Integrated soil management - moving towards globally sustainable agriculture

This review introduces the main concepts behind integrated soil management (ISM) and examines the ways in which it currently operates. It suggests the scope for future technological development. The review also highlights the potential of ISM to address the challenge of meeting the demands of the increasing world population, while maintaining sustainable agro-ecosystems, as judged from long-term soil fertility, environmental and socio-economic perspectives. Changes to policy, governance and funding worldwide will be needed to conserve and manage the soil resource, and to restore already degraded systems. Research should be prioritized to ensure continued delivery of new soil technologies. Such changes must engage all land-use stakeholders, must involve educational, training and extension programmes and must embrace the multidisciplinarity required for effective soil conservation and management.