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Sustainability Nexus AID: soil health

Author

Listed:
  • Nima Shokri

    (Hamburg University of Technology
    United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH))

  • Milad Aminzadeh

    (Hamburg University of Technology
    United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH))

  • Markus Flury

    (Washington State University
    Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University)

  • Yan Jin

    (University of Delaware)

  • Mir A. Matin

    (United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH))

  • Panos Panagos

    (Joint Research Centre (JRC))

  • Bahar S. Razavi

    (University of Kiel)

  • David A. Robinson

    (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology)

  • Pete Smith

    (University of Aberdeen)

  • Katherine Todd-Brown

    (University of Florida)

  • Gergely Toth

    (Institute of Advanced Studies
    Hungarian Research Network)

  • Azin Zarei

    (United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES))

  • Kaveh Madani

    (United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH)
    United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES))

Abstract

The Sustainability Nexus Analytics, Informatics, and Data (AID) Programme of the United Nations University (UNU), aims to provide information, data, computational, and analytical tools to support the sustainable management and long-term security of natural resources using a nexus approach. This paper introduces the Soil Health Module of the Sustainability Nexus AID Programme. Healthy soil is crucial for life on Earth, and it is essential for ecosystem services and functioning, access to clean water, socioeconomic structure, biodiversity, and food security for the growing population of the world. Healthy soils contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change and reduce the consequences of extreme events such as flooding and drought. Healthy soils influence the hydrologic cycle by regulating transpiration, water infiltration, and soil water evaporation affecting land–atmosphere interactions. The Soil Health Module of the UNU Sustainability Nexus AID Programme aims to evolve into the ultimate focal point, supporting a diverse array of stakeholders with state-of-the-art data and tools that are essential for soil health monitoring and projection. This paper discusses the importance of adopting a nexus approach for ensuring soil health, explores the AID tools currently at our disposal for quantifying and predicting soil health, and concludes with recommendations for future effort and direction within the Sustainability Nexus AID Programme concerning soil health.

Suggested Citation

  • Nima Shokri & Milad Aminzadeh & Markus Flury & Yan Jin & Mir A. Matin & Panos Panagos & Bahar S. Razavi & David A. Robinson & Pete Smith & Katherine Todd-Brown & Gergely Toth & Azin Zarei & Kaveh Mada, 2025. "Sustainability Nexus AID: soil health," Sustainability Nexus Forum, Springer, vol. 33(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sumafo:v:33:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s00550-025-00560-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s00550-025-00560-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Remus Prăvălie & Pasquale Borrelli & Panos Panagos & Cristiano Ballabio & Emanuele Lugato & Adrian Chappell & Gonzalo Miguez-Macho & Federico Maggi & Jian Peng & Mihai Niculiță & Bogdan Roșca & Cristi, 2024. "A unifying modelling of multiple land degradation pathways in Europe," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Philipp Robeck & Lior Blank & Mark Kleunen & Albert Ayeni & Martin A. Nuñez & Adewale Osipitan & Kaveh Madani & Azin Zarei & Mir A. Matin & Mohsen B. Mesgaran, 2024. "Sustainability Nexus AID: biological invasions," Sustainability Nexus Forum, Springer, vol. 32(1), pages 1-8, December.
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    4. Floor Brouwer & Serena Caucci & Daniel Karthe & Sabrina Kirschke & Kaveh Madani & Andrea Mueller & Lulu Zhang & Edeltraud Guenther, 2023. "Erratum: Advancing the resource nexus concept for research and practice," Sustainability Nexus Forum, Springer, vol. 31(1), pages 67-67, December.
    5. Laurie S. Huning & Sayed M. Bateni & Michael Hayes & Sarah Quynh-Giang Ho & Susantha Jayasinghe & Rohini Kumar & Carlos Lima & Charlotte A. Love & Kaveh Madani & Yannis Markonis & Mir A. Matin & Chiyu, 2024. "Sustainability nexus analytics, informatics, and data (AID): Drought," Sustainability Nexus Forum, Springer, vol. 32(1), pages 1-12, December.
    6. Floor Brouwer & Serena Caucci & Daniel Karthe & Sabrina Kirschke & Kaveh Madani & Andrea Mueller & Lulu Zhang & Edeltraud Guenther, 2023. "Advancing the resource nexus concept for research and practice," Sustainability Nexus Forum, Springer, vol. 31(1), pages 41-65, December.
    7. Pasquale Borrelli & David A. Robinson & Larissa R. Fleischer & Emanuele Lugato & Cristiano Ballabio & Christine Alewell & Katrin Meusburger & Sirio Modugno & Brigitta Schütt & Vito Ferro & Vincenzo Ba, 2017. "An assessment of the global impact of 21st century land use change on soil erosion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-13, December.
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