What is Soil Health?
Although not yet clearly defined, soil health has become a widely used term globally, even beyond the scientific community. This may be because the term “health,” defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as “the condition of the body and the degree to which it is free from illness, or the state of being well,” is easily understood by many people. By humanizing the condition of soil through the term “soil health,” issues such as soil degradation become more accessible and easier to understand for individuals from diverse backgrounds.
A "healthy soil" used for intensive vegetable production in Cabintan, Ormoc, Leyte
Zethof et al. (2026) noted that the current popularity of soil health is unparalleled in the field of soil science. However, they question whether the term is merely a clever marketing strategy or if it has the potential to advance soil science beyond simple popularization.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has reported that the concept of a “healthy soil” has not yet been officially defined, despite being widely used for more than a decade. Soil health generally refers to the performance or functioning of soil, rather than its intrinsic physical, chemical, or biological properties. The Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS) defines soil health as “the ability of the soil to sustain the productivity, diversity, and environmental services of terrestrial ecosystems.” 
A "sick soil" (unhealthy soil) due to salinity (seawater intrusion) in Matalom, Leyte
Soil health evolved from earlier, more technical terms such as soil quality and soil fertility. Soil quality is one of the three components of environmental quality, alongside water and air quality. While water and air quality are primarily defined by levels of pollution affecting human and animal health or natural ecosystems, soil quality is broader. It is defined as “the capacity of a soil to function to sustain biological productivity, maintain environmental quality, and promote plant and animal health” (Bünemann et al., 2018). In his book Pedologie oder allgemeine und besondere Bodenkunde, F.A. Fallou, one of the founders of soil science, introduced the term soil quality (Qualitas), although with a different meaning (Asio, 2005). 
A sick soil due to high acidity (soil pH below 4.5) in Quinapondan, Eastern Samar
Furthermore, soil fertility originated from the German term “Bodenfruchtbarkeit” and focuses primarily on crop production. According to the FAO, soil fertility is “the ability of the soil to supply essential plant nutrients and soil water in adequate amounts and proportions for plant growth and reproduction, in the absence of toxic substances that may inhibit plant growth.”
Soil Health Initiatives in the Philippines
In the Philippines, the National Soil Health Initiatives are being championed by Congressman Adolph Edward “Eddiebong” G. Plaza, the 2nd District Representative of Agusan del Sur. His soil health initiatives focus on several key areas, including the formulation of a national soil health strategy and the implementation of a “From Lab to Land” approach. This approach promotes the use of advanced soil testing laboratories and modern technologies, such as drones, to monitor soil moisture, fertility, and erosion risks. It also encourages crop diversification and land rehabilitation. 
Congressman Eddiebong Plaza addressing the participants of the Stakeholders' Forum
he organized on Dec 3-5, 2025
Congressman Plaza’s partners and collaborators include ACIAR-SLAM (Dr. Johnvie Goloran), Griffith University (Prof. Chengrong Chen), DOST-PCAARRD, the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM), Agusan del Sur State University (ADSSU; Pres. Joy Capistrano), Southern Leyte State University–Hinunangan (SLSU-Hinunangan; Dr. Ian Navarrete), and the Society for the Advancement of Philippine Soil Science (SAPSS; Dr. VB Asio).
In support of this initiative, Congressman Plaza organized the Stakeholders’ Forum on Soil Testing Protocols and Information Systems, held on December 3–5, 2025, in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.
References
Asio, V. B. (2005). "Comments on" Historical development of soil and weathering profile concepts from Europe to the United States of America"." Soil Science Society of America Journal 69: 571-572.
Bunemann, E. K., Bongiorno, G., Bai, Z. G., Creamer, R., De Deyn, G. B., de Goede, R. G. M., ... & Brussaard, L. (2018). Soil quality-A critical review. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 120, 105-125.
Zethof, J. H., Kalbitz, K., & Jungkunst, H. F. (2026). Soil Health—What Is It Good for?. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science.
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