World Soil Day
World Soil Day is observed on 5th December each year and aims to educate people and communities about the role of and importance of soil in: agriculture, food security, biodiversity, and climate regulation. The theme for World Soil Day 2024 is "Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage". This theme highlights the importance of accurate soil data and information to support sustainable soil management and informed decision making.
Key facts about soil:
- 95% of our food comes from soils.
- 33% of soils are degraded world-wide.
- It can take up to 1000 years to produce just 2-3 cm of soil.
- Soils supply 15 of the 18 naturally occurring chemical elements essential to plants.
- There are more living organisms in a tablespoon of soil than people on Earth.
- Over the last 70 years, the level of vitamins and nutrients in food has drastically decreased.
- Two billion people worldwide suffer from lack of micronutrients, known as hidden hunger.
- Agricultural production will have to increase by 60% to meet the global food demand in 2050.
- Up to 58% more food could be produced through sustainable soil management.
- Up to half of our household waste could be composted to nurture our soil.
Compost is the ultimate soil improver - it breaks up heavy soils, bulks up light soils, improves water retention, feeds plants/organisms and adds nutrients and organic carbon.
Compost brings soil to life - one gram of compost can be home to millions of microscopic creatures, so adding compost to your soil makes it richer and full of life.
It also adds vitally important organic carbon, helps the soil retain moisture, feeds the creatures in the soil and provides all the nutrients that growing plants need.
Good organic soil management is vital if plants are to grow well. It's perhaps the most important part of growing organically. For more information about how to manage and nurture your soil for optimum health. Find out more about composting and food waste reduction tips from Garden Organic.