WATCH THE VIDEO

The 2024 King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award has been presented to the Water and Soil Department of the Ministry of AgricultureJahad of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This recognition highlights the Islamic Republic of Iran's outstanding efforts in organizing and implementing impactful World Soil Day (WSD) celebrations in 2023.The 2024 King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award has been presented to the Water and Soil Department of the Ministry of AgricultureJahad of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This recognition highlights the Islamic Republic of Iran's outstanding efforts in organizing and implementing impactful World Soil Day (WSD) celebrations in 2023.

As part of its support to the transformation of agrifood systems, FAO and its Global Soil Partnership (GSP) has released the brochure “Economic Benefits of Sustainable Soil Management”. This document reviews existing literature and data, and highlights the essential role of sustainable soil management (SSM) in strengthening economic resilience, agricultural sustainability, and enhancing food security across Eurasia.

The Global Soil Partnership Secretariat calls its Partners to participate in an ad hoc Working Group to review the Terms of Reference of the Global Soil Partnership and prepare the proposal for the FAO Sub-Committee on Soils

The side event was held at FAO headquarters on 25 October  2024, focusing on the critical role of soil health in enhancing resilient, sustainable food systems. The event highlighted the need for collaboration, policy coherence, and innovative technologies in sustainable soil management, aligning with the goals of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) to strengthen global food security and nutrition through resilient agrifood systems.

Declining productivity of the Pacific:

Agriculture (including fisheries, marine products, forestry and primary forestry products) is the backbone of Pacific Island economies and a significant contributor to livelihoods. Roughly 50 to 70 percent of Pacific people depend on agriculture, fisheries or associated activities for their livelihoods (FAO, 2023). Agriculture production, however, has been steadily declining across the region for decades, affected by production inefficiencies, a general lack of investment from private and public sectors, the loss of productive labour to urban centres, and the emergence of other industries (FAO, 2023). Furthermore, unsustainable forest and land management practices, soil erosion, soil acidity and nutrient leaching have contributed to declining soil fertility. For instance, regions in Fiji used for sugar cane cultivation are grappling with nutrient imbalances and potential risks of soil pollution due to the proximity of mining to agricultural soils and increased use of agricultural inputs from synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, severely impacting productivity.

These challenges are compounded by a lack of reliable, up to date soil baseline data, the lack of training provided to soil laboratory technicians, and the limited capacity to assess soil health accurately. Soil degradation is worsened by climate change, population pressures, and unsustainable farming practices. It requires an integrated response that addresses immediate risks and soil resources’ long term sustainability. Current erosion rates of around 50 tonnes per hectare annually in countries like Fiji and Samoa highlight the urgency of action (FAO and ITPS, 2015).