Abstract This review provides insights on (1) the chemistry of arsenic (As) in the soil environment and factors (e.g., pH, presence, nature, and concentration of competing inorganic and organic ligands), which regulate the sorption/desorption of arsenate and arsenite (the most abundant As species in soils and waters) on/from soil components; (2) the chemical fractionation and speciation of As to identify species that are more mobile and phytoavailable; and finally (3) the uptake of As by selected edible plants and production techniques able to reduce its translocation in plant tissues.