Lately, it seems like there is a ‘day’ dedicated to anything and everything. From National Taco Day (October 4, 2019) to National Bring Your Teddy Bear to Work Day (observed annually on the second Wednesday in October), society recognizes and honors many subjects, some more deserving of the recognition than others.
Unlike some national holidays that recognize the obscure, fun, and nostalgic parts of life that may or may not merit the attention, World Soil Day recognizes- and champions- our precious soil resources found throughout the globe that absolutely deserve our consideration.
World Soil Day is held annually to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources. Each year on December 5th, World Soil Day is celebrated at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome, the regional offices and through national and local events.
At Cool Planet, World Soil Day is the highlight of our year because it represents the very same principles that drive our company to innovate to change the world for good—day in and day out.
Sometimes soil is seen merely as dirt, but in reality, soil is much more than dirt; it is a whole universe of life beneath our feet, filled with millions of organisms that are hard at work nourishing and protecting plants that grow our food and keep our planet healthy. The state of our soils impacts everything from human health to climate change and is a vital resource for the future of the food system and a sustainable planet.
Healthy soils provide a range of benefits that are sometimes less obvious than food production and sustainability. For example, healthy soils serve our entire ecosystem’s functions, including water filtration, regulation of the earth’s temperature, and limitation of greenhouse gases.
Rightfully so, soil is a precious resource that deserves an entire day of recognition especially in consideration of the current state of our soils. A third of the planet’s land is severely degraded and fertile soil is being lost at the rate of 24 billion tons per year, according to United Nation-backed study: The Global Land Outlook. Although soil erosion is a naturally occurring process that affects all landforms, poor management practices, pollution, and deforestation, among other things, can accelerate the rate of erosion. World Soil Day is devoted to raising awareness for management practices and innovative technologies that can be utilized to not only mitigate soil degradation but also regenerate soils.
The United Nations, through the Food and Agriculture Organization, designated December 5th as the International Day of Soils in 2002. This year World Soil Day will be celebrated under the theme, ‘Be the solution to soil pollution.’ Soil pollution refers to the existence of toxic chemicals in soil in high enough concentrations to present a risk to human health or the ecosystem. Soil pollution affects the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, our health, and the health of all organisms on the planet. Human activities are the main source of soil pollution but fortunately, actions can be taken to promote soil health and reduce soil pollution.
Across industries, efforts are being made to reduce soil pollution through the promotion of environmentally friendly industrial processes, the use of sustainable transportation, and a heightened focus on reducing waste and reusing goods.
In recent years, significant advancements have been made in the agriculture industry to promote soil health. Farmers and growers are carefully stewarding soil resources and implementing sustainable management practices like limiting soil disturbance, diversifying soil biota with plant diversity, planting cover crops, and keeping a living root growing throughout the year.
We applaud the agriculture industry and innovative farmers and growers who are regenerating soils and protecting their health. Day in and day out, we seek to develop tools and solutions to assist land stewards in building soil health and limiting soil pollution and degradation.
On World Soil Day, we encourage you to share your love for soil with others. Educate friends and family members on the significant role soils play in all parts of life. And learn more about soil for yourself by visiting www.storiesfromthesoil.com to get an in-depth look at soil health practices being employed by land stewards from across the U.S.
Cool Planet is proud to be among the millions of people from around the globe who will link arms on World Soil Day to raise awareness for the significance of soils. Soil is a non-renewable resource and care must be taken today to sustain the resource for generations to come.
Today is a good day. For us, our communities, our soils, and our planet.
From all of us at Cool Planet, happy World Soil Day!