Soil Degradation and Food Security: Interlinked Global Challenges and Pathways Toward Sustainability
Seyidnisa Aliyeva 
Abstract. Soil degradation represents one of the most pressing environmental challenges of the contemporary world, significantly undermining agricultural productivity and threatening global food security. As a vital natural resource, soil plays a central role in sustaining ecosystems, supporting crop production, and maintaining biodiversity. However, increasing anthropogenic pressures such as unsustainable agricultural practices, deforestation, overgrazing, and rapid urbanization have accelerated the degradation of soil resources across the globe. This paper examines the complex and multidimensional relationship between soil degradation and food security, emphasizing the environmental, economic, and social implications of declining soil health. It further explores how climate change exacerbates soil degradation processes and intensifies food insecurity, particularly in vulnerable regions. The study highlights the importance of sustainable land management practices, policy interventions, and technological innovations in mitigating soil degradation and ensuring long-term food security. By adopting an integrated and holistic approach, it is possible to restore soil health and build resilient food systems capable of meeting the demands of a growing global population.
Keywords: soil degradation, food security, sustainable agriculture, land management, climate change