PURPOSE: The United Nations General Assembly by the resolution A/RES/68/232 established 5 December as World Soil Day (WSD) to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources. The objective of the day is to communicate exciting scientific and technological developments, to identify current gaps in knowledge and to discuss ways in which soils can be better managed to meet the challenge of protecting food security through the dual approach of climate change adaptation and mitigation. Let’s understand salt-affected soils and their implication to food security, climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
FORUM: "Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities." World Soil Day 2025. Urban soils provide essential ecosystem services: they support food production, filter water, store carbon, regulate temperatures, and sustain biodiversity. However, soil sealing, pollution, and urban expansion threaten these benefits, increasing flood risks, intensifying heat islands and threatening food production in peri-urban land. Solutions exist. De-sealing, green roofs, urban vegetation and agriculture, composting, and sustainable urban planning can turn soil into opportunities to strengthen climate action, improve public health, reduce disaster risks, and foster inclusive and greener cities. It’s a day to reflect on the importance of soil in the natural system and celebrate the actions being taken worldwide to safeguard it. This World Soil Day, the spotlight is on soil as a critical resource for life on Earth. Healthy soils play a key role in maintaining biodiversity, reducing erosion and pollution, improving water filtration, and building resilient and sustainable food systems. They also contribute significantly to climate action through carbon sequestration, Let's underscore the importance of accurate soil data and information in understanding soil characteristics and supporting informed decision making on sustainable soil. WSD is a unique global platform that not only celebrates soils but also an occasion to empower and engage citizens around the world to improve soil health. Our planet’s survival depends on the precious link between soil and water. Over 95% of our food originates from these two fundamental resources. Soil and water are vital for nutrient absorption by plants, binds our ecosystems together. This symbiotic relationship is the foundation of our agricultural systems. However, in the face of climate change and human activity, our soils are being degraded, putting excessive pressure on our water resources. Erosion disrupts the natural balance, reducing water infiltration and availability for all forms of life. Sustainable soil management practices, such as minimum tillage, crop rotation, organic matter addition, and cover cropping, improve soil health, reduce erosion and pollution, and enhance water infiltration and storage. These practices also preserve soil biodiversity, improve fertility, and contribute to carbon sequestration, playing a crucial role in the fight against climate change. Follow the conversations with the hashags: #worldSoilDay, #5December, #soilandwater, #soil.
EVENT: On December 5th, from 13:15 to 14:30 GMT, the World Soil Day 2025 will be celebrated at FAO HQ in Rome, Italy. . Healthy soils are the foundation of life on Earth. World Soil Day (WSD) celebrates soils and raises awareness of their importance for sustainable agrifood systems and human well-being. The theme for 2025 is "Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities" and focuses on the role of soils in cities. During the celebration, we will celebrate soils and raise awareness of their importance for sustainable agrifood systems, climate action, biodiversity, and human well-being. The annual celebration, which also coincides with the birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great of Thailand, pays tribute to His Majesty’s lifelong dedication to championing sustainable soil management as a means to improve people’s quality of lives. The Permanent Missions of the Kingdom of Thailand, and XXX, together with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, invite you to commemorate the World Soil Day in New York, on 4 December 2025, from 13.15 - 14.30 hrs at Conference Room (TBC), UN Headquarters. The event will be conducted in English only and webcasted on UN WebTV. World Soil Day 2025 is a call to action. It invites policymakers, scientists, city leaders, civil society, and citizens everywhere to reimagine urban spaces through their soils, ensuring that people and nature can thrive together in healthy green cities. The event will feature a variety of voices including Member States, UN Agencies, New York City’s Mayor’s Office, scientists, professors, students and local farmers.
