Researchers believe that the world's soils currently contain 2.4 trillion tonnes of gases in the form of organic carbon, but they are confident that there is potential for more. A recent study by scientists from the US and Scotland, published in Nature journal, suggests that by implementing changes in agricultural practices, an additional 8 billion tonnes of carbon could be stored in the soil. Dave Reay, a geoscientist and carbon management specialist at Edinburgh University, emphasizes the importance of utilizing soil as a powerful ally in the fight against climate change, stating that with improved management, soils could become even larger stores of carbon. The availability of data on soils has been ignored for too long as a tool to address climate change. Challenges with accurate measurement and reporting have hindered progress in climate-smart soil management. However, with the increasing availability of big data on soils globally and advancements in understanding and modeling, it is now time for soils to be recognized as a significant player in addressing climate change. Researchers have long been aware of the important role soils play, identifying factors that control a soil's ability to store carbon and testing climate models to assess emissions from soils. They have tested methods for preserving soil carbon and have consistently warned about the organic carbon reserves in permafrost. They have also determined that human-caused greenhouse gas emissions align with the expansion of global agriculture many centuries ago. Scientists estimate that land use contributes to around 25% of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions, with 10% to 14% directly from agriculture. They believe that improving management of the Earth's soil, which holds three times more organic carbon than the atmosphere, could also help decrease emissions. The key is to protect healthy ecosystems, as forests and grasslands store carbon effectively. Draining wetlands for agriculture releases soil carbon, but restoring wetlands can absorb it. Sustainable agricultural practices, such as growing crops with deep roots and using charcoal-based composts, can help conserve carbon while still producing food. Tools like the 'Cool Farm Tool' can assist farmers in monitoring and reducing emissions from their land. There is not a single solution, but rather a variety of responses that could be effective in addressing the issue. These responses include improving crop rotation, using low tillage instead of deep ploughing, implementing land restoration, and adopting agroforestry. When combined, these approaches - referred to as the "all-of-the-above" approach by researchers - could have a significant impact. With support from science, government officials, and innovative strategies, these methods could help soils retain the majority of the emissions released annually from burning fossil fuels.