Securing our soil

Abstract

Through the recognition and interplay of biochemicophysical (pedologic and edaphic), economic, social and policy dimensions, soil security is a wider and more integrative concept than previous policy- and management-focused notions such as soil conservation, soil care, soil quality, soil health and soil protection. It is the soil homolog of food, water and energy security. In this way, global significance of soil for sustainable development is emphasized. Through the five dimensions of soil security, the value of soil in addressing at least six of the current global existential challenges is formulated, and the intrinsic import of soil security as an equally essential worldwide pragmatic requirement is resolved. The immediate quest is for a multidisciplinary understanding to qualify and quantify the five dimensions effectively and efficiently so that the security of soil in fields, catchments or watersheds, regions, countries, continents and globally can be measured, maintained or improved through appropriate management and policy, and monitored on an ongoing basis.