Grassland systems are foundational to global food security, occupy roughly 40% of the terrestrial surface, and play a key role in climate regulation by storing around 20% of global soil carbon (C) stocks. These systems, however, sit at the intersection between opportunity and risk. On the one hand, improved management can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, enhance C sequestration, strengthen nutrient cycling and improve soil health. On the other hand, decades of intensification have contributed to widespread land and soil degradation, increased GHG emissions, soil C losses, and disrupted nutrient cycling, undermining ecosystem resilience. Practices such as adaptive grazing management, silvopastoral systems, and the integration of legumes or organic fertilisers could unlock substantial mitigation potential, including up to 150 Tg CO₂-eq annually in soils, while reducing dependence on synthetic N fertilisers. Yet, major knowledge gaps remain. We still have a limited understanding of the mechanisms governing GHG mitigation, soil C sequestration, nutrient cycling, and soil health across diverse systems and environmental conditions, constraining our ability to assess their potential for building resilient systems. Addressing these uncertainties is particularly important as grasslands face growing pressures from land-use conflicts, biodiversity decline, climate change, shifting protein demands, and socioeconomic transformations in rural areas.

Our session invites contributions that shed light on how grassland management, restoration, and grazing practices shape climate mitigation, soil processes, and ecosystem resilience across diverse environmental conditions. We particularly welcome studies that advance our understanding of the interactions among vegetation, soils, and livestock, and their implications for climate mitigation and sustainable food systems. Contributions from all regions and diverse perspectives are encouraged to foster a more holistic understanding of these challenges. The session will include, but not be restricted to, field and modelling studies, mesocosm experiments testing hypotheses related to C and N cycling in grasslands, and literature syntheses, with the aim of advancing knowledge and informing sustainable grassland management worldwide.