ULAANBAATAR/ROME – Soil degradation is continuing to worsen in many parts of the world, while proven practices to protect and restore soils are still not being adopted at the pace and scale required, according to a major new global assessment launched today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

In Mozambique, women scientists are turning soil data into action. Through SoilFER, new soil surveys, laboratory capacity, digital soil information systems and decision-support tools are strengthening the link between science and the field - supporting better decisions for healthier soils and more resilient agrifood systems.

From soil data to smarter farming. FAO's new CropSuit app combines soil, climate and landscape information to help identify the best crops for every location, supporting higher productivity, better fertilizer use and greater resilience.

What if the biggest factor determining a successful harvest lies beneath our feet? Discover how the new SoilFER CropSuit App transforms soil data into soil intelligence, helping farmers, advisers and policymakers identify the most suitable crops for local conditions and make smarter agricultural decisions.

At the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science in Nanjing, China, FAO joined the global soil community to showcase how science can inform policies, investments and solutions for sustainable agrifood systems. Through technical sessions, strategic partnerships such as the Global Soil Partnership and the SoilFER programme, FAO highlighted the vital role of healthy soils in achieving a shared future for humanity.

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 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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.