How soils are shaping our cities today and tomorrow?

Cities are expanding fast; already home to around 55% of the world's population, a figure expected to rise to 68% by 2050. As urban areas grow, so does the pressure to provide fresh, safe, nutritious food and to build spaces that can withstand a changing climate. The key to meeting these challenges lies right beneath our feet—soils, the often-overlooked foundation on which they are built.

Soils in cities do far more than simply support buildings, roads and other infrastructure; they sustain resilient and green cities. Understanding this connection can enable us to design and build better homes and communities in the future. It also reinforces the One Health approach, which recognises that healthy soils support the health of people, animals, plants and the environment.

Soils play an essential role in growing our food nutritious and keeping our environment healthy. They are also the basis for making cities sustainable and resilient.

On this year’s World Soil Day, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reminds us that healthy soils are the foundation of healthy cities, underpinning agricultural development, food security, ecosystem functions, biodiversity and resilience to climate change.