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Soils host more than a quarter of the planet’s biodiversity.
Healthy soils are the foundation of global food production and ought to become a key agenda item in public policy, says the FAO.
Moujahed Achouri, Director of FAO’s Land and Water Division, made the statement while addressing the third Global Soil Week in Berlin this week.
Global Soil Week brings together more than 550 participants from 78 countries working on sustainable soil management and land governance.
“Soils are essential for achieving food security and nutrition and have the potential to help mitigate the negative impacts of climate change,” says Achouri, who added that pressures on soil resources are reaching critical limits.
In addition to sustaining 95% of food production, soils host more than a quarter of the planet’s biodiversity, are a major source of pharmaceuticals, and play a critical role in the carbon cycle, he adds.
The current level of soil degradation – estimated at 33% globally – is “alarming” and has the potential to threaten food security and send many people into poverty, Achouri says.
Sustainable soil management, in turn, can contribute to the production of more and healthier food. FAO called on the international soil community and policy makers to work together to reduce soil degradation and restore already degraded land.
Global Soil Week 2015 coincides with the International Year of Soils, which aims to raise awareness about the often-unrecognized benefits of soils to human health and sustainable development.
This year’s Soil Week highlights the need for including soil issues in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), currently under discussion.
“If humanity’s overarching need for food security and nutrition, climate change mitigation and sustainable development is to be met, soil resources have to be given the global attention they deserve,” says Achouri.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
The benchmark measure of world food commodity prices ended 2023 approximately 10% lower than its year-earlier level.
The benchmark for world food commodity prices were broadly stable in November, with lower international cereal quotations offset by higher prices in vegetable oils.
The benchmark for world food commodity prices declined moderately in October, down 0.5% from September, with the index for dairy products the only one to rise, says the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
International food commodity prices declined in August, led by staples other than rice and sugar, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) says.
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An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand has no intention of backing down in a trade dispute with Canada over dairy products.
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