" Soil conservation is important because if we do not produce food , we do not eat "

On 5 December, José Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General met H.E. Johnny Óscar Cordero Núñez, Vice-Minister of Land of the Plurinational State of Bolivia . The Vice-Minister was in Rome to participate in the celebration for the launch of the International Year of Soils 2015 and World Soil Day.

"The State of Bolivia is happy to participate in World Soil Day,"the Vice-Minister said at the event explaining that Bolivia is working on a National Land Act to promote the sustainable management of this precious resource.  "We want to educate all Bolivians and recover millions of hectares of damaged soils. Soil conservation is important because if we do not produce food , we do not eat," Cordero said. "We will achieve these aims in collaboration with FAO."

Cordero also stressed that the year will build on the partneship between FAO and Bolivia strengthened during the International Year of Quinoa in 2013 and the International Year of Family Farming in 2014 .  The Vice-Minister emphasized the importance of cooperation and sharing experiences with other countries referring to Bolivia's close collaboration with Argentina on the issue land regularization and distribution.

Building on past successes

The Deputy Minister referred to the progress made since the International Year of Quinoa in 2013 , referring to it as a "complete success" and expressed his desire to achieve similar results during the International Year of Soils . " Quinoa farmers are much stronger today , exports have improved and we hope to achieve similar results in the field of soil by regaining million of hectares of land to produce more food and thus benefit the entire world," Cordero said.  

He stressed the progress made in 2014 during the celebration of the International Year of Family Farming , recalling the recent participation of President Morales in the Third Dialogue on Nutrition held at FAO in his capacity as chairman of the Group of 77 (G-77) and China, which discussed the role of family farming for the provision of safe and nutritious food extensively .  In this regard, he underlined the importance of linking the progress made during 2013 and 2014 to the International Year of Soils.