Be the Solution to Soil Pollution

28 November 2018, Washington, DC – In recognition of World Soil Day, observed on 5 December, FAO North America and The Nature Conservancy convened a roundtable discussion on the importance of promoting soil health to ensure global food and nutrition security at the FAO Liasion Office for North America.

Vimlendra Sharan, Director of FAO North America, opened the discussion with the staggering fact that one-third of global soils are already degraded. “Achieving zero hunger will require an increase in food production, which will require healthy soils,” stated Sharan.

Natalia Rodriguez Eugenio, Soil Scientist and Soil Pollution Expert from the Global Soil Partnership in FAO’s Land and Water Division provided a keynote address virtually from Rome. Eugenio emphasized the importance of soil for ecosystems services vital for human wellbeing, supporting biodiversity, and providing the largest terrestrial carbon sequestration. “Pollution is one of the largest threats to soil health. Once contaminants move into soil, they can also enter the food chain, affecting our health,” said Eugenio.

The keynote presentation was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Roger Thurow, Senior Fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and Author of 1,000 Days, that highlighted the complexity in managing soil pollution. The Nature Conservancy’s Ginya Truitt Nakata, Lands Director for Latin America, emphasized the important role that surrounding habitats play in soil productivity. Pipa Elias, Soil Health Strategy Manager for North America, highlighted The Nature Conservancy’s goal of getting 50 percent of U.S. cropland managed with healthy soil practices, compared to the current 10 percent.

Jeff Seale, Agriculture Environmental Strategy Lead at Bayer Crop Science, noted that climate smart practices and technology can improve soil health; however the biggest barrier is cost. Dr. Paul West of the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment, further distinguished that agriculture occupies 40% of all land on earth, and that 70% of our calories come from only four crops (wheat, rice, maize and soy), noting that we need to look at how we use what we grow.

A dynamic conversation followed the panel discussion emphasizing the need for greater actions to prevent and reduce contaminants from entering soil. In this effort, in May 2018, FAO co-hosted the Global Symposium on Soil Pollution, which was the first step in implementing the Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management to prevent and reduce harmful substances from entering the soil, as a way to maintain healthy soils and food safety. FAO is currently working on a report for the third session of the UN Environment Assembly on the extent and future trends of soil pollution, risks and impacts on health, and a technical guide to implement the Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management.

Lear more about the International Day of Soils: http://www.fao.org/world-soil-day/en/