International Cooperation > Global Soil Partnership
Introduction
On the basis of the recommendation of FAO's High-Level External Committee (HLEC) on the Millennium Development Goals to the Director-General (13-14 October 2009) and the discussions and conclusions from the 22nd Committee on Agriculture (COAG) on the 16th-19th of June 2010, preparatory activities have been initiated to develop a vision statement, strategy and action plan towards the establishment of a Global Soil Partnership (GSP) for Food Security and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation.
As information on this new initiative of FAO is spreading to the numerous stakeholders in the world, expectations on this new partnership are growing. There is a clear perception by many institutions and stakeholders at global, national and local level that such a partnership is urgently needed. The renewed recognition of the central role of soil resources for assuring food security and the increased awareness that soils play a fundamental role in climate change adaptation and mitigation has triggered numerous projects, initiatives and actions that need an increased effort of coordination and partnership in order to avoid un-necessary duplication of efforts and waste of resources, especially in times of substantial budget restrictions. The added value of the GSP in developing synergies and cost savings among the various existing networks and programs will assure that the partnership receives the necessary support and endorsement by all major players and stakeholders.
Vision and Mission
The Global Soil Partnership’s vision is for a sustainable and productive use of the soil resources of the world. The Global Soil Partnership’s mission is to support and facilitate joint efforts towards sustainable management of soil resources for food security and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Objectives
Through enhanced and applied knowledge of soil resources as well as improved global governance and standardization, the Partnership will:
- Create and promote awareness among decision makers and stakeholders on the key role of soil resources for sustainable land management and sustainable development;
- Address critical soil issues in relation to food security and climate change adaptation and mitigation
- Guide soil knowledge and research through a common global communication platform incorporating real local challenges;
- Establish an active and effective network for addressing soil crosscutting issues
- Develop global governance guidelines aiming to improved soil protection and sustainable soil productivity
Partners
Main partners will include all those international, regional and national bodies that are conducting substantive work on soil protection and sustainable management, inter alia:
- International agencies and projects with a global soils mandate and/or activities;
- Regional and national soil science associations and networks;
- National soil research institutes and academic institutes (universities);
- Representative of civil society organization (i.e. International Federation of Agricultural Producers-IFAP; International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements -IFOAM) and the private sector.
The proposed main areas of action of the GSP have been identified through initial consultations by FAO and JRC with key partners such as ISRIC, ICRAF, IRRI, etc and national soil survey agencies......etc. and through a number of recent international and regional workshops on soils in relation to food security and climate change
Background Paper
Download the background Paper entitled "Towards a Global Soil Partnership for Food Security and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation"
Launch Event
Presentations and speeches from the launch meeting hosted at FAO on the 7-9 September 2011
Download the Global Soil Partnership Brochure
(1.8MB)
A number of Institutions and countries have already expressed their interest to join this partnership at an early stage. We are pleased to extend to you a preliminary inivation to the formal launch event of this gloval partnership organised by FAO and Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. Find attached the Invitation.
Find attached the Agenda for the meeting including briefings from very important speakers.
Venue: 7-9 September 2011, FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy
Events
Joint Global Soil Partnership/e-SOTER workshop
Strengthening of Soil Data and Information is one of the main pillars of action of the FAO Global Soil Partnership. Knowing the state of the art of Global soil data and information for serving different users demands is a crucial activity. This will then allow the global community to develop a coordinated joint plan of action for generating the required data and information in the coming future.
Is in this regard that the Global Soil Partnership together with the EU-funded e-SOTER Project (coordinated by ISRIC) are organizing a one week workshop “Towards Global Soil Information: activities within the GEO Task Global Soil Data” at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy from 20-23rd March 2012.
Keynote presentations addressing the state of soil information globally and the needs for soil data and information by users will be followed by a number of presentations by most of the different ongoing soil mapping initiatives. Then a hands-work session for developing a plan of action of the GSP pillar will be devoted.
First Announcement: Towards Global Soil Information: activities within the GEO Task Global Soil Data
Registration Form: Word Document or PDF Document
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Global Soil Partnership