Draft agenda
10:00 – 10:05 Welcome and Introduction
Ms Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General, FAO
10:05 – 10:35 High-level Opening by Dr. QU Dongyu, Director-General, FAO & Ms Anacláudia Marinheiro Centeno Rossbach, Executive Director, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)
10:35 – 10:40 Artistic performance: “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities”
10:40 – 10:50 Moderator: Mr Lifeng Li, Director, Land and Water Division, FAO
Remarks by H.E. Igor L. Golubovskiy, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to FAO
Video presentation of the laureate of Glinka World Soil Prize 2025
Delivery of the Glinka World Soil Prize 2025 by Dr QU Dongyu, Director-General, FAO, and H.E. Igor L. Golubovskiy, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to FAO
10:50 – 10:55 Remarks by the laureate of the Glinka World Soil Prize 2025
10:55 – 11:05 Remarks by Ms Narumol Sanguanvong, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand
Video presenting the winner of the King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award 2025
11:05 – 11:10 Video
World Soil Day 2025 animation: “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities”
11:10 – 11:15 Announcement of the winners of the contest “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities”
By Ms. Thorunn Wolfram, Secretary of the Global Soil Partnership, FAO
11:15 – 11:20 Conclusions and closing remarks by Ms Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General, FAO
Related Documents: Concept Note & FAO Webpage, Register to participate! and for further informations please Contact - world-soil-day@fao.org
LIVESTREAM: The theme for 2025, “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities”, focuses on the role of soils in cities and the challenges posed by soil sealing and urbanization. With two-thirds of the world’s population expected to live in cities by 2050, soils are the foundation of sustainable and resilient cities Watch the celebration of World Soil Day 2025!
PRIZE: The Glinka World Soil Prize, will be presented to honor efforts in soil management and combating degradation. The 2025 Glinka World Soil Prize was awarded to Professor Ganlin Zhang from the Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, for his extensive work in soil research, classification, digital mapping, policy, and education, recognized during World Soil Day on December 5th, 2025, at the FAO headquarters. He was honored for his contributions to sustainable soil management, global data sharing, and fostering the next generation of soil scientists
PODCASTS: With two-thirds of the world’s population expected to live in cities by 2050, soils are the foundations of sustainable and resilient cities. ‘Sustainable soil management as a key to preserve soil biodiversity and stop its degradation’. Sustainable agricultural management is of crucial importance for terrestrial ecosystem functioning in the face of changing climate. Listen to the audio-podcats!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: The campaign 2025, “Healthy soils for healthy cities” focus on the role of soils in cities and the challenges posed by soil sealing and urbanization.Small or big, we encourage you Mark your agenda, alert your audience, contact your local, regional and global advocates and make use of the free campaign toolkit. Get the communication materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
HOW TO GET INVOLVED!
PARTNERSHIPS
Since 2014, on December 5th, the FAO, within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership has the official mandate from the United Nations to implement the World Soil Day. The event aims to educate and raise awareness of essential threats to our soils, as the date of December 5th coincides with the official birthday of the late King of Thailand, H.E. Bhumibol Adulyadej, a renowned and prominent soil advocate who officially supported the event at the United Nations. The WSD aims to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being by addressing the growing challenges in soil management, fighting soil salinization, increasing soil awareness and encouraging societies to improve soil health.
There are many ways to get involved in WSD, and it's up to you to figure out what you want to do!
Promote all branches of soil science.
Support all soil scientists across the world in the pursuit of their activities.
Organize a treasure hunt in nature!
Give a lecture at school with a quiz!
Organize a kids' experiment!
Collect soil samples!
Dig a soil profile!
Go on an excursion/field work!
Take part in a soil Wiki Edit-a-thon...
You can host a local or global workshop, meet with your local community to discuss the topic, plant a tree, watch some videos with your kids, or even bake a soil cake!
The World Soil Day is Co-organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Global Soils Partnership, the International Union Of Soils Science (IUSS), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
With the collaboration of the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), the Soil Conservation Service, the Soil Association; The Land Institute, the Rodale Institute, the Soil Association Certification, the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), the International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC), the Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods, the Soil and Water Conservation Society and the Russian Society for Soil Mechanics, Geotechnics and Foundation Engineering.
With the participations of Civil Society Organizations, International and Non-Governmental Organizations, National soil science societies, Researchers and academics.
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