Within the Framework of the Global Soil Information System (GLOSIS), The Global Soil Partnership is supporting countries to establish national soil information systems. From the 16 to the 18 September, the GSP secretariat visited Armenian institutions to facilitate the establishment of the Armenian soil information system (ArSIS) through engaging the stakeholders in the process, analyzing the available data and national capacities.

Unos 200 promotores y promotoras del departamento de Estelí, participaron del Tercer Encuentro Nacional de Suelos y Agua, denominado "En Armonía con nuestros suelos y agua, aseguramos nuestra vida". Organizado por la Alianza Mundial por el Suelo, Capítulo Nicaragua, con el objetivo de desarrollar acciones claves para el manejo sostenible y adecuado en los suelos.

Iván Felipe León Ayala, representante de la FAO en Nicaragua dijo que, “todos trabajamos en un fin común y ese fin común es el suelo; hoy por hoy el suelo es un recurso muy importante para lograr la sostenibilidad de la producción agropecuaria y la seguridad alimentaria nutricional”.

Asimismo, mencionó que Nicaragua a través de la AMS, ha venido avanzando en varias acciones para relevar el tema del suelo en la agenda nacional desde el año 2015 “Aquí se ha logrado tener espacios de diálogo técnico con el legislativo, la Asamblea Nacional, ahí venimos trabajando con varias iniciativas en torno a intercambios técnicos que permitan fortalecer capacidades para luego desarrollar en marcos normativos”, agregó Ayala.

Salinity is a major problem affecting crop production all over the world, with about 20% of cultivated land and 33% of irrigated land being salt-affected and degraded in the world. Soil salinity is a multifactorial phenomenon that can have a natural origin caused by raise of sea level or marine intrusion, and an anthropogenic origin due to agricultural intensification, use of low-quality irrigation water or excessive application of mineral fertilizers. This process can be accentuated by climate change and causes a reduction in crop yields, affecting small farmers and rural communities more acutely, who have fewer means for its minimization or adaptation. In Eurasia, salt-affected soils occur in most countries and occupy an estimated area of about 242 million hectares, putting at risk food security and the achievement of the 2030 sustainable agenda in the region.

The Fertilizer Code provides a locally-adaptable framework and voluntary set of practices to serve the different stakeholders that are directly or indirectly involved with fertilizers. It sets out roles, responsibilities, and actions of government; the fertilizer and nutrient recycling industries; agricultural extension and advisory services; research and academia; farmers and other end users in relation to the production, trade, policy, regulation and use of chemical and mineral fertilizers, organic fertilizers, and reused and recycled nutrients.

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Soon available in all FAO official languages

The Global Symposium on Soil Pollution (GSOP18)’s Outcome Document: Be the Solution to Soil Pollution is now available also in French and Spanish. This document provides scientific evidence to support actions and decisions to prevent and reduce soil pollution for increased food security, nutrition, and ecosystem services, and to promote the remediation of polluted sites.