In the words of Ms. Benjaporn Chakranon, Director-General of Land Development Department “The King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award is an award given to individuals, agencies, universities, organizations or countries that have knowledge and understanding and are undertaking sustainable soil management activities. The winners raise awareness on the conservation of soil resources for people in response to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and environmental management matters leading to food security and the elimination of hunger. At the 6th Global Soil Partnership Plenary Assembly in Rome, Italy, on 12 June 2018, FAO member countries and GSP partners approved the establishment of the award and organized the award ceremony to take place every year on World Soil Day, to honour and commemorate the grace of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was a soil scientist and humanitarian".

Ms. Benjaporn added that “the World Soil Day Award winner usually travels to Thailand, to Bangkok, to receive the award and participate in an exchange of knowledge and visit the royal initiative of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej [...] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has spread around the world and the fact that Thailand is undergoing a surveillance period, which restricts travel to the country, Officials from ICAR-IISS, [winner of the Award 2020], were unable to travel to receive the medal. The Department of Land Development therefore organized the 2020 King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award Medal Ceremony by inviting the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr. Chalermchai Sreeon, to present the award to the Ambassador of India to Thailand, Her Excellency Suchitra Durai". Thomas Hofer, Senior FAO Forestry Officer and Nawarat Chalermpao, Assistant to the FAO Representative in India also joined the celebration.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Indian Institute of Soil Science (ICAR-IISS) is one of the largest agricultural research and study institutions in the world. For World Soil Day 2019 "Stop soil erosion, save our future", from 1-7 December, they organized the “Soil health awareness week” to raise awareness on soils and the importance of maintaining healthy soils for sustained agricultural production. During this week of celebrations, more than 13 000 people participated in various activities, including youth, farmers, scientists and the general public. Government officials sponsored conferences and technical trainings on soil and soil erosion across the country, giving farmers a soil health card and basic information on how to manage their plots sustainably and use their inputs properly. ICAR-IISS gives special attention to young people by raising awareness on the importance of soils for food security and climate change mitigation. As a result, these young people are more motivated to study soils and pursue soil-oriented professional paths/careers in the future and become Ambassadors for Soils.

Photoalbum | Video on ICAR-IISS | Facebook live cermony | World Soil Day Thailand facebook page

Report/Photo: ©LDD/Thailand