International Soil and Water Forum 2024

With the SDG deadlines looming ever closer, and with decades of mismanagement of the world’s soil and water behind us, the time is now for a dramatic shift in approaches to protect and rejuvenate Mother Nature’s twin children – soil and water.  

The International Soil and Water Forum 2024, co-organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of the Royal Thai Government to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, in December 2024, will mark the world’s first high-level action plan on halting and reversing soil degradation and water scarcity, both critical elements for ensuring food security and a healthier environment for all.

The Forum, 9 – 11 December, will attract Heads of State, Government Ministers and technical specialists from around the world. It aims to pave the way for a sustainable and integrated approach to soil and water management, combining science, innovation, existing best practices and policy, to create a paradigm shift towards sustainable and resilient agrifood systems transformation at a time when the world is facing multiple environmental and socio-economic challenges including the climate crisis.

This Forum will promote discussions leading to action involving Ministerial Dialogues, thematic sessions, side events, and a knowledge and technology fair, showcasing innovations, existing good practices and technological advancements in  soil and water management from around the world.

 

Main objectives of the Forum

• Reinforce commitments to sustainable and integrated land, soil and water management as a foundation for agrifood systems transformation.
• Champion successful technological, institutional, governance and social innovations in managing water scarcity and land and soil degradation.
• Deliberate on the challenges and opportunities to advance integrated and sustainable soil and water management in the face of climate change.
• Identify technical and knowledge gaps, management challenges, and applied research priorities and promote partnerships and collaboration.
• Agree on a joint agenda for action.

 

Target audience

The Forum targets researchers, policymakers, representatives of international organizations, civil society, development practitioners and the private sector.  The Forum aims to attract and involve youth and it expects Ministers along with top academics and opinion leaders from around the world.

 

Main themes

The forum will be organized along four themes: 

• Theme 1: Managing water scarcity.
• Theme 2: Reversing land degradation, boosting land restoration.
• Theme 3: Sustainable soil management.
• Theme 4: Integrated climate resilient land, soil and water management.

Find more information on the themes and topics in the dedicated page.

Provisional Agenda

Day 1 (MONDAY 9 DECEMBER 2024) (LOCAL TIME)

08.00 - 09.00	Registration
09.00 - 11.00	Inauguration - High-Level opening remarks and keynote speeches
11.00 - 11.30	Coffee break Opening of Knowledge and technology fair Poster presentations
11.30 - 13.00	Ministerial Roundtable
11.30 - 13.00	Thematic sessions Special partners events
13.00 – 14.00	Lunch break
14.00 – 15.00	Side events
15.00 – 16.30	Thematic sessions Special partners events
16.30 - 17.00	Coffee break
17.00 - 18.00	Ministerial and Stakeholder Dialogue
18.00 - 20.00	Welcome reception

DAY 2 (TUESDAY 10 DECEMBER 2024) (LOCAL TIME)

09.00 - 10.30	Plenary 1: Managing Water Scarcity
10.30 - 11.00	Coffee break
11.00 - 12.30	Thematic sessions Special partners events
12.30 - 13.30	Lunch break
13.30 - 14.30	Side events
14.30 - 16.00	Ministerial and Stakeholder Dialogue
16.00 - 16.30	Coffee break
16.30 - 18.00	Thematic sessions Special partners events
18.00	End of Day 2

Day 3 (WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2024) (LOCAL TIME)

09.00 - 10.30	Plenary 2 - Reversing Land and Soil Degradation, Restoring the Ecosystems
10.30 - 11.00	Coffee break
11.00 - 12.30	Thematic sessions Special partners events
12.30 – 13.30	Lunch break
13.30 – 14.30	Side events
14.30 – 16.00	Plenary 3 - Climate Resilient Integrated Land, Soil and Water Management
16.00 - 16.30	Launch of the GSP International Soil and Water Conservation Network
16.00 - 16.30	Closing ceremony
16.30 - 17.30	Afternoon tea - Farewell