World Soil Day 2022 “Soils is where food begins” Opening Remarks
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
05/12/2022
World Soil Day 2022
“Soils is where food begins”
Opening Remarks
By
Dr QU Donqyu, FAO Director-General
5 December 2022
Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Colleagues,
1. This year we mark the 9th UN World Soil Day celebration.
2. Soil is the mother of our planet, where 95% of our food is produced – soils is where food begins!
3. Soil has an extraordinary capacity to store, transform, and recycle nutrients.
4. Of the 18 essential nutrients to crops, 15 come from healthy soils.
5. However, one-third of our soils are degraded due to unsustainable human activities, biodiversity loss, desertification and climate change.
6. Soil nutrient imbalance caused by the under-use, misuse, and over-use of nutrients is one of the main global threats to our soils, and our health.
7. Large-scale production using fertilizers was key in the green revolution,
8. And fertilizer use has increased by 500% in the past 50 years.
9. Yet, this has taken a huge toll on our environment.
10. An estimated 80% of ocean pollution comes from land-based activities, mostly due to over fertilization and soil erosion.
11. Today, reduced availability and soaring fertilizer prices are driving increased food prices and food insecurity.
12. Farmers face elevated production costs and reduced profitability, forcing them to diminish or even abandon agricultural activities.
13. We need to work together to produce safe, nutritious and micronutrient-rich food in a sustainable way that avoids soil degradation, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and decreases agrifood systems pollution.
14. The implementation of the International Code of Conduct for the Sustainable Use and Management of Fertilizers is critical, more than ever before.
15. Through the FAO Global Soil Partnership, we are currently mapping soil fertility and soil nutrient budgets, following a country-driven approach to guide decision-making.
Dear Colleagues,
16. The launch of the Global Status of Black Soils report is another important contribution.
17. Black Soils make up 725 million hectares of the land surface and represent 5.6% of global soils.
18. They are carbon rich and highly fertile, and are called the Food Basket of the world, as they are a major source of sunflower seeds, small millet, sugar beet, wheat and potatoes.
19. The findings of this report set out the guidelines to protect, sustainably use and restore our soils,
20. To ensure the 4 Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all.
21. The Soil Atlas of Asia, which is the result of the fruitful collaboration between FAO, the Korean Rural Development Agency, the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission and FAO Members, will guide decision-makers and the public in understanding the benefits and challenges of these precious soils.
22. World Soil Day 2022 will also see the announcement of the winners of the Glinka World Soil Prize, and the King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award.
23. Congratulations to these champions of soil research and soil management!
24. FAO is honored to receive the 2022 Distinguished Service Medal awarded by the International Union of Soil Sciences in recognition of the Global Soil Partnership’s actions to advance soil science.
25. Soil is where food begins!
26. Let us continue to work together for healthy soils, healthy people and a healthy planet.
27. Thank you.