FAO and the Global Soil Partnership has just launched a photo and video contest on Soil Biodiversity

The technical seminar “RECSOIL: Recarbonization of Global Soils” was hosted online through the zoom platform on the 7 April 2020. Mr Eduardo Mansur, Director of the Land and Water Division (CBL), welcomed the 110 participants who joined from FAO HQ and regional offices.

TOWARDS A GLOBAL MAP OF SOIL SALINITY

Salt-affected soils (SAS) are a group of soils with high content of neutral salt and/or sodium ions. The salts hold water and nutrient in soil at high tension, which make these vital components practically unavailable for plants at the rootzone. Consequently, they limit plant growth and development of many salt intolerant crops. SAS are not desirable in agriculturally productive areas. Development of SAS in these areas causes a significant decline in crop productivity, water quality and soil biodiversity. The ripple effect of these impacts threatens the global food security and hinder the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A big thank you to all World Soil Day participants and event organizers! Your invaluable help was unique to promote worldwide awareness and action for healthy soils contributing to the #StopSoilErosion goal for a food secure future. 

The National Soil Partnership (NSP) for Cuba was established on 5 December 2019, within the Department of Soils and Fertilizers of the Ministry of Agriculture, that acts as its secretariat. Among its partners, it is worth mentioning the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment; Environment Directorate; the Ministry of Higher Education; the Environment Agency; the University of Havana, the Agrarian University of Havana and finally the 11 research centers corresponding to MINAG.

Photo (©Mirelys Rodriguez): Members of the Cuban Council of State (Ulises Rosales del Toro), the Head of the FAO representation in Cuba (Mr. Marcelo Resende de Souza), National GSP Focal Point (Dagoberto Rodríguez Lozano) and the Director of land control in the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture (Eddy Soca Baldaquín).