In this issue, we look at the launch of the new Global Soil Partnership and examine the next steps. We also look report on FAO’s collaboration with NASA to create an international fire-reporting system, the Global Fire Information Management System, which delivers key data to remote regions of developing countries. Finally, we introduce FAO-MOSAICC, an integrated package of models to carry out climate change impact assessment at the national level.

The concept of a green economy has lately gained currency as the world has been searching for solution to multiple global changes, especially in the midst of the global economic crisis in 2008. The UN Joint Crisis Initiative 4 on the Green Economy, led by UNEP, is currently investigating this concept and a Green Economy Report, covering all sectors’ contributions to the green economy is being prepared. The United Nations General Assembly has selected the “green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty alleviation” as one of the main themes of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) to be held in Rio, Brazil in 2012.

The Kagera Transboundary Agro‐ecosystem management project is a regional project comprising four East African countries ‐ Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda ‐ that share the Kagera river basin. This first newsletter introduces key staff member of the project team and provides an overview of project activities that took place in 2010 and activities planned for 2011.

We are pleased to invite you to participate into a moderated electronic stakeholders' consultation on “Sustainability Assessment of the Food Chain” from 21 February to 25 March 2011. The aim is to seek views and share knowledge on a sustainability framework that includes core sustainability issues and a common set of performance indicators, based on the food chain sector practices. The outcome of this exercise will consist of voluntary international guidelines for food producers and retailers. To participate, just visit our website, log-on and join us in the discussions.