Headline: Soils

Soils form the basis for more than 95 per cent of all food produced worldwide. They are a significant source of biodiversity, and their capacity to store carbon slows the pace of global warming. However, billions of tonnes of soil are either lost to erosion or sealing every year. The human costs associated with this loss are compounded by insecure land tenure and limited access to financing and information on sustainable soil management. As a consequence, sixty-seven per cent of all arable land in Africa is under threat. Approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide are affected by this. Famine and conflicts around land use are just some of the consequences.

Held in Berlin every two years, the Global Soil Week provides a major forum for discussion and brings together diverse international actors across sectors and global regions. This platform is accompanied by activities at the regional level, aiming at an active involvement of local populations. Our research activities in the fields of soil protection and rehabilitation are focussed on regions in India, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Ethiopia in particular.