TY - JOUR
T1 - The opportunities and risks of the soil security metaphor
T2 - A review
AU - Allan, Catherine
N1 - Includes bibliographical references.
PY - 2019/8/18
Y1 - 2019/8/18
N2 - Language both represents and constructs our reality. Soil Security is a proposed new frame for encouraging the systematic and interdisciplinary approaches to soil research needed to address complex needs. This bold attempt at reframing may, however, have numerous consequences in addition to its central intent. This review paper explores words and discourses related to 'Soil Security'. Current understanding of how language frames reality is presented, emphasising the roles of metaphor and entailments. Soil Security is then situated in relation to the broader construct of Environmental Security, with references to security of water, food and energy. Against this background, aspects of Soil Security are explored, and some cautions issued to users of the term. The soil science community is urged to actively consider the implications and nuances of any discourse, including that of Soil Security, with which it engages, or risk being led to operate in unintended or unwelcome ways. To guide this engagement, the review paper concludes with suggestions on how to reflect on the practice of soil science and its role in the future of humanity.
AB - Language both represents and constructs our reality. Soil Security is a proposed new frame for encouraging the systematic and interdisciplinary approaches to soil research needed to address complex needs. This bold attempt at reframing may, however, have numerous consequences in addition to its central intent. This review paper explores words and discourses related to 'Soil Security'. Current understanding of how language frames reality is presented, emphasising the roles of metaphor and entailments. Soil Security is then situated in relation to the broader construct of Environmental Security, with references to security of water, food and energy. Against this background, aspects of Soil Security are explored, and some cautions issued to users of the term. The soil science community is urged to actively consider the implications and nuances of any discourse, including that of Soil Security, with which it engages, or risk being led to operate in unintended or unwelcome ways. To guide this engagement, the review paper concludes with suggestions on how to reflect on the practice of soil science and its role in the future of humanity.
KW - Discourse
KW - Framing
KW - Metaphor
KW - Soil security
KW - Sustainability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85070947470&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85070947470&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/su11164464
DO - 10.3390/su11164464
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85070947470
SN - 2071-1050
VL - 11
SP - 1
EP - 10
JO - Sustainability (Switzerland)
JF - Sustainability (Switzerland)
IS - 16
M1 - 4464
ER -