The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) marked World Soil Day 2025 in Rome with a global celebration framed around a powerful theme: “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities.” In a world where two-thirds of the population is expected to live in urban areas by 2050, FAO used the occasion to spotlight an often invisible yet foundational asset—urban and peri-urban soils—and their role in shaping more resilient, greener and healthier cities.

As cities expand at breakneck speed, soils face unprecedented pressure from sealing, pollution and unplanned development. These stresses are undermining the soil’s ability to perform essential ecological and economic functions. Urban soils regulate temperature, filter water, store carbon, support biodiversity and, increasingly, provide opportunities for food production as cities experiment with urban farming, rooftop cultivation and green infrastructure.

The erosion of fertile peri-urban croplands—many of them nearly twice as productive as global averages—poses an additional risk to global food security and to the already-strained agrifood systems feeding booming megacities across Asia, Africa and Latin America.

This year’s observance carries added weight as it coincides with FAO’s 80th anniversary, marking eight decades of international cooperation and innovation in the pursuit of better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.

Opening the ceremony, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu emphasized that soil health is not merely a rural priority but a critical component of urban resilience and public wellbeing. He noted that societies are entering a phase where “healthy soils must become the foundation of efficient, inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems, healthier people, greener cities and a more prosperous planet.” He urged governments and communities to take responsibility for protecting and restoring soils today to ensure that cities can thrive tomorrow.

Adding a powerful civil society voice, Princess Basma Bint Ali of Jordan, FAO Goodwill Ambassador for the Near East and North Africa, spoke about humanity’s profound connection to the earth beneath our feet. She described soil as a living system that sustains ecosystems, nourishes communities and even facilitates communication among trees. As its richness is mostly hidden from view, she argued, soil is too often taken for granted even though its restoration is fundamental to the future of humanity and the planet. The ceremony also featured participation from senior representatives from Thailand and the Russian Federation, underscoring the broad international support for FAO’s soil agenda.

In keeping with tradition, World Soil Day also served as the stage for two major international soil awards. The Glinka World Soil Prize 2025 was presented to Professor Ganlin Zhang of the Institute of Soil Science at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, recognizing his global scientific leadership in sustainable soil management and soil information systems.

The King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award 2025 went to the French Soil Science Society for its nationwide World Soil Day 2024 campaign, which mobilized thousands of citizens, schools and institutions across France to elevate public awareness of soil protection. Supported by the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Thailand, these awards highlight the importance of innovation, advocacy and knowledge-sharing in advancing global soil stewardship.

World Soil Day, endorsed by the UN General Assembly and facilitated by FAO and the Global Soil Partnership, has evolved into a global platform for mobilizing action across governments, academia, civil society and local communities.

This year’s focus on urban soils reflects a rapidly growing recognition that cities cannot achieve climate resilience, economic sustainability or public health without addressing the condition of the soils that lie beneath and around them. Healthy urban soils help mitigate floods, cool overheated neighborhoods, improve water quality, store carbon and enhance the quality of life in densely populated areas. Emerging research also suggests a link between contact with biodiverse soils and stronger human immune regulation, adding a public-health dimension to what has traditionally been viewed as an environmental or agricultural issue.

FAO’s technical work provides the backbone for much of the global progress in sustainable soil management. Initiatives such as the Recarbonization of Global Agricultural Soils Programme (RECSOIL), the Global Soil Doctors Programme, and the organization’s Technical Networks and Regional Soil Partnerships translate scientific insights into practical solutions for farmers, municipalities and urban planners. Through the FAO Green Cities Initiative, more than 300 cities worldwide are already restoring degraded soils, introducing de-sealing practices, expanding green spaces and integrating sustainable urban and peri-urban agriculture into their development plans. FAO aims to scale this number to 1 000 cities by 2030.

The urgency of protecting and rehabilitating soils is reinforced by FAO’s flagship assessments, including the State of the World’s Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture 2025 (SOLAW 2025) and the State of Food and Agriculture 2025 (SOFA 2025).

Both reports warn that degradation of soils, land and water is eroding the resilience of agrifood systems at a moment of rising global demand and intensifying climate shocks. As the world urbanizes faster than ever before, World Soil Day 2025 serves as a reminder that cities will only be as resilient as the soils that support them—and that the health of those soils depends on decisions made today.