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2025-2034 – Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development

Healthy Soils for Humanity

The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) is the global organization of soil researchers (https://www.iuss.org/). The IUSS aims to advance all areas of soil sciences and its applications, foster connections among researchers and practitioners involved in soil sciences, encourage and support the implementation of soil research, and promote soil in education. The IUSS states that healthy soils underpin healthy societies: healthy soils are the foundation of social, ecological, and economic sustainability. IUSS therefore advocates for soil health to be included in all areas of sustainability research. Societies depend for their sustainability on healthy and well-functioning soil ecosystems, which can underpin biodiversity and the quality of air and water. Soil provides essential ecosystem services such as flood and erosion control, pest and disease regulation, climate change mitigation, waste recycling, water purification, biodiversity support, cultural heritage preservation, food security, material provision, and development space. To ensure the continuation or restoration of those services, sustainable management of the soil needs to become part of all areas of social action. This means maintaining or enhancing soil health and protecting it from destruction, pollution, and exploitation in all social activities, including extensive urban development.
The IUSS has successfully concluded the Decade of Soils 2015-2024, culminating in the celebration of its Centennial. This period has led to various initiatives and publications, including those made in collaboration with the FAO and other international organizations and societies. The primary objective of the decade was to increase awareness regarding the significant roles that soils play in addressing contemporary environmental, health, and social challenges faced by humanity.
According to the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization, the progress towards achieving most of the Sustainable Development Goals is lagging. One contributing factor is the lack of sufficient focus on sustainable soil management and protecting areas from sealing and other forms of destruction. Regenerative and sustainable soil management is essential for sustainable development. Without addressing the impact of human activities on soil health, achieving most of the targets set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is unfeasible.
In August 2023, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (IDSSD) led by UNESCO (https://www.un-sciences-decade.org/en) aimed at strengthening worldwide scientific cooperation.
In consideration of the need to prioritize production, dissemination and use of actionable scientific knowledge to achieve the targets of the SDGs, the IUSS has launched the 2025-2034 Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development (DSSSD). The Research Forum of the IUSS, in collaboration with the Executive Committee and the Council, will play a crucial role in enabling activities during this period.
The overall objectives of the decade are:
● Create a strong science-policy-society interface on soil health and protection for sustainability
● Advance practical understanding on soil sciences for sustainable development.
● Support scientific research and innovation in integrating sustainable soil management in all areas of social action.
● Promote initiatives which engage society with soil research, including citizen science, knowledge co-production, science communication, and soil in education.
● Foster meaningful cooperation between soil research and society to enhance trust in science
● Diversify and strengthen social, cultural, and artistic research on soils.
● Strengthen international collaborative and transdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research initiatives.

Planned specific activities during the decade comprise the following:
● Publishing review papers on tracking the relationships between soil and SDG
● Issuing policy briefs on the recent advances in all fields of soil sciences
● Promoting selected papers dealing with actionable scientific knowledge to achieve the targets of the SDGs
● Hosting thematic Webinars on these topics
● Organizing one or more Sessions on the connections between SDGs and soils at the next WCSS in Nanjing 2026
● Publishing thematic books on the contribution of Soil Sciences to sustainable development
● Working with UNESCO, FAO, ISC, and other organizations for the implementation of IDSSD initiatives at various levels, including national soil science societies
● Collaborating with UNESCO’s initiatives focused on leveraging the organization’s designated sites as monitoring points for soil, water, landscape, and biodiversity impacts associated with climate change and land degradation.
● Proclamation of the World Soil of the Year (WSY). In recognition of the success of various national programs, the IUSS WSY program has been implemented to enhance soil literacy across numerous countries and on a global scale.

A milestone of the DSSSD is the 23rd World Congress of Soil Sciences which will be held in Nanjing, China in June 2026. The general theme of the Congress is “Soil Health for Humanity”. Therefore, improving soil health for humanity is the first focus of the decade’s initiative.

