Soils4Nutrition project phase 1
Sustainable soil management for nutrition-sensitive agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia
FAO’s GSP has supported FAO members in applying SSM practices to improve the nutritional quality of locally produced foods and to address micronutrient deficiencies in vulnerable regions such as sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.
Phase 1 of this project was carried out between 2020 and 2023 in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso and Malawi, aiming to address these issues, which had been identified by governments as a priority challenge, particularly in rural communities. Phase 1 primarily sought to improve nutrition through the soil, crop and human continuum, particularly in locally produced and consumed foods.
Three main components structured phase 1:
- revise existing documentation on SSM for nutrition-sensitive agriculture and identify knowledge gaps;
- develop national capacities by strengthening technical and local extension services to implement SSM practices;
- strengthen the policy environment for investment and technical cooperation in terms of promoting SSM that integrates nutrition-sensitive agriculture and micronutrient management, supported by related guidelines developed under the Global and Regional Soil Partnerships.
Field trials were established in each of the three countries to demonstrate SSM technologies aimed at increasing micronutrient availability in soils and crops, as well as targeting capacity development and training for farmers, national research and extension personnel. Health and nutrition specialists presented patterns in food consumption among farming households alongside the results from these field trials to infer potential nutrition and health outcomes for local communities.
Results
Phase 1 of the project concretely supported the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines on Sustainable Soil Management and The international Code of Conduct for the sustainable use and management of fertilizers to address the issue of soil nutrient imbalances and other threats to soils, agriculture and food security and nutrition. Phase 1 of the project achieved the following key results:
- TheTechnical guidelines on soils for nutrition – Sustainable soil management for nutrition-sensitive agriculture was published, explaining how soil health and SSM contribute to improved nutritional quality of food and providing concrete technical recommendations.
- Country-specific fact sheets were developed, summarizing malnutrition trends, micronutrient deficiencies, soil types and degradation status, staple crops, SSM practices and results from field trials, expert consultations and national workshops.
- Priority SSM practices for nutrition-sensitive agriculture based on the VGSSM were identified, validated and promoted: crop diversification (intercropping and rotation), the application of soil organic matter, agricultural biofortification using micronutrient fertilizers, integrated soil fertility management, and soil pH regulation through amendments and biofortified varieties.
- The Global Soil Doctors Programme was implemented, training 32 trainers and 764 farmers across the three countries, including 28 farmers certified as “soil doctors” to disseminate knowledge on soil health and SSM for nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
- The Global Symposium (GSOIL4N) was organized, which gathered over 9 500 registered participants from 180 countries, significantly raising global awareness of the soil–nutrition nexus;
- Field trials were established in Bangladesh (testing rice-based systems), Burkina Faso (assessing SSM impacts on soils, crops and edible plant parts) and Malawi (testing macro- and micronutrient fertilizer application at different stages of maize development).
Pilot countries
The project took place at three pilot sites in Bangladesh: Baliadangi (northwest), Chandina (east) and Chuadanga (west) in collaboration with national partners, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC) and the Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI).
To address the problem of micronutrient deficiency, which particularly affects vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women, a variety of Aman-transplanted rice, fortified with zinc and iron, was selected a planting material in Bangladesh to enrich the micronutrient status of these communities’ staple diet. A number of vegetables (cauliflower and potato) and pulses (mung bean) were planted in rotation with the fortified rice variety. Additionally, field demonstrations by selected farmers were carried out at each site to demonstrate SSM practices and the sustainable use and management of fertilizers to achieve better nutrient content in soil, food and people.
Throughout the initiative, soil samples and field data were taken and analysed to assess the progress of the project, compare the different practices and thus identify their impact on increasing micronutrient levels in the soil and crops.
More than 200 farmers took part in the initiative and were interviewed to establish the baseline scenario and obtain further data.
The final results, particularly focusing on changes in the micronutrient content of crops and food consumption patterns among farmers and the local community, were used to provide practical recommendations for effectively addressing micronutrient deficiencies.
Field trials established in collaboration with the national soil institute BUNASOLS at Léo and Dapélogo focused on sorghum and cowpea, two staple crops that play a central role in local diets and household food security. These trials demonstrated the effects of SSM practices, such as the use of organic amendments, improved fertiliser management, crop rotation and residue management on soil fertility, crop yields and nutrient availability. Sorghum (a major cereal staple), and cowpea (a key legume rich in protein and micronutrients), were selected to illustrate the combined benefits of soil health improvement and dietary diversification.
In parallel with the field trials, capacity-building activities were a core component of the initiative through the implementation of the Global Soil Doctors Programme. Training was conducted in Koubri, Manga and Ziniaré, targeting extension agents and lead farmers. A total of 20 trainers and 45 farmers were trained as “soil doctors”, strengthening local capacity to diagnose soil constraints, promote SSM practices and provide technical support to farming communities. This farmer-to-farmer and trainer-led approach aimed to ensure long-term knowledge transfer and local ownership.
