Innovations in Soil and Plant Nutrient Management | 20 October 2022 | 09:00 - 17:00 CEST
Join a one-day event built on the discussions and outcomes of the GLOBAL SYMPOSIUM ON SOILS FOR NUTRITION
The soil fertility status is the fundamental building block on which all agricultural production systems are built. A healthy soil - capable of providing balanced nutrients to plants - is the basis for improving productivity. But soil fertility status is declining. On 20 October from 09:00 to 17:00 CEST, FAO and its Global Soil Partnership are pleased to invite you to a one-day event that will focus on the innovations in soil and plant nutrient management contributing to optimizing resource use, improving the nutritional value of food and maximizing crop productivity while minimizing negative impacts on the natural resources.
The one-day event will open with a high-level ministerial session and be followed by three technical sessions:
- SESSION 1: Setting the scene on the status and challenges of soil and plant nutrient management
- SESSION 2: Innovation on Fertilizers
- SESSION 3: Innovative solutions to address nutrient imbalances.
Each of the technical sessions will feature keynote presentations focused on the session’s theme and will be followed by a panel discussion with Questions and Answers.
LOGISTICS
In-presence registration is now closed but you can freely participate in the event by remote connection. Simply register here, mark your agenda and join us at 9.00 a.m. CEST for a full and productive event. You will appreciate knowing that this registration allows you to attend one of the plenary sessions or side events of the FAO Science and Innovation Forum 2022. The Forum will focus on highlighting the centrality of science, technology and innovation for agrifood systems transformation. The event will encourage a diversity of perspectives based on science, thereby facilitating rationalization and inclusiveness of debate.
BACKGROUND
With a global population that is projected to increase to 9.7 billion by 2050, compounded by competition for land and water resources and the impact of climate change, our current and future food security depends on our ability to increase yields and food quality by improving soil fertility and plant nutrient uptake.
Each year, an estimated 24 billion tonnes of fertile soil are lost due to erosion. In addition, the most fertile soils worldwide have been degraded over decades of intensive production due to unsustainable practices that have led to nutrient mining and rapid mineralization of soil organic carbon. Along with other soil degradation processes, the Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management (FAO, 2017) identified nutrient imbalance as a significant obstacle on the road to food security as it directly affects food production, quality and nutritional value, and safety.
In addition, the mounting global fertilizer misallocation and their price increase recently are threatening food security. Vulnerable countries especially in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, grapple with fertilizer prices that have soared by 300 percent now and where smallholder farmers lack access to inorganic and organic fertilizers. Growing uncertainties and high fertilizer prices already impact food production prospects and farmers’ livelihoods in many countries.
The answer to the crisis is not simply to ease the production of more fertilizers, but additional efforts are needed to consolidate and promote alternative fertilizer sources including manures and bio-fertilizers, and the pursuit of new sources and technologies for cheaper, cleaner, and more effective soil nutrition. A holistic and integrated approach to soil and plant nutrient management is needed to ensure sustainable use and management of soil and water resources and improve plant nutrient use and nutrient use efficiency.
The Global Symposium on Soils for Nutrition (GSOIL4N) held a few months back summarized the latest research findings and discussions about integrated plant and soil fertility management. This special event will build on the outcomes of the Global Symposium and discuss viable technical solutions that will address national priorities and concerns identified during the ministerial segment at the beginning of the day.
More on the Global Symposium on Soils for Nutrition (GSOIL4N)
Over 4 busy days in July 2022, 5 000 participants from 180 countries gathered at the Global Symposium on Soils for Nutrition to discuss the science and policy together to review the status and challenges of soil fertility in relation with crop, animal and human nutrition. Twenty-eight renowned speakers addressed how policy and scientific evidence can be translated into concrete actions to reduce soil fertility loss towards nutrition and food security and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. All this was achieved through 8 hours of plenary sessions and 20 hours of presentations/interactive discussions held in five parallel sessions. Finally, articles in the international press reached 20 million people around the world.