"Keep soil alive, Protect soil biodiversity"

 

Soil organisms play a crucial role in boosting food production, enhancing nutritious diets, preserving human health, remediating polluted sites and combating climate change, but their contribution remains largely underestimated. Even though biodiversity loss is at the forefront of global concerns, the biodiversity that is below ground is not being given the importance it deserves.

To contribute to raising public awareness, FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation, the Eurasian Center for Food Security of the Lomonosov Moscow State University, the World Bank and the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy organized the Fifth Scientific and Practical Conference on Food Security and Soil Science dedicated to the World Soil Day (WSD) annually celebrated on 5 December.

The WSD should be associated with the contribution to science of Vasily Dokuchaev, Russian geologist, mineralogist, founder of soil science, who gave an impetus to the development of national schools of soil science, said Sergey Shoba, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, President of the faculty of soil science of Moscow State University, President of the Dokuchaev Society of Soil Scientists, who moderated the forum.

It is necessary to emphasize the special role of soils as not only a regulator of many processes in the biosphere, but also as an important resource in agriculture. It is no coincidence, Professor Shoba noted, 90 percent of the world’s food comes from soil cultivation. That is why the scientific community is sounding the alarm about the large-scale soil degradation that is taking place today and points to the imperative goal of switching to the rational use of soil resources.

In turn, Igor Konstantinov, Vice-rector of the Timiryazev Academy for Science and Innovative Development, recalled other outstanding researchers who worked at the Academy. He named Dmitry Nikolaevich Pryanishnikov (1865-1948), the founder of the Russian scientific school of agronomic chemistry, Vasily Robertovich Williams (1863-1939), the founder of biological soil science and meadow farming, Alexander Vasilyevich Chayanov (1888-1937), one of the largest theorists and organizers of the agricultural cooperative movement, etc.

For FAO, World Soil Day is a major annual event, said Oleg Kobiakov, Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation, because, along with water, soil is an important input resource used in agriculture and in the interests of food security.

Artavazd Hakobyan, Senior agricultural economist at the World Bank (WB), accentuated the importance of the fifth scientific and practical conference on food security and soil science, calling it a “platform” where the “intellectual potentials” of Russia and foreign countries could be combined.

Ronald Vargas, Secretary of the Global Soil Partnership, in his report on “State of knowledge of soil biodiversity status, challenges and potentialities” presented key facts, challenges, and opportunities that can be achieved through soil biodiversity. “A healthy soil is capable of providing most terrestrial ecosystem services, therefore contributing to achieve the SDGs and human well-being», postulated FAO expert. 

Mr Vargas underlined that “more than 40 of living organisms in terrestrial ecosystems are associated during their life cycle directly with soils. Soils contains arguably the most diverse terrestrial communities on the planet.” 

Ronald Vargas highlighted several trends underlying the necessity to maintain soil biodiversity, soil formation/soil structure, carbon transformations, nutrient cycling, biological regulation, provision of ecosystem services, food security and food safety, bioremediation, human health, links with above ground biodiversity. 

“Microbiome investigations for environmental management are still novel and highly experimental, yet they underline the need for conservation of entire soil biotic communities,” Mr Vargas intoned.

Edoardo Costantini, Secretary of the European Society for Soil Conservation, who was recently elected President of the International Union of Soil Sciences, emphasized in his report, “soil provides us with ecosystem services that are very important in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ecosystem services are linked to soil functions. Usually, many people talk about the functions of the soil of the first upper 30 centimeters, this surface layer that is used in agriculture ... but we must understand that there are subsurface layers that lie below these 30 centimeters.”

In many cases, stated Edoardo Costantini, soil degradation is caused by the fact that those “who cultivated the land, did not care much about its preservation, which led to the loss of soil functionality.” We witness a phenomenon that he called “bulldozer soil erosion” and emphasized, “It is necessary to protect and restore soils to conserve biodiversity.”

Corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Pavel Krasilnikov, Dean of the Faculty of Soil Science of Moscow State University, described the success of the Eurasian soil partnership in 2019-2020. “All countries participate in the activities and adhere to the recommendations set out in the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management, focusing on the ten main threats to soils.” Together with The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), a guide to sustainable land management (SLM) practices for agricultural universities in Central Asia is being prepared for publication. Official translations of the Voluntary Guidelines have been made into Ukrainian and Turkish. A national action plan for sustainable soil management in Turkey was developed. The book on “Sustainable management of soil resources in the Eurasian region” was prepared.

Professor Ivan Vasenev, Head of the Department of Ecology of the Timiryazev Russian State Agricultural Academy, spoke in detail about the project of digitalization of monoliths of the Williams Soil and Agronomic Museum, presenting a visual diagram of the modernization of the exposition of this unique collection. “Our colleagues from the FAO central office have been very helpful in creating a single database platform so that it is linked to international databases,” noted Professor Vasenev. “Every year, about ten thousand people visit the Museum, and they are not only soil scientists, but also interested specialists from specialized organizations and school students.” A joint project between FAO and the Timiryazev Academy, funded by the Russian Federation, will preserve the rich heritage of the V.R. Williams museum and will facilitate the transfer of soil data to the GSP's Global Soil Information System.

