Did you know that soils can be salty? Have you ever seen white crusts on soil? Salts are present naturally in soils and water, and they move freely through the soil. Naturally saline soils may support rich ecosystems, but natural processes such as droughts and human activities, especially irrigation, can increase how many salts are in soils, a process that is called salinization. Soil salinization breaks down our soils and reduces their ability to help our food grow. Share your knowledge about soil salinization with other kids and let them know the amazing  ecosystem richness of saline soils and the threat that soil salinization poses to our soils and our lives!

About the contest

In the framework of World Soil Day (WSD) 2021, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) and the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) are calling on children and teens, from ages 5 to 14, living in areas with saline soils or affected by soil salinization and sodification (the increase of sodium in soils), to use their imagination and create a poster that illustrates natural saline ecosystems or how soil salinization affects their daily lives.

The poster drawing contest by kids for kids on salt-affected soils is an opportunity to share realities of the impacts of salinization and sodification on the lives of thousands of people worldwide in terms of food security, nutritional content of food, agricultural productivity and forced migration. The contest also aims to share the richness and ecological value of natural saline soils and their use. The contest will also help raise awareness for other kids/adolescents/youth who live in other parts of the world and might not know about the impact of soil salinization and the existence of natural saline soils.

The objectives of this contest are:

1. Create colorful artworks that tell a story, while giving visibility to the on-site and off-site impacts of salinization and sodification.
2. Raise awareness about the urgent need to fight secondary salinization and sodification processes.
3. Raise awareness of the ecological value of natural saline soils and how they can be managed sustainably.
4. Promote educational activities, engagement and participation of children and schools in soil science.
5. Develop empathy/understanding between children of the world.
6. Reflect on the different types of challenges posed by salt-affected soils regarding food security, human health and the environment.

How to take part

Submit your drawing in a poster format illustrating the cause, impacts, and/or solutions of soil salinization or natural ecosystems hosted by saline soils and their use. The aim is to raise awareness of this soil threat and the need to conserve natural saline soils, with the motto "Halt soil salinization, Boost soil productivity".

All young people who care about nature and soil and want to take part in this challenge are invited to participate, with special regard to those that face the impacts of salt-affected soils where they live or that want to promote the values of natural saline ecosystems. Schools around the world can also compete. The competition is divided into the following categories:  

Category A | age range between 5-10 years old

Category B | age range between 10-14 years old 

Requirements

• Each participant and/or group of participants can only submit one entry.
• The drawings must be an original work of the participant/s.
• Poster entries may be drawn, painted (see the soil painting tutorial in English | Spanish) or sketched using pens, pencils, crayons or charcoal, or using oil, acrylic or watercolour paint, as well as mixed media. Digitally created artworks are also allowed*. 
• Drawing may or may not include text. If text is used, no more than 25 words or 100 characters can be accepted.
• Working on an A4/A3 or A2 sheet is recommended, to make it easier for the scan and upload of the poster design. If the drawing is larger, a digital photo of the work may have to be taken in order to successfully digitalize and upload the photo file.

*Parents and/or teachers can help the youngest participants in understanding the dynamics of salt-affected soils. We encourage them to organize dedicated lessons to help children engage in the contest.

Submission and deadline

Submissions should be sent by 22 November 2021 through any free file transfer service/platform (i.e. Google drive, Share drive, WeTransfer, Dropbox) to [email protected] and include the mandatory Registration form – accessible on Google forms.

For any issues to access the Google form, please download it here and send it to [email protected].

Only digital files will be accepted – please do not send any physical posters.

Download the concept note**

**All participants are encouraged to learn more about World Soil Day and to consult the GSP publications regarding salt-affected soils.

Evaluation and awards

The IUSS and FAO’s GSP Selection Committee will evaluate all poster submissions, and the final decision will be announced by the IUSS President and the FAO’s GSP Secretary on the IUSS and FAO websites. The finalists will be chosen based on creativity and originality, quality of the informational content, technical and scientific proficiency, and artistic/visual impact of the poster. 

• The top 5 drawings in each category (10 drawings in total) will be selected for the shortlist by the screening committee and notified in December 2021. Shortlisted candidates will receive a certificate for this achievement.
• After an online voting phase on Facebook the 2 winning drawing designs (one per each category) will be selected and announced non the FAO WSD and IUSS websites on the 5th December 2021, World Soil Day.
• Winners will be promoted on FAO social media and by FAO offices around the world. Winners will also receive a Certificate of Recognition and a surprise gift bag***. 

***When winning posters are published, only the first initial, full family name (or school/institute) and country of origin will be published. No other personal information about the contestants will be published or shared.

Terms and conditions

• Copyright of materials submitted remains with the respective participants, and copyright owners will be credited accordingly. 
• Minors must have the permission of their parents or legal guardians to participate in the contest.
• By submitting your entry, you consent to the drawing being uploaded on digital platforms, and distributed via social media channels.
• The GSP does not accept responsibility for, or endorse the views of the contestants.

Read the full text