Soil is the heart and soul of our planet. We can't live without it.

It sustains us, captures carbon, provides a home for billions of organisms and can help defend us against flooding and drought, but too often we're taught to think of it as dirt!

As a result, many of the world's soils are now in crisis - degraded and eroding, often as a result of intensive farming practices. The good news is that by changing the way we farm and eat, we can help protect our soils, for generations to come.

Let the world know how important soil is. Become a Soil Saviour, and share how important soil is for us and our planet.

Soil is a combination of minerals, organic matter, air, water and living organisms. We need it to sustain life.

But our soils are degrading at an alarming rate. We have taken soil for granted and now one-third of the world’s arable soils are degraded. The situation becomes even more urgent when we consider that it can take a thousand years for just one centimetre of topsoil to form.

Did you know that there's 10 billion tonnes of carbon stored in UK soils?

Healthy well managed soils capture carbon dioxide and store it as soil organic carbon.

This makes them an essential resource in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and tackling climate change.

95% of the food that we eat comes from soil. Without lots of healthy soil it would be impossible for farmers to produce food for us.

However, around the world, we are losing soil between 10 and 40 times faster than it’s formed. One UN official stated that we may have fewer than 60 harvests left.

Essentially, feeding the world starts, and ends, with healthy soil.  

Healthy soils store and absorb water, with the help of soil organisms, organic matter and good soil management. This makes them a vital resource for protecting against flooding and droughts.

Did you know - a single hectare of soil has the potential to store and filter enough water for 1000 people for 1 year?

One important way that you can learn more about soil is by looking after your own at home, whether on a windowsill, on an allotment, or in the garden.

Once soil temperatures drop below seven degrees, biological activity in the soil slows, so it needs a little assistance during winter months. 

Your support as a member is of vital importance if we are to save our soils - together with your help, we can continue working with farmers, policymakers, and citizens to save our soil.

We cannot meet net-zero targets whilst ignoring soil health.

UK soils are eroding and depleting with soil biodiversity being damaged.

This crisis can be turned into a solution.

We must support farmers to transition to agroecology, farming with nature to regenerate soils.

Soils can become drought and flood resilient sponges, huge carbon sinks, and healthy farm ecosystems that need far less fertilisers and pesticides.

Find out more in our "Saving Our Soils: Healthy soils for our climate, nature and health" report.