Rejoignez le groupe d'experts pour le chat Farming First # IYS2015 Twitter le Vendredi 5 Décembre à 10h EST / 15:00 GMT / 16:00 Rome

With the launch of the International Year of Soils just around the corner on 5 December, Farming First has organized a Twitter chat to stimulate questions and answers about the importance of soils for food security, improved rural livelihoods and a healthy environment.
Land degradation currently affects nearly one-third of the earth’s land area threatening the capacity to meet the needs of future generations. Reduced soil fertility, lower crop yields, reduced soil carbon sequestration, deforestation, desertification and rural migration are just some of the negative effects which impact on family and smallholder farmers.

If healthy soils are the foundations of agricultural development and healthy food production, soil preservation is essential for food security and our sustainable future.

How can we seize the opportunity this global event presents to sustain our soils?

GET INVOLVED
Get involved by tweeting @farmingfirst with your questions, using the hashtag #AskFF and #IYS2015.

EXPERT PANEL
A panel of experts including Amit Roy, President, International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC); Richard Mkandawire, Vice President, Africa Fertilizer Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP); Machteld Schoolenberg, YPARD Representative, Netherlands will be answering your questions about soils.

Mr. Ronald Vargas, Technical Officer and expert in soils for FAO' s Land and Water Division (NRL) will also be providing his expertise on soils and taking questions related to the International Year of Soils 2015.