The Soil Security Declaration

We urge the nations and peoples of the world to acknowledge the vital significance of soil for both humanity and the planet. It is imperative that we develop a comprehensive plan of action to safeguard the world’s soil for the future. Soil provides an essential foundation for life and human civilisation. While its natural formation may take millennia, its degradation can occur almost instantaneously, presenting a profound challenge to our shared future. The loss of soil function poses serious risks to our food systems, economies, societies, ecosystems, and the overall stability of our global community. The UNCCD reports that we annually lose 24 billion tonnes of fertile soil, causing significant economic damage. This underscores that soil insecurity is not only an environmental concern but also a pressing economic issue.

History serves as a reminder of the far-reaching consequences of soil insecurity. The decline of great civilisations, such as the Babylonian and Mayan Empires, highlight the critical importance of soil security. Furthermore, current events—such as the devastation of vital agricultural regions in Ukraine due to conflict and the salinisation of vast tracts of soil in Central Asia—illustrate ongoing challenges. Regions that become unproductive and uninhabitable may face significant migratory pressures, which could exacerbate tensions over diminishing resources. The emergence of new threats, including the accumulation of exogenous chemicals in soil, and their unknown impacts, adds urgency to the mission of securing soil, including its regeneration.

It is essential to recognise that soil is central to addressing eight existential challenges of our time: food security, water security, energy security, climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity preservation, supporting human health, sustainable ecosystems and soil security itself. Soil should not be conflated with land; it requires its own dedicated regulation and thoughtful stewardship.

To confront this pressing issue, we have developed a set of core principles to guide global efforts toward ensuring soil security. We advocate for the design and implementation of effective policies and laws that engage diverse communities through a collaborative governance model, fostering the connection between people and soil. We encourage every nation to adopt comprehensive soil strategies that recognize and harness the myriad benefits of soil for humanity and the planet. Such strategies should incorporate incentive-based approaches that encourage positive actions for sustainable soil management and usage.

As participants in the first Global Soil Security Summit, we issue this declaration—a global call to action. We urge governments, legislatures, scientists, businesses, and citizens worldwide to join forces in the vital effort to secure our soils. We aim to promote the recognition, protection, and sustainable management of soil resources.

The University of Sydney, Thursday, October 17 , 2024

The Soil Security Declaration

We urge the nations and peoples of the world to acknowledge the vital significance of soil for both humanity and the planet. It is imperative that we develop a comprehensive plan of action to safeguard the world’s soil for the future. Soil provides an essential foundation for life and human civilisation. While its natural formation may take millennia, its degradation can occur almost instantaneously, presenting a profound challenge to our shared future. The loss of soil function poses serious risks to our food systems, economies, societies, ecosystems, and the overall stability of our global community. The UNCCD reports that we annually lose 24 billion tonnes of fertile soil, causing significant economic damage. This underscores that soil insecurity is not only an environmental concern but also a pressing economic issue.

History serves as a reminder of the far-reaching consequences of soil insecurity. The decline of great civilisations, such as the Babylonian and Mayan Empires, highlight the critical importance of soil security. Furthermore, current events—such as the devastation of vital agricultural regions in Ukraine due to conflict and the salinisation of vast tracts of soil in Central Asia—illustrate ongoing challenges. Regions that become unproductive and uninhabitable may face significant migratory pressures, which could exacerbate tensions over diminishing resources. The emergence of new threats, including the accumulation of exogenous chemicals in soil, and their unknown impacts, adds urgency to the mission of securing soil, including its regeneration.

It is essential to recognise that soil is central to addressing eight existential challenges of our time: food security, water security, energy security, climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity preservation, supporting human health, sustainable ecosystems and soil security itself. Soil should not be conflated with land; it requires its own dedicated regulation and thoughtful stewardship.

To confront this pressing issue, we have developed a set of core principles to guide global efforts toward ensuring soil security. We advocate for the design and implementation of effective policies and laws that engage diverse communities through a collaborative governance model, fostering the connection between people and soil. We encourage every nation to adopt comprehensive soil strategies that recognize and harness the myriad benefits of soil for humanity and the planet. Such strategies should incorporate incentive-based approaches that encourage positive actions for sustainable soil management and usage.

As participants in the first Global Soil Security Summit, we issue this declaration—a global call to action. We urge governments, legislatures, scientists, businesses, and citizens worldwide to join forces in the vital effort to secure our soils. We aim to promote the recognition, protection, and sustainable management of soil resources.

The University of Sydney, Thursday, October 17 , 2024