FAO celebrates World Soil Day
2 December 2018, Cairo, Egypt – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is set to celebrate World Soil Day in collaboration with the International Union of Soil Sciences and the Egyptian Soil Science Society on 4-5 December under the auspices of the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation
World Soil Day aims at focusing attention on the importance of healthy soils and advocating for the sustainable management of soil resources.
This year, the international day’s theme is “Be the Solution to Soil Pollution”, aiming to raise awareness and call people to #StopSoilPollution. Stopping soil pollution ensures that people have safe and nutritious food to ensure active and healthy lives without endangering essential ecosystem services.
FAO’s celebration comes within the 13th International Conference of Egyptian Soil Science Society (ESSS), which focuses on the management of water and soil resources within the context of global climate changes.
“Climate change has become a reality for all of us and its impact on agricultural production cannot be ignored,” said Hussein Gadain, FAO Representative in Egypt.
“Soil pollution contributes significantly to soil degradation, which decreases crop yields and in turn reduces the opportunities for food security and threatens food safety,” he added.
Gadain stressed that the treatment of soils is no longer optional but has become a necessity of life on this planet.
The World Soil Day celebration will gather stakeholders of land, water and agriculture to discuss achievements and future steps needed to ensure healthy soils and land.