Since 2012, the soil community has celebrated World Soil Day (WSD) on the 5th of December to raise awareness on the importance of soils for ZeroHunger, essential eco-system services – including climate change adaptation and mitigation – and sustainable development. Each year, there are events in over 150 countries across the world, making WSD a huge day on the UN calendar. On 5^th December 2017, we are launching the first-ever Global Soil Organic Carbon map (GSOCmap). GSOCmap supports the development and empowerment of countries to build their national soil information systems, and so identify land that can be rehabilitated to increase food production and climate change mitigation through increased storage of soil organic carbon.

The theme of the World Soil Day campaign this year is "Caring for the planet starts from the ground". The GSP Secretariat, along with the GSP Partners, are committed to creating change and providing the soil community with tools and activities for an unforgettable celebration. So, join the movement, and help us create a buzz around #WorldSoilDay. Create tangible impact by inspiring action from governments, cities or local authorities, media, the private sector, local communities, teachers, students, colleagues and many others.

The success of the World Soil Day depends on you! Please tell your friends and colleagues and help disseminate the new World Soil Day webpage:

Eduardo Mansur,
Director Land and Water Division, FAO | GSP Secretariat

Put your event on the map and be part of the history 

Are you planning to have an event on soils?

Organizing fun activities for children or giving a lecture?

Join our global campaign by registering your event on the map.

Don’t forget to share your successes with us by sending pictures or videos of your event, which will be uploaded to the WSD website.

Is the World Soil Day logo not available in your language?

Send us the translation and our team will prepare a high-quality logo version, which will be shared on the website.

Want to enter a photo-contest on black soil? 

Whether you’re a soil expert, a skilled photographer, a farmer, or young student, enter the photo-contest «When Soils turn Black» by sending us a stunning photo of black soil!

The deadline for entries is 13 November 2017.

Read more about the rules and rewards here.

Feel like painting with soils?

Look at soils from a different perspective and have your kids, pupils or students enhance their natural inquisitive skills and boost their development by producing a painting with soil.

Share with us your time-lapse video or a picture-series which will be shared on the WSD website. The contest is open to children, teens and young university students all over the world.

The winner from each group will receive a prize of 400 USD, while the second and third runners-up from each group will receive a prize of 200 USD and 100 USD respectively. High visibility on FAO social media and the FAO/GSP website will be ensured for all the participants.

More on the competition

Check the tutorial for assistance in the process.

Teach the importance of soil to your students with fun experiments

The SoilLAB Activity Book is an educational tool for teachers, children and anyone who wishes to learn more about soil.

It includes 6 simple science experiments you can do at home with your kids or at school.

It is a fun way to introduce children of all ages to basic scientific soil concepts and reveals many of the reasons why caring for our soils means caring for the planet.

SoilLAB activity book

Show one of our videos

Why not select some of our Video Material and display it at your World Soil Day event? It will be a great opportunity to raise awareness on soils and start a stimulating debate.

We would be pleased to send you the video or animation in high definition in any of the available languages. 

Campaign material – Ready to use!

A series of WSD communication materials have been prepared in various languages to support outreach activities and to convey this year’s theme.

To download the WSD logos, banners, posters, t-shirt templates and more, go to the campaign material section of our brand-new World Soil Day webpage!

Check in regularly, as more materials are on the way.

Need some help or ideas?

There are thousands of other ways to celebrate soil on the day. Why not set up a meeting with farmers in a field for an interesting debate, or organize a marathon, an exhibition, a lecture, a poem or song-writing contest, or even a cultural performance?

You may also simply meet with your colleagues and share a slice of a tasty World Soil Day (mud!) cake. For an environmentally friendly activity, you could also organize a tree-planting ceremony!

Do not hesitate to contact us or your National Soil Science Society, which often organizes a World Soil Day ceremony at presidential, ministerial, regional and/or local level.

Check out the photo galleries from previous campaigns: 2016 | 2015.