Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA): Sustainable Land Use: Food Security Starts with the Soil - ADOPTION OF COMMUNIQUÉ
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
28/01/2022
Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA)
"Sustainable Land Use: Food Security Starts with the Soil"
ADOPTION OF COMMUNIQUÉ
Remarks
By
Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
As prepared
28 January 2022
Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. Congratulations on adopting this important Communiqué.
2. Healthy soils are the root of food security and healthy production.
3. Soils are a global reservoir of biodiversity, which provides key ecosystem services that nurture and protect all life on Earth.
4. According to FAO’s recent report - The State of the World’s Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture - soil, land, water and biodiversity are undergoing rapid degradation and unsustainable use due to enormous human induced pressures and the impacts of the climate crisis.
5. Addressing the causes and impacts of soil and land degradation in a holistic, coordinated and integrated manner is crucial for global food security.
6. FAO is fully engaged in promoting sustainable soil management with Members and all partners, including through the Global Soil Partnership.
7. And we must now focus on halting soil degradation by increasing investments to promote good practices and innovation, and for the implementation of effective solutions.
8. The conservation and sustainable management of soils can ensure sustainable agrifood systems and reverse food insecurity and poverty, biodiversity loss, the impacts of the climate crisis, land degradation and pollution.
9. Today’s Communiqué is a reflection of your commitment to healthy soils, including protecting agricultural land through tenure security.
10. With the supports of Members, FAO is committed to take proper actions suggested in the Communiqué.
11. Let’s work together in an effective, efficient and coherent manner to transform our agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable.
12. For better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all, leaving no one behind.
13. Thank you!