Grasslands cover nearly 40% of the Earth’s ice-free land surface, and their soils play a key role in climate regulation by storing about 20% of global carbon (C) stocks. These ecosystems, however, sit at the intersection between opportunity and risk. On the one hand, they have the capacity to sequester C and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through improved management. On the other hand, decades of intensification have contributed to grassland degradation, soil C losses, and increased CO₂, N₂O, and CH₄ emissions. Effective practices, such as adaptive grazing managements, silvopastoral systems, or integrating legumes or organic fertilisers, could unlock a mitigation potential of up to 150 Tg of soil C annually (CO₂ eq), while also reducing dependence on synthetic N fertilisers.

Yet, major challenges remain. Evidence gaps persist regarding the mechanisms that regulate soil C sequestration and GHG mitigation under diverse grassland systems and environmental conditions. And at the same time, these systems face additional pressures: land-use conflicts, biodiversity decline, climate change, shifting protein demands, and socioeconomic transformations in rural areas.

Our session invites contributions that shed light on the impacts of different grassland restoration and management practices on soil nutrient C and N cycling, with an emphasis on soil C sequestration and GHG emission and mitigation, to advance the role of grasslands in climate mitigation and sustainable food systems.

We encourage contributions from all regions, as diverse perspectives and experiences are crucial for a holistic understanding of these issues. This session will include, but is not restricted to, field and modelling studies, as well as mesocosm studies exploring hypotheses related to C and N cycling in grassland soils.

We invite participants from around the world to share their insights and contribute to a global dialogue on advancing grassland management practices.