FAO.org
Welcome to the FAO Soils portal
This portal is designed as a source of soil information and knowledge on the different components and aspects of soils and the value and importance of this vital and finite resource for policy makers, development planners, soil scientists, agricultural extension officers, students and other practitioners.
Healthy soils lay at the foundations of agricultural development, healthy and nutritious food production, and essential ecosystem services, which are crucial to our basic survival as well as our planet’s sustainable future. [...]
World Soil Day
The FAO Conference unanimously endorsed it in June 2013
World Soil Day (WSD) is held annually on 5 December as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and advocating for the sustainable management of soil resources.
Global Symposium on Soil Information and Data
September 25-28, 2024 | Nanjing, China
This symposium will serve as an international forum for stakeholders, encompassing policymakers, researchers, and practitioners, to explore the important role of comparable and reliable soil data and information in addressing global challenges.
Latest publication
Technical guidelines on soils for nutrition
These technical guidelines outline the role that soil health plays in the nutritional quality of food and provide soil management recommendations to increase the supply of micronutrients to the food chain.
Global Soil Partnership
Position soils in the Global Agenda and promote sustainable soil management.
The Partnership, hosted by FAO, works hard to improve soil governance to guarantee productive soils towards food security, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and sustainable development for all.
Upcoming Events
Sustainable soil management for nutrition-sensitive
Do not miss any of the international events on soils happening around the globe!
Soil legacy maps
1228 soil and land legacy maps are available
FAO has made an effort to make Soil Legacy data and information available for their users.
Collection of soil legacy reports
Technical assistance to member countries in soil matters.
Since the early 1950's hundreds of soil survey field projects have been carried out over the years...
Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS)
Providing scientific and technical advice on global soil issues
The ITPS advise the GSP and FAO itself as well provide an authoritative technical voice on global soil issues.
International Year of Soils (IYS)
The 68th UN General Assembly declared 2015 the International Year of Soils
The IYS 2015 aimed to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of soil for food security and essential ecosystem functions.
FAO soil publications
Contact
Find out more and contact our soil experts
The Global Soil Partnership (GSP) Secretariat is the coordination and facilitation body in charge of enabling the implementation of the GSP actions through its regional partnerships and networks.