Soil security—Strategizing a sustainable future for soil

Soil is a central component to seven existential challenges humanity currently faces, including food, water and energy security, climate change abatement, biodiversity protection, human health and ecosystem services delivery. Soils, however, are under threat and securing soil has become an eighth existential challenge. Soil security can be understood, quantified and managed via five dimensions. The definitions of the biophysical dimensions of capacity and condition have evolved in the last decade but still need further clarification, especially regarding the identification of reference states for quantifying (optimal) capability. Connectivity is itself a complex and multifaceted dimension, whereas capital and codification are less ambiguous. There have been many concepts developed to value and care for the soil, however these concepts have relatively smaller scopes. The broader concept of soil security can be evaluated based on the roles of soil functions, soil services, and threats to soil. The attention towards soil security is increasing at a steady pace and the adoption of the concept proves to be interdisciplinary. Much of the recent literature does not consider the entire suite of dimensions which results in some dimensions being more developed than others, especially condition, and hence the resulting knowledge gaps make the others more difficult to quantify. It was also observed that most studies fail to address the multifunctionality, multiservice and multiple threats to soil for which soil security accounts. Work is now shifting from the conceptual development towards the quantification of soil security to support policy decisions and drive change for a sustainable future for soil. A proposed soil security assessment framework has been constructed. The quantification uses conceptual models, indicators and utility graphs for functions, services, and threats. The concept of reference soils using pedogenons is used to detect soil change and to set realistic targets. Public policy and legal frameworks around soil are gaining momentum at a national and continental scale, focusing on soil condition (e.g., soil health) particularly in Australia and Europe. There is a need for an international framework based around a soil agenda incorporating the five soil security dimensions. We need a clear set of goals to work towards for achieving soil security by 2030 and beyond. Most importantly, securing the soil itself should be recognized as a global existential challenge with its existence pivotal for the survival of humanity and the planet.