Frontiers in earth observation for global soil properties assessment linked to environmental and socio-economic factors

Soil has garnered global attention for its role in food security and climate change. Fine-scale soil-mapping techniques are urgently needed to support food, water, and biodiversity services. A global soil dataset integrated into an Earth observation system and supported by cloud computing enabled the development of the first global soil grid of six key properties at a 90-m spatial resolution. Assessing them from environmental and socio-economic perspectives, we demonstrated that 64% of the world's topsoils are primarily sandy, with low fertility and high susceptibility to degradation. These conditions limit crop productivity and highlight potential risks to food security. Results reveal that approximately 900 Gt of soil organic carbon (SOC) is stored up to 20 cm deep. Arid biomes store three times more SOC than mangroves based on total areas. SOC content in agricultural soils is reduced by at least 60% compared to soils under natural vegetation. Most agricultural areas are being fertilized while simultaneously experiencing a depletion of the carbon pool. By integrating soil capacity with economic and social factors, we highlight the critical role of soil in supporting societal prosperity. The top 10 largest countries in area per continent store 75% of the global SOC stock. However, the poorest countries face rapid organic matter degradation. We indicate an interconnection between societal growth and spatially explicit mapping of soil properties. This soil-human nexus establishes a geographically based link between soil health and human development. It underscores the importance of soil management in enhancing agricultural productivity and promotes sustainable-land-use planning. © 2025 The Author(s)