Panagos, Panos

AU - Robinson, David A.

AU - Seifollahi-Aghmiuni, Samaneh

AU - Smith, Pete

AU - Steenhuis, Tammo S.

AU - Thomas, Amy

AU - Visser, Saskia M.

N1 - https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.13145

PY - 2022/1/19

Y1 - 2022/1/19

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - biodiversity

KW - climate change

KW - ecosystems

KW - food security

KW - sustainable development goals

KW - urban development

KW - water security

U2 - 10.1111/ejss.13145

DO - 10.1111/ejss.13145

M3 - Article

VL - 73

SP - e13145

JO - European Journal of Soil Science

JF - European Journal of Soil Science

SN - 1351-0754

IS - 1

ER -