IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v14y2025i7p1372-d1690760.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessment of Knowledge Gaps Related to Soil Literacy

Author

Listed:
  • Roger Roca Vallejo

    (ICLEI European Secretariat, 79098 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany)

  • Anna Krzywoszynska

    (Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, 90570 Oulu, Finland)

  • Loukas Katikas

    (School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Zografou, Greece)

  • Karen Naciph Mora

    (ICLEI European Secretariat, 79098 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany)

  • Marie Husseini

    (Lantern Translations, 68240 Kaysersberg-Vignoble, France)

  • Sónia Morais Rodrigues

    (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Environment and Planning, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

  • Roos van de Logt

    (Louis Bolk Instituut, 3981 Kosterijland, The Netherlands)

  • Karen Johnson

    (Department of Engineering, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK)

  • Borut Vrščaj

    (Faculty of Environmental Protection, 3320 Velenje, Slovenia)

  • Camilla Ramezzano

    (Education and Learning Sciences Group, Wageningen University, 6708 Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Katja Črnec

    (Faculty of Environmental Protection, 3320 Velenje, Slovenia)

  • Almut Ballstaedt

    (ICLEI European Secretariat, 79098 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany)

Abstract

Soil literacy, defined as the combination of attitudes, behaviours, and competencies necessary to make informed decisions that promote soil health, is increasingly recognised as a crucial element for sustainable development. This article presents the outcomes of the Soil Literacy Think Tank established under the Soils for Europe (SOLO) project, which aims to identify research and innovation knowledge gaps to strengthen soil literacy in Europe. Drawing on literature reviews, stakeholder engagement, and interdisciplinary dialogue, the paper highlights 18 prioritised knowledge gaps across different topics. These include a lack of integrated pedagogical strategies, limited outreach to specific social groups, and underdeveloped communication methods linking soil knowledge to stewardship actions. The article proposes adaptive and inclusive approaches to soil education that respect multiple knowledge systems and values and emphasises the importance of embedding soil literacy into sustainability agendas and governance processes. By addressing these challenges, the paper contributes to broader efforts supporting the EU Soil Mission and the goals of World Soil Day by promoting public awareness, citizen engagement, and responsible soil care.

