The General Assembly of the United Nations in December 2013 designated 5 December as World Soil Day (WSD) and declared 2015 as the International Year of Soils (IYS). Both WSD and the IYS are essential platforms to raise awareness at the international, regional and national levels about the fundamental role of soils for human life.

This event, at FAO headquarters, is intended to celebrate the first official World Soil Day and Launch of International Year of Soils 2015, with similar events organized in New York, Bangkok and Santiago.