Soil Research
CA4SH advocates for the implementation of robust soil health monitoring frameworks to track interventions over time.
We are always collecting resources, updates, and initiatives from around the World to share in this Hub of all things soil health research.
Soil Health is “the ability of the soil to sustain the productivity, diversity, and environmental services of terrestrial ecosystems”
From the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS)
Research Initiatives
Land Degradation Surveillance Framework
The LDSF is a comprehensive method for assessing soil and land health that spans work in the field to the use of new and advanced data analytics. Land health generally refers to the degree to which the integrity of the soil, vegetation, water and air, as well as ecological processes, are balanced and sustained.
Recommended Measurements for Scaling Soil Health Assessment
The Soil Health Institute conducted a 3-year project that evaluated over 30 soil health indicators at 124 long-term agricultural research sites across North America, comparing conventional systems with regenerative soil health systems. Based on these results, SHI recommends three measurements to be widely applied across North America (and likely beyond) to evaluate soil health.
Resources
News and Updates
Soil health policies are stars for our soil, without whom our advancement towards global soil health would remain slower than the rate at which we are depleting our soils. The importance of soil health policies can be summarized into three pros: protect, probe and promote.
During a recent webinar FROM DUST TO PROSPERITY: The ROLE of Soil in Shaping Africa’s Future co-hosted by the coalition of Action 4 Soil Health and the Allure of Soil Campaign, experts from around the world shared their perspectives on soil’s significance, its degradation, and the urgent need for action to restore and preserve it.
The projects Restore4More (led by SLU and funded by Formas) and ‘Restoration of Rangeland Carbon Sinks for Increased Community Resilience and Agricultural Outcomes’ (led by ICRAF) have partnered up to build a network of rangeland health monitoring sites in East Africa. The goal is to foster data-driven decision making around rangeland restoration and sustainable management in the region.
The Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH) has been invited to join the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils(VACS) Champions Program of the Office of Global Food Security for the US State Department in partnership with the African Union and the Food and Agricultural Organization.
Through this collaboration, CA4SH joins a family of action-oriented organizations working toward resilient food systems, globally, by scaling climate-adapted crops and healthy soils.
On 14 January 2025, the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH) hosted a reflection webinar for a recent pilot initiative from CIFOR-ICRAF, Varda, and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation. Over 125 participants attended to hear insights on the soil data ecosystem in Kenya and Tanzania and contribute their questions and perspectives on the pilot results and the future of soil health data on the African continent.
Soil health is the cornerstone of sustainable agriculture, and its impact extends far beyond the confines of the farm. As we enter the festive season, it's a fitting time to reflect on the invaluable gifts of soil health. These include policies, advocates, media influence, scientific expertise, and farmer dedication—all crucial in driving progress toward a healthier, more resilient agricultural ecosystem. Let’s celebrate these contributions and recognize their role in safeguarding our future.
