FAO Launches National Soil Doctor Training Programme in Belize

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with Belize’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE), has officially launched the Soil Doctor Training Programme in Belize. This initiative, delivered under FAO’s Global Soil Partnership, is designed to build national capacity for sustainable soil management and farmer-to-farmer extension systems.

A five-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop is currently underway at the Ministry’s headquarters in Central Farm, bringing together MAFSE agricultural extension officers and soil conservation stakeholders. Led by FAO Soil Specialist Juan Carlos Rey Brina, the workshop provides practical training on soil diagnostics, conservation techniques and climate-smart agricultural practices.

Participants of the training will become certified “Soil Doctor” trainers and become part of a national network of community-level champions who will support farmers across Belize. These local leaders will promote improved soil health practices, empowering farmers with knowledge and tools to sustainably manage their lands and enhance food production.

The initiative contributes to national efforts to address soil degradation, increase agricultural productivity, and strengthen climate resilience. By equipping field-level actors with science-based techniques and participatory methods, the programme is also aligned with FAO’s commitment to “Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life.”

Belize joins a growing number of countries implementing the Soil Doctor model, recognizing soil as a critical component of environmental health, food security and rural livelihoods.