A global data commons is needed to protect and govern Earth's soil

Soil is a vital component of ecosystem functioning and human well-being, yet it is increasingly exposed to transnational threats such as climate change, pollution, and unsustainable management practices. Given the essential role of soil data in protecting and restoring soil health, a shift is needed in how such data are conceptualized: from a strategic asset controlled by individual institutions or landowners to a shared global commons. This paper proposes a global soil data commons to consolidate and mobilize soil knowledge at the global scale, building on existing initiatives and recent technological advances within a participatory and transparent governance framework. The proposed commons is structured around three interdependent technical pillars: i) curation of heterogeneous soil data across sources, disciplines, technologies, and spatiotemporal scales; ii) integration of conceptual and predictive soil models to harmonize data, support process understanding, and enable robust soil health assessment; and iii) implementation of an adaptive global soil monitoring system connecting existing monitoring schemes with remote sensing observations and flexible, question-driven designs. Governance and data management approaches are examined to ensure transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness while protecting sensitive data and preventing misuse. International agreements prioritizing soil data commons are essential for coordinated global soil protection and restoration.