Today is World Soil Day, a global reminder that the ground beneath us is more than just dirt. Here on Guam, healthy soil is at the heart of our food security, our environment, and the future of local farming. We dig into why protecting our soil matters now more than ever.

World Soil Day shines a light on the critical role soil plays in our island’s ecosystem — from feeding our crops, to protecting our reefs, to supporting the next generation of farmers.and people like Christianah Oladoye, an assitant professsor with soil, plant nutrition, at the University of Guam, are at the frontlines of helping Guam restore, protect, and understand one of our most valuable — and often overlooked — resources.

"In ensuring that we have a good soil, I want the community to know is what you put into your soil is what you are going to get from the soil. Taking good care of your soil is very important," said the professor.

And taking care of it, she says, starts with four key practices — simple actions that can transform the health of any farm or garden. "The first thing to do is  have a living system, roots in the soil. And this living roots ensure there are microorganisms and also show that there is good soil structure, we need to minimize tillage in the soil, because too much tillage will lead to too much aggregate in the structure, and cover crops, there are so many benefits from cover crops, helps in nutrient cycling, and also helps in the structure of the soil, this ensures the soil in being taking care of," she added.

Guam’s soils are as diverse as its landscapes — from badlands, to coastlines, to limestone forests. Each type comes with its own challenges and opportunities. Oladoye added, "I believe with adequate use, the concerns we have is how do we reclaim the soil? How can it be addressed? How do we put it to use? How do we make it productive for us?"

These questions are at the heart of UOG's work — and part of the reason they’re pushing young people to get involved.because the future of Guam’s agriculture depends on the next generation understanding what healthy soil really means.

"The way we treat soil is going to eventually affect our future. We need to take care of the soil really good through crop protection, minimizing the use of pesticides, using compost, using cover crops, and also minimizing tillage in the soil these are the practices that can help to increase the nutrients in the soil and also take good care of the soil," she said.

But how do you know if your soil is healthy? Oladoye says it starts with a sample — and a closer look at the color, texture, and microlife beneath the surface. "First, we take soil sample to the lab, and also even with the color of the soil looking at the soil -you know when the soil is healthy and also when the soil is not healthy, this is part of what we do at the university of guam. we have a standard and organized soil lab which you can bring your soil sample to. i want to say a specisl thank you to the southern soiil water conservation district with iniatives that they are doing in ensuring that farmers have a good understanding about the nature of their soil. so taking your soil to the lab or inviting us to see what is in the soil,and make recommendations to you as to what needs to be done to make soil more fertile, and also productive to your crops," she said.

On World Soil Day, the message is simple and urgent: the soil we care for today will shape the health — and food security — of tomorrow.

"What I want to get out to the community, take good care of the soil because its going to have a long term impact on we as individuals because what we put into the soil is what we're going to get back. thank you," she said.

From gardeners to farmers to future agricultural leaders — protecting Guam’s soil starts with all of us. On World Soil Day, experts say there is no better time to learn what's under our feet… and how our island's future depends on it.