Over 33% of the Earth's soils are already degraded and 90% could become degraded by 2050; soil erosion can lead up to a 50% loss in crop yields. If not addressed, the fertility of soil will continue to be adversely affected at an alarming rate, threatening global food supplies and food safety.
World Soil Day is held annually as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources.
An international day to celebrate soil was recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002. Within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization supported the formal establishment of World Soil Day as a global awareness-raising platform. The FAO unanimously endorsed World Soil Day in June 2013 and requested its official adoption at the 68th UN General Assembly. In December 2013, the UN General Assembly responded by designating 5 December 2014 as the first official World Soil Day.