The Agricultural University of Athens honors the vital function of soil

“The Agricultural University of Athens honors the vital function of soil”

Soil: The Foundation of the Biosphere

Soil, a finite and extremely valuable natural resource, plays a regulatory role in the functioning and preservation of terrestrial ecosystems. Acting as a living organism, it both receives and responds to various influences, making its “health” critical for food security, water quality, and climate change mitigation. Its protection and the scientific study of its properties and characteristics constitute the only path toward sustainability and the prosperity of human societies.

Institutional Commitment

World Soil Day, established in 2014 by the United Nations General Assembly, aims to raise global awareness of the need for sustainable soil resource management. These resources are now under increasing pressure, primarily due to the climate crisis, intensification of agricultural practices, and environmental degradation. In Greece, Academic Institutions and Research Organizations, such as AUA, play a central role in the inventory, study, and protection of soil resources.

Tradition and Digital Innovation at AUA

The Laboratory of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry at AUA, with a history dating back to 1920, has contributed continuously to the field of Soil Science. Complementing this, the GIS Research Unit of the Division has been pioneering for the past 35 years, applying and developing geospatial technologies, spatial analysis methodologies, and geostatistics, supporting the transition to modern digital approaches for soil assessment and management. Special Event and Honored Guest

The GIS Research Unit is organizing an event at the AUA Library Amphitheater on Friday, 5 December 2025, at 10:00 a.m.

The Honored Guest of this year’s event is the distinguished AUA Emeritus Professor of Soil Science, Dr. Nikolaos Yassoglou, in recognition of his long-standing and decisive contribution to the field of Soil Science.

The event will bring together the academic community and institutional stakeholders, including:

• Leading researchers from University Soil Science Laboratories

• Scientists from Research Institutes

• Representatives of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food (ΥΠΑΑΤ)

• Scientific and Professional Associations

• Private-sector stakeholders in the agri-food sector

Through brief interventions, participants will present their current activities and strategic proposals for the protection and sustainable use of Greece’s soil resources.

The Agricultural University of Athens invites all interested parties to actively participate in this important discussion.

Contact

Dionissios Kalivas
Professor, AUA
GIS Research Unit
Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry