Since 2014, the FAO and the United Nations have been celebrating World Soil Day every year on 5 December, a date dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of healthy soil and the sustainable management of soil resources. This year, the theme of the day is Be the solution to soil pollution, with the keyword #StopSoilPollution.

Pollution alters soil biodiversity, reduces soil organic matter and the soil's capacity to act as a filter. It contaminates the water stored in the soil and groundwater, and causes an imbalance in the nutrients present in the soil. The most common soil pollutants include heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants and new pollutants - such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products.

According to the FAO, there are six reasons why soil pollution should not go unnoticed:

1. Soil pollution affects everything.

2. Soil pollution is invisible.

3. Soil pollution has an impact on the filtering capacity of the soil.

4. Soil pollution is detrimental to food security because it reduces crop yields and quality.

5. Soil pollution can result from poor farming practices.

6. Soil pollution can put our health at risk.

Source : https://news.un.org/fr/story/2018/12/1030871