Based on the results of the programme, the initiative formulated practical recommendations for scaling up SSM in Burkina Faso, including strengthening extension services, embedding soil health in national strategies for agriculture and nutrition, supporting diversified cropping systems and promoting climate-resilient practices.
Overall, the Burkina Faso experience highlights SSM as a cornerstone of nutrition-sensitive agriculture, contributing to improved soil health, diversified production systems and better nutrition outcomes for vulnerable rural populations.
As part of the Soils4Nutrition project, FAO’s GSP is advancing SSM as a critical entry point for improving food security and nutrition in Malawi, where soil nutrient deficiencies, low soil fertility and persistent malnutrition remain major development challenges. Malawi’s smallholder agriculture is dominated by maize and other staple crops produced on soils often low in macro- and micronutrients: a constraint that undermines both crop productivity and the nutritional quality of foods consumed in rural communities.
In Malawi, field trials were established in collaboration with the University of Lilongwe, to evaluate SSM practices on key crops including maize, soybean and amaranth, selected for their role in local diets as well as their potential to contribute to dietary diversity and nutrition when grown under improved soil management regimes. The trials tested sustainable practices such as crop associations (intercropping/rotation), the application of organic amendments, balanced mineral fertilization (including micronutrient inputs), and enhanced residue management to improve soil health, crop yields and micronutrient uptake in edible parts of the crops. These trials are part of a broader effort to demonstrate how soil health improvements translate into better crop nutritional quality and help support nutrition-sensitive agricultural outcomes.
Capacity-building has been a key component of the Malawi initiative, focusing on strengthening national extension services and local expertise to implement and scale SSM practices. Through the implementation of the Global Soil Doctors Programme, a training programme was delivered to 2 trained facilitators and 240 farmers, equipping them with the knowledge to diagnose soil constraints, adopt SSM techniques, and support their farming communities in improving soil health and crop nutritional outcomes. This approach leverages farmer-to-farmer knowledge sharing and local ownership to enhance long-term adoption and impact.
Drawing from the field trial results and training activities, the initiative has formulated practical recommendations for scaling up SSM in Malawi. These include strengthening extension systems, integrating soil health and nutrition considerations into national agricultural policies, promoting diversified cropping systems with legumes and nutrient-rich crops, and reinforcing climate-resilient farming practices that can improve both soil fertility and dietary diversity at household level.
Overall, the Malawi experience demonstrates the value of SSM as a cornerstone of nutrition-sensitive agriculture, contributing to improved soil health, enhanced crop quality and better nutritional prospects for vulnerable rural communities in a context of persistent soil nutrient challenges.
Publications
Sustainable soil management as a keystone of nutrition-sensitive agriculture in Burkina Faso
2023
This country factsheet highlights the importance of the relationship between soil management with nutrition aspects in Burkina Faso..
Sustainable soil management as a keystone of nutrition sensitive agriculture in Bangladesh. Country factsheet
2023
This country factsheet highlights the importance of the relationship between soil management with nutrition aspects in Bangladesh..
Sustainable soil management as keystone of nutrition sensitive agriculture in Malawi. Country factsheet
2023
This country factsheet highlights the importance of the relationship between soil management with nutrition aspects in Malawi..
Technical guidelines on soils for nutrition: Sustainable soil management for nutrition-sensitive agriculture
2023
These technical guidelines outline the role that soil health plays in the nutritional quality of food and provide soil management recommendations to increase the supply of micronutrients to the food chain..
Contact
Photos
Soils4Nutrition - Malawi
31/08/2020
FAO’s Global Soil Partnership promotes sustainable soil management to improve the nutritional quality of food to address micronutrient deficiencies...
Sustainable soil management for nutrition-sensitive agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia
09/06/2022
Burkina Faso, field mission
Soils4Nutrition - Burkina Faso
31/08/2020
FAO’s Global Soil Partnership promotes sustainable soil management to improve the nutritional quality of food to address micronutrient deficiencies...
Sustainable soil management for nutrition-sensitive agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia
09/02/2021
3 pilot sites in Bangladesh: Chuadanga Sadar (Chuadanga); Chandina(Cumilla); Baliadangi (Thakurgaon).
Soils4Nutrition - Bangladesh
19/05/2022
FAO’s Global Soil Partnership promotes sustainable soil management to improve the nutritional quality of food to address micronutrient deficiencies...
Videos
“Soil management is sustainable if the supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural services provided by soil are maintained or enhanced without significantly impairing either the soil functions that enable those services or biodiversity. The balance between the supporting and provisioning services for plant production and the regulating services the soil provides for water quality and availability and for atmospheric greenhouse gas composition is a particular concern”.
Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management (FAO, 2017, p. 3)