World Soil Day

What Is World Soil Day?

December 5th is World Soil Day. The UN General Assembly decided in 2013 to designate the date, with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of healthy soil and advancing sustainable management of soil resources. Events are held worldwide, coordinated largely by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The Date Comes from a Thai King's Birthday

December 5th corresponds to the official birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand (Rama IX). His long commitment to sustainable soil management led to the choice of this date.

• Established: by the UN General Assembly in 2013, proposed through FAO and led by the Kingdom of Thailand
• Origin of the date: the official birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) of Thailand
• Purpose: to broaden understanding of healthy soil and promote sustainable soil management
• Related: 2015 was designated the International Year of Soils

An International Day with a Yearly Theme

World Soil Day carries a different theme each year -- "Soil and water, a source of life" in 2023, and "Caring for soils: measure, monitor, manage" in 2024. In Japan, bodies such as the Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition publicize the theme. Soil matters not only for crop production but for holding water and storing carbon.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Look up this year's World Soil Day theme
• Find out what kind of land the vegetables you eat were grown on
• Check the condition of the soil in your garden or planters
• Read about composting kitchen waste and returning it to the soil

A Resource Underfoot and Easy to Overlook

Once soil is lost, restoring it takes a very long time. December 5th is a day to look down at something too ordinary to notice.