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A journey to success: from dirt to living soil
During the 17th World Congress of Soil Science in August 2002, the Land
Development Department of Thailand organized an exhibition showcasing the
work of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great. The exhibition, titled
“Vision, Leadership, and Sustainable Land Development by His Majesty King
Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great,” impressed scientists and participants at the
congress, particularly highlighting the projects he supported related to soil
conservation and improvement. Additionally, the exhibition featured the six
Royal Project Development Centers established under his royal initiative across
various regions of Thailand. These centers serve as learning hubs for soil
management, land use, and soil conservation tailored to the specific
socio-geographical contexts of each center. The international participants praised
His Majesty for his significant contributions to systematic research and
integrated approaches.
His Majesty’s concept of using vetiver grass for soil and water conservation gained
international recognition. Simultaneously, his various royal initiatives
demonstrated his profound vision for land use and soil resource conservation,
which benefited the entire nation.
This led to the idea of establishing World Soil Day, which was first proposed during
the 17th World Congress of Soil Science in Bangkok and continued to gain support
through subsequent congresses, including the 18th in Philadelphia, USA, and
the 19th in Brisbane, Australia. There was consensus that December 5th should
be designated as World Soil Day.
The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) also proposed that His Majesty
be honored with the title “Humanitarian Soil Scientist,” making him the first
recipient of such an award in the field of soil science. As a result, many countries
adopted December 5th to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of
soil resources for human survival.
On December 20th, 2013, the United Nations officially declared December 5th
as World Soil Day. Since then, the tradition of celebrating World Soil Day has
continued to the present day.
