Call to action 4 October 2023
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CIRAD commits to preserving soils worldwide
Call to action
22 November 2023
In signing the European Mission Soil Manifesto, CIRAD has become an active member of the community of practice dedicated to preserving soils in Europe and beyond. The community, founded by the manifesto's signatories, was launched in Madrid on 22 November during the first European Mission Soil Week. Alongside the community, an international research consortium devoted to soil carbon, of which CIRAD is also a member, was also founded.
"Soils are a fragile resource that needs to be carefully managed and safeguarded for future generations." Extract from the manifesto © R. Belmin, CIRAD
The manifesto, drafted by the European Commission's DG AGRI, centres on the activities of the "Mission Soil" launched under the umbrella of the Horizon Europe programme. As its name suggests, the Mission for Soil Health and Food is intended to promote soil health and sustainable food supplies in Europe. It highlights the vital importance of healthy soils for food production, conservation, and climate change mitigation. Its primary objective is to foster research and innovation to improve soil management, preserve their fertility, reduce soil degradation and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
CIRAD is participating in two projects (2023-2027) within the framework of Mission Soil:
- SoilWise, which is working to build the mission's knowledge repository and advance the European Soil Observatory (Julien Demenois)
- FENIX, working on new life for biowaste as a sustainable soil improver (François Pinta).
Under the Horizon Europe programme, CIRAD is also contributing to the ORCaSa project, coordinated by INRAE, and heading the establishment of a soil carbon knowledge platform, due to be accessible on line in the summer of 2024. The project launched a Soil Carbon International Consortium on 21 November, at a session on the international dimension of Mission Soil.
CIRAD is also an active member of the 4 per 1000 initiative and coordinated the Overseas 4 per 1000 study, which released its summary for policymakers in 2023 at the Paris International Agricultural Show. The summary has been presented several times in the French overseas regions and is also on the agenda for COP28.
The Mission Soil Manifesto states that:
1. Soil is essential for the life of humans and nature. 95% of our food comes from soil. Healthy soils provide us with clean water, good air, sequester carbon thus mitigating and increasing the ability to adapt to climate change, and support biodiversity. Soils also sustain our landscape and cultural heritage and are the basis of our economy and prosperity. We acknowledge that soil is the basis of our well-being. With this Manifesto, we are creating a community that takes care of soils.
2. We need to protect and restore soils. Soils are a fragile resource that needs to be carefully managed and safeguarded for future generations. More than 60% of soils in the EU are considered to be in an unhealthy state due to unsustainable management practices, pollution or sealing. Climate change puts further pressure on soils and accelerate land degradation. All types of soil are concerned. No soil should be left behind.
3. Soil protection and restoration need to be embedded in all human activities that have an impact on land. Protecting and improving soils is crucial to sustain the well-being and prosperity of everyone. We can all contribute to halting soil degradation and building a sustainable future based on healthy soils for food, people, nature and climate. Actions are encouraged at all levels: global, national, regional and local.
4. We support the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ (Mission Soil) and its goal to create 100 living labs and lighthouses by 2030 to promote soil protection and restoration in Europe. We also welcome activities under the Mission to address its specific objectives: reduce desertification, conserve soil organic carbon stocks, stop soil sealing and increase the re-use of urban soils, reduce soil pollution and enhance soil restoration, prevent erosion, improve soil structure to enhance soil biodiversity, reduce the EU global soil footprint, and improve soil literacy in society.
5. We are committed and motivated to contribute to the protection and restoration of soil health in our capacity, sector, and territory as this is a fundamental resource for the place where we live and for our well-being. We will contribute to raise awareness on the importance of soil and enlarge the community actively involved in caring for this precious resource.
1. Soil is essential for the life of humans and nature. 95% of our food comes from soil. Healthy soils provide us with clean water, good air, sequester carbon thus mitigating and increasing the ability to adapt to climate change, and support biodiversity. Soils also sustain our landscape and cultural heritage and are the basis of our economy and prosperity. We acknowledge that soil is the basis of our well-being. With this Manifesto, we are creating a community that takes care of soils.
2. We need to protect and restore soils. Soils are a fragile resource that needs to be carefully managed and safeguarded for future generations. More than 60% of soils in the EU are considered to be in an unhealthy state due to unsustainable management practices, pollution or sealing. Climate change puts further pressure on soils and accelerate land degradation. All types of soil are concerned. No soil should be left behind.
3. Soil protection and restoration need to be embedded in all human activities that have an impact on land. Protecting and improving soils is crucial to sustain the well-being and prosperity of everyone. We can all contribute to halting soil degradation and building a sustainable future based on healthy soils for food, people, nature and climate. Actions are encouraged at all levels: global, national, regional and local.
4. We support the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ (Mission Soil) and its goal to create 100 living labs and lighthouses by 2030 to promote soil protection and restoration in Europe. We also welcome activities under the Mission to address its specific objectives: reduce desertification, conserve soil organic carbon stocks, stop soil sealing and increase the re-use of urban soils, reduce soil pollution and enhance soil restoration, prevent erosion, improve soil structure to enhance soil biodiversity, reduce the EU global soil footprint, and improve soil literacy in society.
5. We are committed and motivated to contribute to the protection and restoration of soil health in our capacity, sector, and territory as this is a fundamental resource for the place where we live and for our well-being. We will contribute to raise awareness on the importance of soil and enlarge the community actively involved in caring for this precious resource.
See also
Call to action 28 September 2023
Agroforestry can play a key role in the fight against climate change
Call to action 28 February 2023