It is estimated that two billion ha—23% of land under human use—are degraded globally. But land and soil health is a prerequisite for long-term, sustainable agricultural productivity, and WLE is working to encourage farmer investments in land and soil management practices by identifying the right incentives, creating benefits for both people and the environment.

Soils in and around cities are deteriorating fast due to intensive farming, which is needed to fulfill urban food demands. WLE is tapping into the principles of circular economy and developing new business models for transforming city waste into safe, effective fertilizer that farmers can use to replenish their starved soils.

Soils have the potential to be turned into carbon sinks, helping to mitigate climate change: up to 6.8 billion tons of carbon dioxide could be removed from the atmosphere each year for several decades through better soil management. WLE is working to identify where, how and to which degree this potential can be realized.

Access to accurate information on soil health and degradation is essential for decision makers to make smart choices about landscape management. WLE is developing information services and tools that can help decision makers determine what interventions may work where.