How Soil Security Can Prevent Future Crises

The Ground Beneath Our Feet Is Disappearing

Every bite of food we eat, every drop of clean water we drink, and every breath of oxygen we take depends—often invisibly—on one of Earth’s most overlooked resources: soil. Yet across the globe, soil is being lost, degraded, or contaminated faster than it can be restored. One-third of the world’s soil has already been degraded, according to the United Nations. If current trends continue, living functioning soil may become a scarce commodity within just a few decades. This silent crisis threatens not just farms, but the global climate, ecosystems, and our future as a species.

Soil security is not a niche issue—it is foundational to food security, climate stability, clean water, biodiversity, and the survival of civilization itself. Without functional soil, the planet cannot support us. The good news? We still have time to act.

A Hidden Crisis Beneath Us

Soil is not just dirt. It is a living, breathing system made up of minerals, microbes, organic matter, water, and air. This complex web forms the basis for nearly all terrestrial life. But today, soil systems around the world are collapsing.

Agricultural overuse, deforestation, chemical contamination, urban sprawl, and climate change are combining to degrade soil faster than it can regenerate. Erosion strips away fertile topsoil, heavy farming disrupts microbial life, and pollutants make the ground toxic. As a result, soil is losing its ability to do what it has always done quietly—grow food, filter water, store carbon, and support ecosystems.

Crucially, soil itself is also in crisis. It is not merely a casualty of other environmental problems—it is the core of many of them. Without viable soil, we will face intensifying food shortages, collapses in biodiversity, water scarcity, and a runaway climate feedback loop.

Soil Is Existential

Soil is as existential to human survival as air and water. Without healthy soil, we cannot grow food. Without food, no civilization can survive. But soil does more than nourish crops.

Healthy soils store massive amounts of carbon, making them a frontline defence against climate change. They retain water, helping reduce flooding and drought risks. They are also among the richest habitats on Earth, housing over a half of all known biodiversity.

When we lose soil, we lose the ability to grow food, regulate our climate, and maintain ecological balance. In short, we lose the foundation upon which every society rests. This makes soil degradation one of the greatest long-term threats to humanity—on par with rising seas or global temperature rise.

What’s Being Done? Measuring, Monitoring, and Mobilizing

Across the globe, scientists, farmers, and governments are beginning to recognize the importance of soil health. Soil monitoring projects are underway on nearly every continent. Researchers are developing better tools to assess soil quality, map degradation hotspots, and understand the complex interactions within soil ecosystems.

Several countries have launched national soil strategies. Australia, for example, is a pioneer in defining and promoting the concept of soil security, which links soil health directly to national and environmental security. The European Union has adopted the Soil Mission as part of its Green Deal, aiming to restore soil health across member states by 2030. Meanwhile, regenerative agriculture movements are gaining ground, emphasizing practices like crop rotation, cover cropping, composting, and minimal tillage.

However, these efforts remain fragmented. There is no unified global framework to ensure soil security in the way we have agreements for climate or biodiversity. And time is running short.

What You Can Do. Elevating Soil in the Public Agenda

While soil might seem like a distant or technical issue, individuals and communities can play a powerful role in turning the tide. Here’s how:

Promote Soil Connectivity and Awareness

Start by raising awareness. Talk about soil security at schools, town halls, community gardens, and online platforms. The more people understand its importance, the more pressure governments will feel to act.

Support Soil-Friendly Policies

Advocate for regional and national soil protection and security policies. Push your representatives to include soil capacity, condition and health in climate and agricultural legislation. Encourage investment in regenerative farming practices and soil research.

Join or Start Action Groups

Get involved in or start community efforts focused on sustainable land use, composting, tree planting, or local food systems. Grassroots movements are often the spark for national change.

Vote With Your Fork

Choose food produced through sustainable or regenerative methods when possible. Supporting farmers who care for their soil helps scale up best practices.