IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/sumafo/v33y2025i1d10.1007_s00550-025-00560-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00550-025-00560-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s00550-025-00560-6?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. Amirhossein Hassani & Adisa Azapagic & Nima Shokri, 2021. "Global predictions of primary soil salinization under changing climate in the 21st century," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-17, 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.
    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. Orou Sannou, Ramoudane & Guenther, Edeltraud, 2025. "Exploring the resource nexus between forest-based land restoration and food security: The case of the African great green wall initiative countries," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    2. Panos Panagos & Pasquale Borrelli & David Robinson, 2020. "FAO calls for actions to reduce global soil erosion," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 25(5), pages 789-790, May.
    3. Nur Syabeera Begum Nasir Ahmad & Firuza Begham Mustafa & Safiah Yusmah Muhammad Yusoff, 2024. "Spatial prediction of soil erosion risk using knowledge-driven method in Malaysia’s Steepland Agriculture Forested Valley," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(6), pages 15333-15359, June.
    4. Caterina Samela & Vito Imbrenda & Rosa Coluzzi & Letizia Pace & Tiziana Simoniello & Maria Lanfredi, 2022. "Multi-Decadal Assessment of Soil Loss in a Mediterranean Region Characterized by Contrasting Local Climates," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-25, July.
    5. Nazzareno Diodato & Pasquale Borrelli & Panos Panagos & Gianni Bellocchi, 2022. "Global assessment of storm disaster-prone areas," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(8), pages 1-19, August.
    6. Qing Li & Yong Zhou & Li Wang & Qian Zuo & Siqi Yi & Jingyi Liu & Xueping Su & Tao Xu & Yan Jiang, 2021. "The Link between Landscape Characteristics and Soil Losses Rates over a Range of Spatiotemporal Scales: Hubei Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-16, October.
    7. Xiukang Wang, 2022. "Managing Land Carrying Capacity: Key to Achieving Sustainable Production Systems for Food Security," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-21, March.
    8. Jiyun Li & Yong Zhou & Qing Li & Siqi Yi & Lina Peng, 2022. "Exploring the Effects of Land Use Changes on the Landscape Pattern and Soil Erosion of Western Hubei Province from 2000 to 2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-27, January.
    9. Wen, Xiaojie & Yao, Shunbo & Sauer, Johannes, 2022. "Shadow prices and abatement cost of soil erosion in Shaanxi Province, China: Convex expectile regression approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    10. Sun, Xueqing & Xiang, Pengcheng & Cong, Kexin, 2023. "Research on early warning and control measures for arable land resource security," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    11. Langhans, Kelley E. & Schmitt, Rafael J.P. & Chaplin-Kramer, Rebecca & Anderson, Christopher B. & Vargas Bolaños, Christian & Vargas Cabezas, Fermin & Dirzo, Rodolfo & Goldstein, Jesse A. & Horangic, , 2022. "Modeling multiple ecosystem services and beneficiaries of riparian reforestation in Costa Rica," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    12. Guangjie Liu & Yi Xia & Li Bao, 2025. "The Evolution of Cropland Slope Structure and Its Implications for Fragmentation and Soil Erosion in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-23, May.
    13. Supriyono Supriyono & Utaya Sugeng & Taryana Didik & Handoyo Budi, 2021. "Spatial-Temporal Trend Analysis of Rainfall Erosivity and Erosivity Density of Tropical Area in Air Bengkulu Watershed, Indonesia," Quaestiones Geographicae, Sciendo, vol. 40(3), pages 125-142, September.
    14. Juliet Katusiime & Brigitta Schütt, 2023. "Towards Legislation Responsive to Integrated Watershed Management Approaches and Land Tenure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-27, January.
    15. Mohamad Reza Soltanian & Farzad Moeini & Zhenxue Dai & Audrey H. Sawyer & Jan H. Fleckenstein & John Doherty & Zachary Curtis & Abhijit Chaudhuri & Gabriele Chiogna & Marwan Fahs & Weon Shik Han & Zai, 2024. "Sustainability Nexus AID: groundwater," Sustainability Nexus Forum, Springer, vol. 32(1), pages 1-12, December.
    16. Pignalosa, Antonio & Silvestri, Nicola & Pugliese, Francesco & Corniello, Alfonso & Gerundo, Carlo & Del Seppia, Nicola & Lucchesi, Massimo & Coscini, Nicola & De Paola, Francesco & Giugni, Maurizio, 2022. "Long-term simulations of Nature-Based Solutions effects on runoff and soil losses in a flat agricultural area within the catchment of Lake Massaciuccoli (Central Italy)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    17. Nirmal Kumar & Sudhir Kumar Singh, 2021. "Soil erosion assessment using earth observation data in a trans-boundary river basin," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 107(1), pages 1-34, May.
    18. Mariane Paulina Batalha Roque & José Ambrósio Ferreira Neto & André Luiz Lopes Faria, 2022. "Degraded grassland and the conflict of land use in protected areas of hotspot in Brazil," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 1475-1492, January.
    19. Bijnens, Gert & Anyfantaki, Sofia & Colciago, Andrea & De Mulder, Jan & Falck, Elisabeth & Labhard, Vincent & Lopez-Garcia, Paloma & Meriküll, Jaanika & Parker, Miles & Röhe, Oke & Schroth, Joachim & , 2024. "The impact of climate change and policies on productivity," Occasional Paper Series 340, European Central Bank.
    20. Chen, Yu-Ning & Fan, Chihhao & Šereš, Michal & Šerešová, Markéta & Vymazal, Jan & Pan, Shu-Yuan, 2025. "Lifecycle environmental benefits of integrated rational fertilization, biochar, and constructed wetland in mitigating nutrient loading," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).

    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:spr:sumafo:v:33:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s00550-025-00560-6. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.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.