When thinking about health, many of us think first about our bodies. We understand a healthy diet, physical activity, and quality sleep to be main pillars of health. But another kind of health is foundational to our own well-being, and it so often goes unnoticed: soil health!

Soil health is defined by the USDA as the capacity of soil to function as a living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and ultimately, us.¹  Many people underestimate how deeply soil health impacts daily life, especially in urban and home settings. In fact, the health of our soils is closely tied to many of the biggest challenges facing the world today. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are seventeen global goals adopted by nearly all the countries in the world.²  They represent the United Nations member states’ most urgent social, environmental, and economic challenges.

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Soils are a foundational but often hidden or understated component of many Sustainable Development Goals. In fact, soils can be connected to every single goal,³ linking what happens in our backyards and beneath our feet to global challenges above ground. Healthy soils support food and livelihoods (SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger) by enabling reliable crop production, while also shaping human health and equity (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 5: Gender Equality) through access to nutritious food and agricultural resources. They play a key role in resources and infrastructure (SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by filtering water and supporting sustainable systems. At the same time, soil health underpins sustainable communities (SDG 11, SDG 12) and drives environmental and climate outcomes (SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 15: Life on Land) through processes like carbon storage and ecosystem support. Some of these goals rely directly on what we grow, while others depend on the natural processes happening in soil, demonstrating that caring for soil is not just an agricultural concern, but a sustainability priority.

Though global in scope, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) depend on local participation and everyday decisions that impact soil. Whether you grow your own vegetables, manage a large farm, or maintain a small rain garden, your actions can collectively drive meaningful global change. Promoting soil health is beneficial at large scales and a win-win locally as well. Healthy soil supports stronger plants, more nutrient-rich food, and gardens that are more resilient to drought and pests. In this way, caring for your soil becomes one of the most powerful steps you can take to nurture your garden and the planet.

This article is the first in a series intended to explore the connection between soil and the SDGs. Building on the idea that health extends beyond our bodies, we’ll explore how caring for soil is a critical yet often overlooked part of supporting overall well-being. In upcoming pieces, we’ll share practical strategies for improving soil health, show how everyday gardening practices align with the SDGs, and highlight simple actions you can take at home to make a difference. By learning to care for our soils, we actively contribute to caring for ourselves and a more sustainable world. After all, soil is both the physical foundation beneath our feet and the basis of the systems that support our shared future.

References:

¹ USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - Soil Health

² United Nations Sustainable Development Goals - Take Action for the Sustainable Development Goals

3 ScienceDirect - Soils and sustainable development goals of the United Nations: An International Union of Soil Sciences perspective

Image from the United Nations SDG