Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA): Sustainable Land Use: Food Security Starts with the Soil - Break-out Session 1: Soil Health
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”
Break-out Session 1: Soil Health
Remarks
By
Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
As prepared
28 January 2022
Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. I wish to congratulate the Government of Germany for organizing this 14th Session of the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture.
2. Soil is the foundation of agriculture, and the world’s farmers depend on soil to produce 95% of the food we eat.
3. Yet, our soils are at risk.
4. 33% of our soils are already degraded.
5. By 2050, soil erosion could lead to a 10% loss in crop production, and remove 75 billion tonnes of soils.
6. Soils are one of the main global reservoirs of biodiversity, and soil organisms play a crucial role in sustaining life on our planet.
7. Soil pollution affects the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe.
8. And has negative impacts on agrifood systems, and on the planet.
9. Healthy soils store large amounts of water, yet soil salinization is a major threat to global soil health.
10. We must find innovative ways to make our agrifood systems more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable.
11. Our growing population requires more food that is nutritious and safe, free of contaminants and pathogens.
12. Healthy soils could offset as much as 34% of greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural land,
13. And improve mitigation and adaptation to the impacts of the climate crisis.
14. Reliable soil data is critical for informed decision-making on effective soil management.
15. For this reason, soil laboratories are crucial.
16. Over 55% of surveyed countries lack adequate analytical capacities.
17. Continued investment in soil laboratories is therefore fundamental.
Dear Colleagues,
18. Our actions to maintain and restore soil health will directly affect our achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
19. Countries must make stronger commitments towards sustainable soil management.
20. The outcomes and collective commitments of this Global Forum will accelerate action.
21. FAO, including through the Global Soil partnership, is committed to healthy soils and to supporting sustainable soil management at all levels.
22. For better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all, leaving no one behind.
23. Thank you.