UNB, Dhaka :
Urgent action is required to improve the health of the world’s limited soil resources and stop land degradation, so as to ensure that future generations have enough supplies of food, water, energy and raw materials, FAO says.
The Global Soil Partnership has endorsed a series of action plans at the FAO plenary assembly in Rome on Thursday to safeguard soil resources which provide the basis for global agricultural production, according to a message received here on Friday.
Recommendations include the implementation of strong regulations and corresponding investments by governments for the sustainable management of soils in ways that contribute to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and poverty.
“Soil is the basis for food, feed, fuel and fibre production,” said Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General. “Without soils we cannot sustain life on earth and where soil is lost it cannot be renewed on a human timeline. The current escalating rate of soil degradation threatens the capacity of future generations to meet their needs.
“That’s why the adoption of Global Plans of Action to sustainably use and protect soils is a major achievement. But we cannot stop here. We need commitments from countries and civil society to put the plan into reality. This requires political will and investments to save the precious soil resources our food production systems depend on,” Semedo said.
The area of productive soils in the world is limited and faces increasing pressure from competing uses such as cropping, forestry and pastures/rangeland, urbanization, as well as energy production and mineral extraction, experts at the three-day meeting warned.
Soils represent at least a quarter of global biodiversity, and play a key role in the supply of clean water and resilience to floods and drought. Crucially, plant and animal life depend on primary nutrient recycling through soil processes.
While some parts of Africa and South America offer scope for expansion in agriculture, according to FAO, global population which is expected to exceed 9 billion by 2050 – resulting in a 60 percent increase in the demand for food, feed and fibre – will put an even greater strain on land resources.
Some 33 percent of soil is moderately to highly degraded due to erosion, nutrient depletion, acidification, salinization, compaction and chemical pollution.
The resulting damage to soil affects livelihoods, ecosystem services, food security and human well-being.
Soils are also both affected by, and may contribute to climate change. For example, sustainable management of soil resources can impact positively on climate change through carbon sequestration and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and also by mitigating desertification processes.
Urgent action is required to improve the health of the world’s limited soil resources and stop land degradation, so as to ensure that future generations have enough supplies of food, water, energy and raw materials, FAO says.
The Global Soil Partnership has endorsed a series of action plans at the FAO plenary assembly in Rome on Thursday to safeguard soil resources which provide the basis for global agricultural production, according to a message received here on Friday.
Recommendations include the implementation of strong regulations and corresponding investments by governments for the sustainable management of soils in ways that contribute to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and poverty.
“Soil is the basis for food, feed, fuel and fibre production,” said Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General. “Without soils we cannot sustain life on earth and where soil is lost it cannot be renewed on a human timeline. The current escalating rate of soil degradation threatens the capacity of future generations to meet their needs.
“That’s why the adoption of Global Plans of Action to sustainably use and protect soils is a major achievement. But we cannot stop here. We need commitments from countries and civil society to put the plan into reality. This requires political will and investments to save the precious soil resources our food production systems depend on,” Semedo said.
The area of productive soils in the world is limited and faces increasing pressure from competing uses such as cropping, forestry and pastures/rangeland, urbanization, as well as energy production and mineral extraction, experts at the three-day meeting warned.
Soils represent at least a quarter of global biodiversity, and play a key role in the supply of clean water and resilience to floods and drought. Crucially, plant and animal life depend on primary nutrient recycling through soil processes.
While some parts of Africa and South America offer scope for expansion in agriculture, according to FAO, global population which is expected to exceed 9 billion by 2050 – resulting in a 60 percent increase in the demand for food, feed and fibre – will put an even greater strain on land resources.
Some 33 percent of soil is moderately to highly degraded due to erosion, nutrient depletion, acidification, salinization, compaction and chemical pollution.
The resulting damage to soil affects livelihoods, ecosystem services, food security and human well-being.
Soils are also both affected by, and may contribute to climate change. For example, sustainable management of soil resources can impact positively on climate change through carbon sequestration and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and also by mitigating desertification processes.
