The earth's soil is under threat.
Some 33 percent of it is moderately to highly degraded worldwide, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. Soil is the basis of much of the world's food production, delivering nutrients to plants and crops, and playing its part in cleaning the water we drink — but erosion, salinization, nutrient depletion, acidification, chemical pollution, population growth and the pressure of competing uses like agriculture, energy and urbanization are all contributing to threaten this crucial resource.
What’s the key then to reversing this trend? Boosting sustainable soil management practices.
The Global Soil Partnership, whose general assembly convened last week in Rome to approve a series of action plans to fight against soil degradation, advocates for global sustainable soil management, which includes a wide range of activities like practices to protect soil from water runoff, responsible use of treatments for pest control or maintenance of organic matter found in soil.
About the author
Elena L. Pasquini@elenapasquini
Elena Pasquini covers the development work of the European Union as well as various U.N. food and agricultural agencies for Devex News. Based in Rome, she also reports on Italy's aid reforms and attends the European Development Days and other events across Europe. She has interviewed top international development officials, including European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs. Elena has contributed to Italian and international magazines, newspapers and news portals since 1995.
