Soil carries the mission of "health of all", and countries around the world are paying more and more attention to soil health and food security.
On September 19, the 30th China Yangling Agricultural High-tech Achievements Expo and the 2023 Global Soil Health Forum opened in Yangling Demonstration Zone.
In the morning, during the summit dialogue of the 2023 Global Soil Health Forum, officials and experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation of Myanmar, the International Union of Soil Science, the International Union of Soil Science, the Australian Collaborative Research Centre for High-Yield Soils, and the Land and Water Resources Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations jointly called for curbing all types of land degradation and erosion as a fundamental solution to food security.
"It is extremely important to discuss and develop joint measures aimed at preventing soil pollution, combating desertification of land and protecting natural ecosystems." Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Nyazariev said at the forum that the SCO countries, which account for more than 60% of the Eurasian continent, should pay close attention to the issue of global food security.
Halting global soil degradation is urgent
Land degradation processes such as land quality degradation and productivity decline caused by natural forces or irrational human development and utilization, with the current situation of production, urbanization and environmental degradation becoming more and more serious, are recognized in many places as one of the important factors threatening human security.
Niyazaliyev said that desertification and degradation also affect most of the SCO. This situation is exacerbated by rapid melting of glaciers and water shortages. Then, especially for the arid continental region of Central Asia, it is a very prominent feature.
"All SCO member states are suffering from various types of land degradation and erosion." Nyazalyev admits that the very fragile mountainous landscape is no exception, and the consequences of these trends are reduced agricultural production and food shortages, which in turn have a profound impact on the social stability and sustainable economic development of all countries.
Soil health is the intersection of food and environmental issues, and within the SCO this issue is on the agenda of cooperation mechanisms at ministerial and expert levels in the field of agriculture and environmental protection.
There is an urgent need for a global soil partnership
In his speech, Constantine, President of the International Union of Soil Sciences, mentioned that during World Soil Day on December 5 every year, the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations jointly carry out more than 2,000 activities to make people aware of the importance of soil to human beings and the various hazards that soil is suffering.
As stated in the EU Soil Report, healthy soils can sustain their ecological functions to support a variety of life forms, and secondly, healthy soils can meet human needs, including providing food and biomass, absorbing, storing and filtering water, and converting nutrients to protect groundwater bodies.
The International Union of Soil Science is a global alliance of soil scientists that aims to promote all branches of soil science, support soil scientists around the world to engage in corresponding scientific activities, and increase awareness of soil as an important resource for sustainable management and conservation.
"Although soils are often forgotten because they are hidden underground, our daily activities and the future of the planet cannot be separated from them." Konstantin said. At the same time, he stressed the important function of soils to support countries in mitigating or adapting to a changing climate.
Reyes Sánchez, former president of the International Union of Soil Science, believes that it is time for governments to commit and act to propose and adopt the public policies necessary not only to produce food, but also to help the public understand why it is necessary to protect soil resources.
The Yangling Initiative is expected to halt the continued degradation of soils
During the 2023 Global Soil Health Forum, as the first high-level international conference on soil health held in mainland China, 121 representatives from 45 countries, international organizations, enterprises and non-governmental organizations gathered in Yangling to conduct in-depth exchanges on "soil health and food security" and jointly put forward the following initiatives:
The first is to strengthen the protection and utilization of black soil resources, and build a dynamic early warning mechanism and scientific evaluation system for black soil health.
The second is to promote the comprehensive improvement and utilization of saline-alkali soil, and promote the comprehensive utilization technology model of combining "suitable for planting" and "suitable for seed".
The third is to improve the ecological function of red soil production and comprehensively enhance the sustainable development potential of red soil.
The fourth is to promote the improvement and utilization of low-yield paddy soil, promote carbon sequestration and emission reduction of paddy soil, and promote green, sustainable and efficient utilization.
The fifth is to promote the comprehensive management of loess areas and ensure the sustainable development of loess areas.
The initiative puts forward the key cooperation direction in the field of soil health, and condenses the international consensus on cherishing soil and protecting soil. Han Jichang, Chairman of Shaanxi Land Construction Group, shared China's relevant experience and practices in the field of soil health from different angles and forms, providing experience for countries to promote soil protection and utilization.
With the theme of "Soil Health and Food Security", the 2023 Global Soil Health Forum aims to build a dialogue platform involving politics, business and academia to promote the exchange of policies, technologies and experiences in the field of soil health.
Reporter: Geng Suqiang and Li Yuqiang
Editor: Weng Rui