A call to protect the world’s food basket: black soils
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Black soils have played a crucial role in global agriculture for many decades, supporting the production of cereals, tuber crops, oilseeds, pastures, and forage systems. Despite covering only 5.6 percent of the global land area, these soils not only provide sustenance for the 223 million people residing on them but also contribute to the global economy through the export of various commodities. However, this invaluable resource is facing multiple threats due to land use changes, unsustainable management practices, and excessive use of agrochemicals. Most black soils have already lost at least half of their carbon stocks, suffer from moderate to severe erosion, nutrient imbalances, acidification, compaction, and loss of soil biodiversity. This ITPS letter emphasizes the need for independent policies and agricultural development programs to address these threats. It highlights the importance of adopting good practices and cropping systems, and proposes a series of actions and recommendations to ensure the sustainable use of black soils.