Context: The Global Soil Partnership (GSP), urged for immediate action to enhance soil health, in its 12th Plenary Assembly Hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Key highlights

• In his opening remarks, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu emphasized the urgency of the GSP’s mission to improve and maintain the health of at least 50 percent of the world's soils by 2030. 

• Qu highlighted the need for political will, cooperation, and investment to achieve this target, underscoring the principles of reducing, re-using, and renewing soil resources.

Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils

• A significant highlight of the first day was a session hosted by the US Department of State on its Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) initiative. 

• VACS aims to build a resilient food system by promoting diverse, nutritious, and climate-adapted crops grown in fertile soils.

• As part of this initiative, FAO is spearheading the Soil Mapping for Resilient Agrifood Systems (SoilFER) project in Central America and African countries. 

• SoilFER is designed to gather critical soil data to inform policy and optimize fertilizer use at both national and local levels.

About Global Soil Partnership (GSP)

• The Global Soil Partnership (GSP), established in 2012 and hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), aims to position soils in the Global Agenda and promote sustainable soil management through collaboration.

• It brings together international, regional and national organizations that are working in the area of soil protection and sustainable management.

• GSP aims to implement the provisions of the 1982 World Soil Charter, and maintain the health of at least 50 percent of the world’s soils by 2030.

The achievements of the partnership, include

• The establishment of an Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils and related international networks for different soil matters;  

• The proposal for and annual celebration of  UN World Soil Day (5 December) and the International Year of Soils 2015; 

• Production of the Status of the World’s Soil Resources 2015 report.

Conclusion

• The GSP's work is more critical than ever in the face of global challenges, and its commitment to sustainable soil management will play a vital role in transforming agrifood systems worldwide.