Ethnopedology, its evolution and perspectives in soil security: A review

Abstract

This review examines how Ethnopedology has developed over the last 23 years. It considers its role in soil security and knowledge co-production. Due to its constant interaction with the surrounding environment, indigenous or peasant soil knowledge is detailed, holistic, intergenerational, and even millennia-old. Farmer´s knowledge concerns about climate change, land degradation, soil conservation, sustainable agriculture, and agricultural production constraints have been recently demonstrated. However, this ethnoscience remains marginalised in university curricula, the production of scientific papers, and decision-making. In order to address the major global challenges facing humanity, Soil Security proposes the holistic assessment of soil through five dimensions: capacity, condition, capital, codification, and connectivity; the latter relates the environment to society but is the least developed. The other proposal is the co-production of knowledge, which implies collaboration between technicians and producers to achieve soil development. Integrating Ethnopedology with connectivity studies and the co-production of knowledge can contribute to Soil Security studies and soil sustainability. However, it is necessary to maintain an equal role in knowledge integration. This process should be socially and academically inclusive and always recognise the value of local soil knowledge in solving critical environmental problems.