The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) don warn say worsening soil degradation fit threaten food production across the world, as proven ways to protect and restore soil still dey underused.
FAO give the warning inside its Status of the World’s Soil Resources 2026 report, wey dem launch during the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) for Ulaanbaatar.
According to the report, research between 2015 and 2025, involving experts from 75 countries, show say more than half of regional assessments recorded low or very low adoption of sustainable soil management practices.
FAO said 58 per cent of the assessments reported say soil condition don worsen since 2015, while only about 10 per cent recorded improvement.
FAO Deputy Director-General, Beth Bechdol, said soil na important for food security because e dey produce more than 95 per cent of the food we dey eat.
“Soils underpin food security, producing more than 95 percent of the food we eat. They also store and filter water, regulate the climate, support biodiversity and sustain livelihoods.
“Since 2015, the global population has grown by 800 million people, while the harvested area of major crops expanded by 80 million hectares.
“Urbanisation, unsustainable agricultural practices, industrial activities, conflicts and pollution can all contribute to land degradation and the decline of soil functions.”
Bechdol also identified soil erosion as the most serious and connected threat to soil health.
“Soil erosion emerges as the most severe and interconnected threat to soil health. Across the seven regions assessed, 81 percent of assessments judge erosion management to be poor or very poor, while 65 percent report a deteriorating trend since 2015.”
She said proven practices such as reduced tillage, proper nutrient management, crop diversification, cover crops, organic materials and agroforestry fit help reduce soil problems while maintaining or improving agricultural productivity.
“The challenge is to scale up their adoption at the required pace.
“Healthy soils should be recognized as strategic assets and existing knowledge translated into action.
“The Guidance promotes a shift from isolated restoration interventions towards integrated management of productive landscapes, prioritizing the avoidance of degradation wherever possible, reducing ongoing pressures, and restoring land and soils where degradation has already occurred.”
