24 November 2023, 13:00 – 14:30 CET | REGISTER HERE

Black soils have been prized for their rich organic matter content and the great natural fertility that results from this stored organic material. The inherent natural high fertility of black soils has led to the use of approximately one third of natural ecosystems (grasslands and forests) for crop production. However, this rich treasure is under threat. Most black soils have already lost at least half of their soil organic carbon stocks and suffer from moderate to severe erosion, nutrient imbalances, acidification, compaction and soil biodiversity loss because of land use change (from natural grasslands to cropping systems), unsustainable use and excessive use of agrochemicals. This loss is further exacerbated by climate change.

FAO through its Global Soil Partnership is committed to the conservation and sustainable management of black soils. In this regard, it established the International Network of Black Soils in March 2017, and recently published the Global Black Soils Distribution Map and the Global Status of Black Soils report, which provide for the first time a global overview of the status of the world’s black soils. They highlight the benefits, challenges and opportunities of black soils, with recommended actions to support a sustainable future for black soils. Please find detailed information of INBS on the website here: https://www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership/inbs/en/ .