24 November 2023, 13:00 – 14:30 CET | REGISTER HERE

Black soils have been prized for their rich organic matter content and the great natural fertility that results from this stored organic material. The inherent natural high fertility of black soils has led to the use of approximately one third of natural ecosystems (grasslands and forests) for crop production. However, this rich treasure is under threat. Most black soils have already lost at least half of their soil organic carbon stocks and suffer from moderate to severe erosion, nutrient imbalances, acidification, compaction and soil biodiversity loss because of land use change (from natural grasslands to cropping systems), unsustainable use and excessive use of agrochemicals. This loss is further exacerbated by climate change.

FAO through its Global Soil Partnership is committed to the conservation and sustainable management of black soils. In this regard, it established the International Network of Black Soils in March 2017, and recently published the Global Black Soils Distribution Map and the Global Status of Black Soils report, which provide for the first time a global overview of the status of the world’s black soils. They highlight the benefits, challenges and opportunities of black soils, with recommended actions to support a sustainable future for black soils. Please find detailed information of INBS on the website here: https://www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership/inbs/en/ .

Simultaneous interpretation will be available in العربية | 中文 | English | Français  | Русский  | Español 

The International Network of Salt-Affected Soils of the Global Soil Partnership is pleased to invite you to the webinar “Health of salt-affected soil”, an engaging online event bringing together experts, researchers, and practitioners from around the world to share their knowledge and experience, discuss this important issue and promote the adoption of a framework of specific indicators to describe the health status, pressures and the effectivity of remediation and restoration management practices of salt-affected soils.

21 November 2023, 16:00 – 17:30 CET | RECORDING

In a significant stride towards sustainable soil fertility management and enhancing farmer resilience, the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has started the implementation of the Global Soil Doctors Programme. This initiative is designed to build the capacity of farmers on sustainable soil management while supporting national governments and stakeholders in addressing the needs of their rural communities. The inception of the Global Soil Doctors Program in Laos, which started in September 2023, is the product of a collaborative effort between many stakeholders. The Department of Agricultural Land Management (DALaM), Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office (PAFO), District Agriculture and Forestry Office (DAFO), FAO Laos, and FAO's Global Soil Partnership have all joined hands and efforts in this endeavour

On 20 October 2023, the Food Agriculture of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Honduras convened in Rome to sign the project implementation agreement titled “Soil mapping for resilient agri-food systems in Central America and sub-Saharan Africa (SoilFER)”. This signing ceremony represents a significant stride towards improving agricultural practices and enhancing resilience in the country.