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Welcoming Our New Editor-in-Chief, Professor Leo Condron

This year marks a special milestone for Soil Use and Management as we proudly celebrate 40 years of advancing knowledge and insight into the vital role of soil in agriculture, the environment, and policy. Over four decades, the journal has grown into a leading platform for cutting-edge research that helps shape sustainable land use and soil stewardship worldwide.

As we enter this exciting new chapter, we are delighted to welcome our new Editor-in-Chief, Professor Leo Condron, who took the helm in January 2025. Bringing fresh energy and vision, he is committed to guiding the journal into its next era, ensuring it remains at the forefront of soil science while addressing some of the most pressing global challenges of our time.

In this blog, we explore the journal’s renewed mission, key themes, and future directions under Professor Condron’s leadership. Join us as we look back on the past and look forward to the future of Soil Use and Management.

Meet the Editor-in-Chief: Professor Leo Condron

Professor Leo Condron brings a wealth of experience and passion to his role as Editor-in-Chief of . Born in Glasgow, he started his academic career with a BSc Honours degree in Agricultural Chemistry from the University of Glasgow. Soon after, he moved to New Zealand, where he completed his PhD in Soil Science at Lincoln College (then part of the University of Canterbury).

With nearly four decades in academia and research, Professor Condron has developed deep expertise in how land use and management affect soils—especially focusing on phosphorus cycling, organic matter dynamics in grassland and forest soils, soil chronosequence biogeochemistry, and relationships between soil microbial diversity and function. His work has significantly advanced our understanding of biological processes that influence phosphorus availability in soil-plant systems—a contribution recognized when he was awarded a Doctor of Science degree by the University of Canterbury in 2016.

Over his career to date, Professor Condron has published more than 330 articles and reports, including 300 journal papers. Beyond his research, he’s also a dedicated mentor, having supervised over 120 postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows, helping to shape the next generation of soil scientists.

With this impressive background, he’s perfectly positioned to lead Soil Use and Management into its next chapter.

What Is Soil Use and Management’s Mission?

������Soil Use and Management celebrates its 40th anniversary, we’re reflecting not just on where we’ve come from—but also where we’re headed. I had the privilege of stepping into the role of Editor-in-Chief in January 2025, and one of my first tasks was to revisit and revise the journal’s mission statement to reflect our evolving vision.

At its core, Soil Use and Management is about exactly that: how we use and manage soil. But it’s also about much more. While soil science is central to our work, the journal lives at the intersection of agricultural science, environmental science, and policy.

 

Prof. Leo Condron, Editor-in-Chief

We’re particularly interested in novel research that sheds light on how both natural and human-driven processes influence the function, health, productivity, and sustainability of managed soil systems.

A concept that is gaining renewed importance in our work is “soil stewardship.” This goes far beyond the boundaries of individual farms. Stewardship speaks to a broader, global responsibility—a recognition that how we manage soil has far-reaching impacts, from mitigating and adapting to climate change, to protecting environmental quality, to supporting food security, and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Ultimately, our emphasis is on soil management—how we treat, tend, and transform soil in the face of growing global challenges. Of course, land use and land use change play key roles, but we see them as interconnected with the bigger picture of soil management. That’s where our focus lies as we enter this exciting new chapter.

Why Is Soil Stewardship So Important?

Soil might be under our feet, but it’s also at the heart of everything we do above ground, especially when it comes to growing food. Quite simply, soil stewardship is the foundation of sustainable terrestrial food systems. Without healthy, functioning soil, our ability to produce food—and to do so reliably and responsibly—starts to unravel.

One of the reasons soil stewardship matters so deeply is that soil degradation is, in many cases, irreversible. Once a soil is lost or severely degraded, we can’t just recreate it. Even a decline in its ability to function, whether that means retaining water, cycling nutrients, or supporting crops—can have serious consequences. It affects not only food supply and security but also the broader economy.

Farming isn’t just a way of life—it’s also a business. While subsistence farming is still the norm in many parts of the world, agriculture elsewhere operates on commercial scales. That means soil management decisions are often shaped by economic realities. But striking the right balance is key: between profitability, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility.

This is where policy has a crucial role to play. Good policy can help align those competing priorities, ensuring that economic incentives support soil health, that environmental goals are backed by practical measures, and that social values are respected in the process.

In the end, soil stewardship is about protecting a resource that underpins not just agriculture, but life itself. And doing it wisely means thinking long-term—about people, planet, and prosperity.

What Are the Key Soil Trends to Watch This Year?

One of the most important—and enduring—trends in soil science this year continues to be the focus on soil organic matter. And for good reasons. Soil organic matter is central to effective soil management because it influences nearly every aspect of how soil functions—chemically, biologically, and physically. In other words, it’s a cornerstone of soil health.

Alongside that, we see growing interest in how soils can be amended—not just with traditional fertilizers, but also with innovative materials such as biochar. These types of amendments offer promising ways to enhance soil function and sustainability, particularly in the face of climate change and resource pressures.

These trends reflect a wider shift in soil research—toward integrated, system-based thinking that links soil health with sustainability, innovation, and practical outcomes for land managers.

What’s Coming Up in Soil Use and Management?

Looking ahead to upcoming issues of Soil Use and Management, we’re excited about several evolving themes and editorial directions that reflect both emerging challenges and new opportunities in the soil science community.

We’re actively working to develop a strategy for future reviews and thematic collections. The goal is to ensure we stay within our core mission while also remaining distinct from other journals in the field. We’re paying close attention to what’s already being covered elsewhere so we can bring fresh, original content to our readers—without duplicating efforts.

We will be commissioning keynote review and commentary articles, which will help spotlight underexplored issues or perspectives where we see a gap in current literature. It’s an opportunity to drive conversations forward and bring greater depth to complex topics in soil management. To this end Professor Adrian Unc from the Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada was recently appointed as the Editor for Alan Wild Reviews, Perspectives, and Topical Collections.

In short, we’re expanding the scope of the journal not just to keep pace with global trends—but to help shape the dialogue around sustainable soil use in the years ahead.

Have an Idea for Publication? Here’s How to Get Started

If you’ve got an idea for a paper or a special issue that fits within the scope of , we’d love to hear from you. The best first step is simple: just send me or the journal team an email to start the conversation.

We’re always open to exploring new ideas and collaborations, and reaching out early can help shape your submission to fit the journal’s mission and goals.