Critical to the future health of our planet is the development of policies and strategies for global resource security (water and food). The world today faces an increase in the amplitude and frequency of dynamic stresses that greatly challenges our ability to provide effective policies and strategies. It is believed that one limiting factor for this challenge is the lack of an adequate, standard quantitative representation that incorporates both the nature of the resource and its natural functionality. Such a quantitative representation would enable the establishment of interdisciplinary linkages dealing with the same resource. As an example, we focus on the soil, a vulnerable and non-renewable natural resource that plays an imperative role in building and enhancing national sustainable water and food security programs. This article explores the role of soil in bridging the food security gap, with special focus on North Africa. It also makes a call for more research investment in fundamental soils and water research in order to secure and maintain the roles of healthy soil for the benefit of global economic security.
