Summary
This forum paper articulates the strategic importance of soil science in delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The authors propose six key recommendations for the soil science community, including embracing the SDG framework, demonstrating explicit value through interdisciplinary research on food security and climate change, leading systems-level ecosystem analysis, raising awareness of soil organic matter, improving knowledge transfer, and enhancing communication with policymakers. The paper positions soil scientists as uniquely positioned to bridge disciplinary boundaries and connect on-ground soil management practices to global sustainability targets.
UK applicability
The recommendations are directly applicable to UK soil science practice and policy. UK soil scientists can adopt these strategic directions to strengthen their voice in agricultural policy, environmental management, and the transition toward sustainable farming systems, particularly in alignment with UK net-zero and food security objectives.
Key measures
Not applicable; this is a policy-focused forum paper rather than empirical research. Qualitative analysis of soil science's relevance to SDG targets and institutional recommendations for the soil science community.
Outcomes reported
The paper discusses how soil scientists can effectively contribute to achieving UN SDGs through integration of soil science with interdisciplinary research, policy engagement, and knowledge transfer. It identifies soil functions and ecosystem services as critical linkages to SDG targets on food security, water, climate, biodiversity and health.
Topic tags
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