Today is recognised as World Soil Day. Every year on December 5, it is conducted to raise awareness of the value of good soil and to promote the sustainable management of soil resources.
This year’s World Soil Day has as its theme “Soils: Where Food Begins.” The purpose of the day is to increase public awareness of the value of preserving ecosystem health and human welfare.
The International Union of Soil Sciences suggested an international day to honour soil in 2002. In June 2013, the Food and Agriculture Organization FAO Conference unanimously backed World Soil Day and asked the 68th UN General Assembly to formally adopt it. In response, the UN General Assembly declared 5 December 2014 to be the first official World Soil Day in December 2013.