The 2025-2034 Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development is a strategic initiative highlighting soil’s critical role in achieving sustainable global development. By fostering scientific collaboration, advancing research, and engaging with policymakers and the broader society, the IUSS aims to ensure that soil management remains a top priority in global sustainability efforts. DSSSD will contribute to a future where healthy soils support resilient ecosystems, food security, and sustainable development worldwide through structured activities, knowledge dissemination, and international cooperation.
To keep informed on the DSSSD initiative visit the IUSS website (https://www.iuss.org/) and the linked socials.

Supporting Partners

IUSS Scholarship for Evidence Collection on the Contribution of Soil Sciences to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Amount: €5,000
Promoter: International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS)
Framework: Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development (2025–2034)

The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) is pleased to announce a competitive scholarship of €5,000, aimed at supporting one individual member, or group of individual members, belonging to a national soil science society that is a Full Member of the IUSS.

1. Purpose of the Grant
The scholarship will support the collection, analysis, and synthesis of evidence demonstrating how soil sciences have contributed, and are currently contributing, to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The work shall focus on the use of actionable scientific knowledge and practical solutions supporting SDG progress, highlighting the role and impact of soil science across all relevant Goals and Targets.
The work may include a meta-analysis of results from research projects and scientific activities documented in peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, project deliverables, online materials, and other publicly accessible sources.

This initiative is part of the Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development (DSSSD).

2. Collaborative and Operational Framework
The selected grantee will conduct the activity:

  • Independently,
  • Within their own institution or place of work,
  • While working in close collaboration with the IUSS Research Forum,
  • And with the support of the IUSS Secretariat.

If the work is carried out within the applicant’s own institution, a statement of institutional support is required.
The activity must clearly document the contribution of soil sciences to the achievement of one or more targets of each SDG in every World Region.

3. Expected Outputs
The grantee shall produce at least:

    1. A comprehensive report, to be published as an open-source online book edited by IUSS, including a map of the areas of interest of the reported actions.
    2. At least one article in a peer-reviewed journal with an appropriate impact factor, published in open access.
      • Open-access publication fees, if any, may be covered by IUSS through an additional financial contribution.

4. Timeline

  • Maximum duration: 6 months from the official start date.
  • Monthly progress updates must be submitted to the IUSS Secretariat and Research Forum.
  • A first substantial deliverable must be completed no later than 15th of May 2026 to allow presentation of an initial report at the 23rd WCSS – IUSS in June 2026.

5. Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:

  • Be a member of a national soil science society that is a Full Member of the IUSS.
  • Have documented experience relevant to soil sciences, sustainability, and/or SDG-related research.
  • Possess strong analytical and scientific writing skills in English.

6. Application Procedure
Candidates (individual member or leader of the group) must submit:

  1. A curriculum vitae (max. 3 pages).
  2. A motivation letter describing interest, proposed approach, and expected contributions (max. 2 pages).
  3. A work plan outlining methodology, timeline, and expected outcomes (max. 2 pages).
  4. A supporting statement from the applicant’s national soil science society.
  5. A supporting statement from one or more IUSS Officers or members of the IUSS Research Forum.
  6. If the work is to be carried out within the applicant’s institution: a statement of institutional support.

7. Selection Procedure
The selection process will occur in two stages:

  1. Pre-selection based on submitted documents, evaluating eligibility and quality of the proposed work.
  2. Final selection through an online interview with shortlisted candidates, conducted by representatives of the IUSS Research Forum and IUSS Officers.

The final awardee will be the candidate who best demonstrates scientific competence, feasibility of the proposed work, and capacity to produce impactful outputs aligned with the DSSSD.

8. Evaluation Criteria

  • Relevance, clarity, and feasibility of the proposed work plan.
  • Applicant’s expertise and capacity to deliver high-quality outputs.
  • Potential for generating impactful and actionable knowledge for the DSSSD.
  • Quality and coherence of the meta-analytic or integrative approach, where applicable.

9. Submission and Deadlines
Applications must be submitted via email to the IUSS Secretariat at iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it by 15th of January 2026.
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

10. Awarding and Start Date
The selected candidate will be notified by 31st January 2026.
The assignment is expected to begin as soon as possible after the notification.