A three-week training on advanced soil monitoring using Mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIR spectroscopy) has been launched at the FAO/IAEA Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Laboratory of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear techniques in Food and Agriculture, in Seibersdorf, Austria.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is not a temporary shipping disruption but the beginning of a systemic agrifood shock that could trigger a severe global food price crisis within six to 12 months. Avoiding such an outcome will require alternative trade routes, restraint on export restrictions, protection of humanitarian flows, and buffers to absorb higher transport costs, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has warned.

This technology enables rapid, cost-effective and high-throughput analysis of soil properties, providing access to accurate, timely and affordable soil data for efficient and sustainable fertilizer use and land management practices.

GSP partners’ session at the 14th GSP Plenary Assembly 

FAO and Japan support strengthening laboratory analytical capacities for sustainable soil management

The Government of the Republic of Zambia, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and with support from the Government of the United States of America, has officially launched the Zambia Soil Partnership (ZSP) and the Global Soil Doctors Programme (GSDP) to strengthen national coordination on sustainable soil management and support more productive, resilient and market-oriented agrifood systems in the country.

The event brought together soil scientists, laboratory technicians, universities, government institutions and representatives of national laboratories to discuss collaboration and the next steps for operationalizing the network. 

The national soil sampling campaigns under the SoilFER-VACS Framework – Enhancing Integrated Soil-Crop Management for Sustainable Food Systems in Africa have now been completed in Mozambique and Tunisia, marking the conclusion of a key operational phase of the project.

Building on the commitments of the first ICARRD held in Brazil in 2006, ICARRD+20 marks 20 years of advancing land reform as a cornerstone for reducing hunger, tackling rural poverty, and promoting peace.

Through its work, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports the restoration of degraded agricultural lands, strengthens tenure security, and promotes resilient livelihoods. At ICARRD+20, FAO will discuss how equitable land and water governance can drive rural development, enhance sustainability in all its dimensions - environmental, social and economic - and empower local communities, particularly smallholders, women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministries in charge of Agriculture across Central America, Africa, is implementing the SoilFER Programme “Soil Mapping for Resilient Agrifood Systems”. Launched in 2023 in Guatemala, Honduras, Zambia, SoilFER has quickly expanded to include Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique and Tunisia in 2024, reflecting global demand for reliable soil data and sustainable soil management for sustainable food production and livelihoods.

The Government of Mozambique, with technical support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and financial support of Government of Japan, has launched the Soil Mapping for Resilient Agrifood Systems – Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (SoilFER-VACS) project aimed at enhancing soil fertility and sustainable crop management across Mozambique.

FAO, in partnership with the Japanese Embassy and the Ministry for Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries in Tunisia, launched the SoilFER project to enhance soil data and information in Tunisia.  With $6 million supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, the project is being implemented in Tunisia and Mozambique to promote sustainable and resilient agrifood systems.

FAO technical experts carried out a mission to Maputo, Mozambique, to advance the implementation of SoilFER project, a key initiative for improving soil fertility and agricultural productivity. This project financed by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underscores Japan and FAO commitment to supporting sustainable agricultural development in Mozambique. The mission's objectives included assessing Mozambique’s soil data management, laboratories, and fertilizer regulation frameworks while identifying key institutional needs and investment priorities.

A meeting brought together several stakeholders, key actors from Japan, the United States of America, and international institutions at FAO from 20 to 23 January 2025 to define future plans for the SoilFER project implementation. This ambitious initiative stands out as a unique framework aimed at unearthing valuable information from soils to guide policymaking and fertilizer recommendations both at national and field scale in Central America and sub-Saharan Africa. The meeting provided a forum for assessing progress, setting new priorities and strengthening collaboration across countries and regions.

Members of the Zambia Soil Laboratory Network (ZASOLAN) attended a 5-day training workshop designed to enhance the analytical capacities and proficiency in soil analysis techniques of soil testing laboratories across Zambia. Representatives from 12 soil testing laboratories participated in the event, held from the 6th to the 10th of May in Kabwe district, central province.  The workshop provided a platform for the ZASOLAN laboratories to interact with each other while building their capacity in soil analysis and promoting harmonization processes of soil analysis at the national level.

A five-day mission in Honduras was carried out as part of a comprehensive initiative focused on improving soil analysis capabilities and implementing soil sampling strategies and fieldwork campaigns. The project involved the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and the Dirección de Ciencia y Tecnología Agropecuaria - Secretaría de Agricultura y Ganadería (DICTA-SAG). Its primary objective ws standardize methodologies for soil sampling, ensuring the generation of reliable data crucial for agricultural and environmental applications. This mission was a component of the SoilFER project (Soil mapping for resilient agrifood systems), a unique framework designed to unlock valuable insights on soils to inform policymaking and fertilizer recommendations, both at the national and field scale.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA), with the technical support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and funding from the United States Government, announced the project: "Mapping for Resilient Agrifood Systems in Central America and Sub-Saharan Africa (SoilFER)".

Zambia has taken a significant step forward in soil management with the inauguration of the Zambia Soil Laboratory Network (ZASOLAN). This initiative, a collaboration between the Zambian government, FAO and its Global Soil Partnership, as well as the Soil mapping for resilient agri-food systems in Central America and sub-Saharan Africa (SoilFER), aims to provide an interactive platform for soil laboratories. Its purpose is to facilitate the sharing of best practices in capacity building and transfer of knowledge among participating laboratories, drawing from the experiences of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN).

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed the announcement of an additional $10 million from the United States Department of State for projects mapping soil fertility in Ghana and Kenya to promote climate-smart agriculture and adaptation measures, resilient...