Suggested Citation

  • Roger Roca Vallejo & Anna Krzywoszynska & Loukas Katikas & Karen Naciph Mora & Marie Husseini & Sónia Morais Rodrigues & Roos van de Logt & Karen Johnson & Borut Vrščaj & Camilla Ramezzano & Katja Črn, 2025. "Assessment of Knowledge Gaps Related to Soil Literacy," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-31, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:7:p:1372-:d:1690760
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/7/1372/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/7/1372/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Greg Clark & Josh Russell & Peter Enyeart & Brant Gracia & Aimee Wessel & Inga Jarmoskaite & Damon Polioudakis & Yoel Stuart & Tony Gonzalez & Al MacKrell & Stacia Rodenbusch & Gwendolyn M Stovall & J, 2016. "Science Educational Outreach Programs That Benefit Students and Scientists," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(2), pages 1-8, February.
    2. Steffen Andreas Schüle & Lisa Karla Hilz & Stefanie Dreger & Gabriele Bolte, 2019. "Social Inequalities in Environmental Resources of Green and Blue Spaces: A Review of Evidence in the WHO European Region," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-15, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Judith Schröder & Susanne Moebus & Julita Skodra, 2022. "Selected Research Issues of Urban Public Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-28, May.
    2. Ina Falfán & Luis Zambrano, 2023. "Lacustrine Urban Blue Spaces: Low Availability and Inequitable Distribution in the Most Populated Cities in Mexico," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Lisa Dandolo & Klaus Telkmann & Christina Hartig & Sophie Horstmann & Sara Pedron & Lars Schwettmann & Peter Selsam & Alexandra Schneider & Gabriele Bolte & on behalf of the INGER Study Group, 2023. "Do Multiple Sex/Gender Dimensions Play a Role in the Association of Green Space and Self-Rated Health? Model-Based Recursive Partitioning Results from the KORA INGER Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-23, March.
    4. Na’Taki Osborne Jelks & Viniece Jennings & Alessandro Rigolon, 2021. "Green Gentrification and Health: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-23, January.
    5. Julia Rehling & Christiane Bunge & Julia Waldhauer & André Conrad, 2021. "Socioeconomic Differences in Walking Time of Children and Adolescents to Public Green Spaces in Urban Areas—Results of the German Environmental Survey (2014–2017)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-12, February.
    6. Yamaguchi, Yuhei, 2025. "Disparities in Exposure to Green Spaces Remotely Sensed," SocArXiv w6bpv_v1, Center for Open Science.
    7. Xiaoli Sun & Ziyi Liu, 2024. "Public Green Space Injustice in High-Density Post-Colonial Areas: A Case Study of the Macau Peninsula, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-20, April.
    8. J. C. Kitch & T. T. Nguyen & Q. C. Nguyen & Y. Hswen, 2023. "Changes in the relationship between Index of Concentration at the Extremes and U.S. urban greenspace: a longitudinal analysis from 2001–2019," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    9. Lisa Dandolo & Christina Hartig & Klaus Telkmann & Sophie Horstmann & Lars Schwettmann & Peter Selsam & Alexandra Schneider & Gabriele Bolte & on behalf of the INGER Study Group, 2022. "Decision Tree Analyses to Explore the Relevance of Multiple Sex/Gender Dimensions for the Exposure to Green Spaces: Results from the KORA INGER Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-25, June.
    10. Alessandro Rigolon & Matthew H. E. M. Browning & Olivia McAnirlin & Hyunseo (Violet) Yoon, 2021. "Green Space and Health Equity: A Systematic Review on the Potential of Green Space to Reduce Health Disparities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-27, March.
    11. Jonathan Fairburn & Steffen Andreas Schüle & Stefanie Dreger & Lisa Karla Hilz & Gabriele Bolte, 2019. "Social Inequalities in Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution: A Systematic Review in the WHO European Region," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-19, August.
    12. Sida Zhuang & Gabriele Bolte & Tobia Lakes, 2022. "Exploring Environmental Health Inequalities: A Scientometric Analysis of Global Research Trends (1970–2020)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-25, June.
    13. Ziqian Bao & Yihang Bai & Tao Geng, 2023. "Examining Spatial Inequalities in Public Green Space Accessibility: A Focus on Disadvantaged Groups in England," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-22, September.
    14. Agnieszka Zwirowicz-Rutkowska & Joanna Nowak Da Costa & Andrzej Muczyński, 2023. "Managing Health Concerns Related to Post-Industrial Sites Redevelopment: A Warsaw, Poland Case Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(14), pages 1-18, July.
    15. Katharina Stahlmann & Emily Mena & Ronny Kuhnert & André Conrad & Gabriele Bolte, 2022. "Social Inequalities in the Association between Social Infrastructure and Mental Health: An Observational Cross-Sectional Analysis of Children and Adolescents in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-18, June.
    16. Xiaojin Huang & Ran Cheng & Jun Wu & Wenjian Yang & Longhao Zhang & Pengbo Li & Wenzhe Zhu, 2024. "Extracting Meso- and Microscale Patterns of Urban Morphology Evolution: Evidence from Binhai New Area of Tianjin, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-27, October.
    17. Kristoffer Mattisson & Anna Axmon & Gunilla Carlsson & Agneta Malmgren Fänge & Connie Lethin & Emilie Stroh, 2022. "Sociodemographic Variations in the Availability of Urban Green Spaces in an Older Swedish Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-17, October.
    18. Feng, Yanchao & Hu, Jin & Afshan, Sahar & Irfan, Muhammad & Hu, Mingjun & Abbas, Shujaat, 2023. "Bridging resource disparities for sustainable development: A comparative analysis of resource-rich and resource-scarce countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    19. Nafsika Afentou & Patrick Moore & Katrina Hull & Jenny Shepherd & Stephanie Elliott & Emma Frew, 2022. "Inland Waterways and Population Health and Wellbeing: A Cross-Sectional Study of Waterway Users in the UK," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-23, October.
    20. Yang Yang & Yanru Zhou & Zhe Feng & Kening Wu, 2022. "Making the Case for Parks: Construction of an Ecological Network of Urban Parks Based on Birds," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-19, July.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:7:p:1372-:d:1690760. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.