About this Research Topic

Background

In 2050 the world population will reach 9.8 billion, an increase of 34%. According to the UN, food insecurity is one of the greatest challenges facing us today. About 95% of our food—directly or indirectly—comes from soil. It is a precious resource, and sustainable soil management is a critical socioeconomic and environmental issue.

The difference between actual and potential yield that occurs in many parts of the world leads to food shortages, poverty, and malnutrition. Both the quantity and the quality of the food we need to sustain present and future generations depend on soil fertility. Researchers and policy makers have invested in soil quality considerably. Notwithstanding their efforts, unprecedented nutrient mining and soil degradation continue to threaten sustainable production systems and sustainable ecosystem services.

In the coming decades, soil science will remain the focal point of food production and environmental conservation research. It will also be essential for climate change adaptation and mitigation, the protection of biodiversity, ecosystem services, water quality, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development. We must maintain and improve soil health to produce more food, fuel, and fiber while using less land and simultaneously protecting soil biodiversity and natural ecosystem services.

Our special collection, “Sustaining Soil Carbon to Enhance Soil Health, Food, Nutritional Security, and Ecosystem Services”, addresses these important issues and aims to foster awareness of the relationship between soil health and food security.

We welcome papers on topics such as:
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Agronomy and Crop Diversification
• Soil Health/Quality
• Soil Functions
• Conservation Agriculture
• No-Till Farming
• Organic Farming
• Agro-Forestry
• Carbon Storage and Management
• Carbon Sequestration
• Sustainable Intensification
• Climate Change Effects
• Mitigation of Climate Change
• Climate Smart Agriculture
• Good Agricultural Practices
• Environmental Conservation
• Soil Security
• Nutritional Security
• Food Security
• Soil Policies
• Ecosystem Services
• Soil Health vis-à-vis Human Health

Keywords: Carbon Sequestration, Climate Change, Soil Science, Food Security, Soil Security, Sustainable Agriculture, Conservation Agroculture, Soil Health

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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