Tuesday, December 7 at 14:00! 

In conjunction with World Soil Day, which is celebrated every year on 5 December, FAO and UNEP will host a joint discussion on 7 December on the benefits and trade-offs of plastics use in agriculture, and the opportunities and challenges for improving their sustainability. FAO will share the main findings from its latest report and UNEP will present the working paper “Plastics in Agriculture: sources and impacts”. The session will include a panel discussion with colleagues from the Global Soil Partnership. 

Well known soil scientist from Pointe-Noire, Congo Basin with over 30 years of experience in research on agroecosystems. 

Thailand’s King Bhumibol prize went to NISS for raising awareness on the importance of healthy soils. 

In 2020, the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN) asked its members to complete an online survey to gather information on the capacities and needs of soil laboratories worldwide. Two hundred and forty-one laboratories, operating in 142 different countries, answered this call for input that allowed GLOSOLAN to acquire regional and global data on areas for action.

On the occasion of the World Soil Day official celebrations "Halt soil salinization, Boost soil productivity" - to take place on 3 December 2021 from 12:30 to 13:30 CET, FAO's Global Soil Partnership at 14:00 CET will launch the International Network on Soil Biodiversity (NETSOB), as per the recommendations of the Outcome Document of the Global Symposium on Soil Biodiversity "Keep soil alive, protect soil biodiversity".

WEBCAST | WATCH THE RECORDINGS

Despite the clear importance of soil biodiversity in the provision of essential ecosystem services for life on earth and human well-being, its proper use and management is yet to be fully realised. Even though substantial progress has been made in ​expanding knowledge about the global distribution of soil biodiversity and its functions, only around one percent of soil organisms have so far been identified. Moreover, soil biodiversity loss remains one of the main global threats in many regions of the world. Nature-based solutions have proven to be the best and most sustainable mechanisms for achieving human well-being, addressing climate ​change, and protecting the environment. This potential has recently been recognised by the international community and there are many stakeholders interested in protecting, conserving and sustainably using soil biodiversity to address major environmental challenges. We must take advantage of this momentum and the interest and concern that exists on the topic of soil biodiversity loss to implement sound policies and spur on actions for the conservation, management, and sustainable use of soil biodiversity.