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December 5 - World Soil Day!

World Soil Day was introduced by the International Union of Soil Sciences in 2002. At the initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, this day is celebrated annually and its goal is to raise public awareness of the importance of soil protection and its sustainable use.
The theme of World Soil Day 2025, “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities,” draws special attention to the fact that soil is an important environmental and natural resource, not only in rural areas but also in cities, affecting air quality, temperature regulation, water retention and conservation, biodiversity, and human health.

LEPL Scientific-Research Center of Agriculture has been conducting researches for years in order to ensure sustainable soil management and assess their condition throughout the country. The Soil Fertility Research Division continued the project “Study of the General Condition of Soils of Georgia (Inventory)” in 2025. During the year, an area of 25 thousand hectares was studied in the territories of Ninotsminda, Aspindza, Akhaltsikhe, Adigeni, Borjomi, Mtskheta and Kobuleti municipalities, and 413 soil samples were studied in laboratory conditions for physical, chemical and physico-chemical characteristics; The data obtained will be placed in an electronic database, on the basis of which thematic soil maps will be prepared by the end of the year, which will be used both in scientific research and for developing practical recommendations.

In order to support farmers, in 2025, more than 200 users were provided with recommendations on improving soil fertility under grapevines and wheat. In parallel, three scientific papers and three conference theses were prepared. Also important was the participation of Prof. Ivane Sarishvili Soil Research Laboratory in the international professional testing organized by FAO, within the framework of which the laboratory successfully analyzed seven samples for the main chemical indicators of the soil.

The laboratory has been studying the overall condition of the country's soils since 2016. During this period, approximately 250,000 hectares of agricultural land have been inventoried and studied, and thematic soil maps have been created using spatial-statistical methods.

The laboratory is also involved in various international and donor grant projects, including a NASA-funded study to assess land degradation in the Caucasus region using satellite data. Today, with approximately one-third of the world's soils already degraded and pollution rates constantly increasing, along with urban expansion and intensive land use, soil protection is one of the most important challenges.

Soil is the foundation of life, providing nutrients to plants, storing water, ensuring the functioning of ecosystems, and directly influencing our health and quality of life. The message of the 2025 theme, “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities,” reminds us once again that the urban environment and natural resources are closely linked, and the sustainability of cities begins with the proper management and protection of land resources.