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Soil Security: Solving the Global Soil Crisis
Author(s) -
Koch Andrea,
McBratney Alex,
Adams Mark,
Field Damien,
Hill Robert,
Crawford John,
Minasny Budiman,
Lal Rattan,
Abbott Lynette,
O'Donnell Anthony,
Angers Denis,
Baldock Jeffrey,
Barbier Edward,
Binkley Dan,
Parton William,
Wall Diana H.,
Bird Michael,
Bouma Johan,
Chenu Claire,
Flora Cornelia Butler,
Goulding Keith,
Grunwald Sabine,
Hempel Jon,
Jastrow Julie,
Lehmann Johannes,
Lorenz Klaus,
Morgan Cristine L.,
Rice Charles W.,
Whitehead David,
Young Iain,
Zimmermann Michael
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
global policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.602
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1758-5899
pISSN - 1758-5880
DOI - 10.1111/1758-5899.12096
Subject(s) - food security , natural capital , sustainable development , sustainability , ecosystem services , soil governance , environmental science , soil functions , environmental resource management , business , soil biodiversity , soil health , soil fertility , soil organic matter , agriculture , soil science , ecology , ecosystem , soil water , biology
Soil degradation is a critical and growing global problem. As the world population increases, pressure on soil also increases and the natural capital of soil faces continuing decline. International policy makers have recognized this and a range of initiatives to address it have emerged over recent years. However, a gap remains between what the science tells us about soil and its role in underpinning ecological and human sustainable development, and existing policy instruments for sustainable development. Functioning soil is necessary for ecosystem service delivery, climate change abatement, food and fiber production and fresh water storage. Yet key policy instruments and initiatives for sustainable development have under‐recognized the role of soil in addressing major challenges including food and water security, biodiversity loss, climate change and energy sustainability. Soil science has not been sufficiently translated to policy for sustainable development. Two underlying reasons for this are explored and the new concept of soil security is proposed to bridge the science–policy divide. Soil security is explored as a conceptual framework that could be used as the basis for a soil policy framework with soil carbon as an exemplar indicator.