In his presentation, “Diversity of soil fauna in Russia” Dr Konstantin Gongalsky, Head of Laboratory of Study of Soil Ecological Functions, Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, spoke about the role of soil fauna in ecosystem functioning. “No one actually deals with the geography of the functional role of soil biota in the world, “the expert noted. It is important, Dr. Gongalsky noted, “to show the enormous role of soil fauna in human life to ordinary people and decision-makers!”

The Red Book compiled in Russia includes 407 species of animals, including 14 species of ground beetles, 11 species of earthworms, and one species of bipedal millipedes. There are invasive species of soil fauna. In fact, said Dr. Gongalsky, “while we were in the quarantine regime, the invasive slugs Arion ater and Arion rufus invaded Moscow.”

What should be the priority today? Dr. Gongalsky believes, “it is necessary to take an inventory of many groups of soil fauna, create determinants, including molecular and genetic characteristics, include soil fauna in the Red Books, and assess the role of soil fauna in ecosystem processes.”

In turn, Dr Stanislav Shishov, Director of agronomic expertise at IntTerra, in the presentation “How innovations help to take into account the diversity of soils in crop production”, cited the main reasons for varying yields: redistribution of moisture (topography, underlying rocks, granulation), physical properties of soils (compaction, structure, humus content, mineralogy), microbiology (suppressiveness of microflora, total number of colony-forming units), agrochemistry (nutrition elements, pH, salinity, salinity), anthropogenic impact.

What should be done, taking into account the heterogeneity of soils? Dr Shishov explains: First, analyze the productivity of land given the heterogeneity of soils by processing the results of field experiments. Then, organize sampling, including sampling for microbiological research, conduct field work, and conduct experiments. Next, it is necessary to carry out the correct differentiated execution of technical operations. Finally, it is essential to control the situation, establishing the facts of oppression of crops with food shortages and diseases.

In the presentation “PhosAgro: Projects aimed at preserving and improving soil fertility”, Dr Vladimir Nosov, the leading specialist of the PhosAgro agronomic service, noted that soil biodiversity is closely linked to their fertility, with the ability to ensure plant growth and productivity. “Biophilic elements are necessary for the development of living organisms,” the expert said. “Heavy metals have a negative effect on the soil microbiota. In this regard, the use of environmentally friendly mineral fertilizers is relevant.”

In his closing remarks, FAOLOR Director Oleg Kobiakov emphasized the close relationship between soil protection, biodiversity and fertility in the context of a wide range of SDGs. He noted the leading positions of the Russian school of soil science in international cooperation in this area, including the use of the FAO platform, in particular, the Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, as well as the role of the Russian soil museums named after V.V. Dokuchaev and V.R. Williams in popularizing the history and current challenges for soil science.

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Over 180 experts in the field of soil science, representing Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Italy, took part in the conference, held on the Zoom platform. You are welcome to watch and listen to the reports at the forum: https://fao.zoom.us/rec/share/zSqjtj7XFvrFkBfw2Pq6_GXlRxkKj3mgYaVU72DMmcinVeSxq3TJdLbV4SGg4gzy.Jwky82JSKAmaslcc

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On the occasion of the World Soil Day FAO launched today its first ever report on "The State of Knowledge of Soil Biodiversity". The key findings of the report were presented at the World Soil Day virtual ceremony broadcast from Rome. 

During the ceremony, the Glinka World Soil Prize 2020 was awarded to an Italian agricultural scientist and action leader in soil Luca Montanarella, and the King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award was given to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Furthermore, in the understanding that we cannot properly manage something we do not know, the Armenian Soil Information System was launched during the event. 

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BACKGROUND

World Soil Day (WSD) is held annually on 5 December to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and advocating for the sustainable management of soil resources. 

An international day to celebrate Soil was recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002. Under the leadership of the Kingdom of Thailand and within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership, FAO has supported the formal establishment of WSD as a global awareness-raising platform. The FAO Conference unanimously endorsed World Soil Day in June 2013 and requested its official adoption at the 68th UN General Assembly. In December 2013 the UN General Assembly responded by designating 5 December 2014 as the first official World Soil Day. 

Under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Sustainable Development Goals 2, 3, 12 and 15 explicitly recommend that soil resources be considered, soil pollution and degradation related to food security. 

World Soil Day 2020 (#WorldSoilDay) and its campaign "Keep soil alive, Protect soil biodiversity”aims to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being by addressing the growing challenges in soil management, fighting soil biodiversity loss, increasing soil awareness and encouraging governments, organizations, communities and individuals around the world to commit to proactively improving soil health. 

KEY MESSAGES

• Soil is a living resource, home to more than one quarter (25%) of our planet’s biodiversity. 
• Up to 90% of living organisms live or spent part of their lifecycle in soils, yet we know only 1% of this hidden universe. 
• Soil organisms work 365/24/7 in a coordinated effort to sustain life on Earth. 
• Soil biodiversity is an essential component of soil health. Healthy soils produce more nutritious and safer food. 95% of our food comes from soils. 
• Soils organisms help soils store carbon and reduce GHG emissions. 
• Soil biodiversity contributes to the remediation of soil pollution by breaking down contaminants. 
• Soils are vast, vital pharmacies. Did you know that almost all the antibiotics that we take to help us fight infections were made using soil microorganisms?