Resource Library
Feature Resource:
SOIL the hidden part of the climate cycle
Excerpt:
“Soil is a natural resource which most of us either ignore or take for granted. Yet the thin layer of ‘dirt’ that covers much of the surface of the Earth is vital to the environment and invaluable to our societies.
However, soil quality is declining in many areas, meaning that it is less able to perform its essential functions. One area of concern is the effect of soil degradation on the climate, and vice versa.”
Read the full report from the European Commission (2011)
Policy Brief: Healthy soils sustain food system transformations to contribute to the net zero CO2 emission target by 2050
Business as usual strategies for agriculture, land use and land use changes will impede the contribution of the food systems to the net zero CO2 emission ambition.
Food system transformation is needed for "safeguarding food security and ending hunger, and the particular vulnerabilities of food production systems to adverse impact of climate change3".
Read the policy brief from 4p1000, CIRAD, and IRD
Global Food Systems Network Map
The Global Food Systems Network Map is an online tool designed to visually represent the relationships among stakeholders involved in food systems-related efforts worldwide.
Measuring Water’s Contribution to Regenerative Agriculture
Download the presentation from Leigh Winowiecki, Aida Bargues Tobella, Christina Magaju and Tor-G Vagen in a joint side event at the Swidish International Water Institute’s World Water Week (SIWI WWW) in August 2023.
Grounding United States policies and programs in soil carbon science: strengths, limitations, and opportunities
Abstract
The advent of “natural climate solutions” and “climate smart agriculture” has increased interest in managing agricultural lands to sequester soil carbon and mitigate climate change. This has led to enormous opportunities for soil scientists and growers alike, as new soil carbon initiatives are created by public, private, and philanthropic entities. It has also led to confusion over what is possible or practical to achieve through agricultural management, as soil carbon formation and storage is complex, and its response to management is context-dependent… cont.
Solving the Great Food Puzzle: Right Innovation, Right Impact, Right Place
Innovations aren’t delivered by just a few people – everyone working within a food system can innovate. It is important that all stakeholders identify the actions that will deliver most impact in the shortest time – identifying new actions that can be applied, and scaling those that are already delivering success. Everyone must work to rapidly accelerate food systems transformation. Those investing money in food systems transformation (be they governments, banks, private investors, public donors or businesses) have a significant say in what innovations are implemented. Not only does the amount of funding for food systems innovation need to be increase, the direction of funds must become even more focused and context-specific.
There are already many innovations in our food systems and several are demonstrating their ability to deliver big impacts in short timeframes. Innovating doesn’t require developing completely new ways of doing things and decision-makers can learn from the approaches being applied in similar food systems round the world.
Shadow Report to the UNFSS+2 Stocktaking Moment
In preparation for the upcoming UNFSS+2 Stocktaking Moment, the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub invited stakeholders to participate in a survey in order to gather valuable insights regarding stakeholder experiences in implementing and supporting food systems transformations leading up to the UNFSS+2. The results of the survey were analyzed and a draft report was produced by an independent author. The draft report was peer-reviewed by the Hub’s Stakeholders Engagement and Networking Advisory Group (SENA Group) through a series of meetings. The SENA group provided revisions to the report and finalized the content. This report is submitted to the UNFSS+2 as the “Stakeholders Contribution Document” or “Shadow Report to the UNFSS+2”.
6 practices in a farming landscape that contribute to healthy soil
Learn more about six practices in farming landscapes that contribute to healthy soils from CA4SH and AICCRA.
How does climate-smart agriculture benefit soil health?
Learn more about the connection between climate-smart agriculture and soil health in this presentation from a side event at the Africa Agribusiness and Science Week, Developing the Implementation Modalities for the Soil Initiative for Africa and AFSH Action Plan, from CA4SH and AICCRA.
We dig it! (book)
44 illustrated pages simply explain the approach of betterSoil. Based on the scientific paper by Azadeh Farajpour it illustrates how better soils actively supports climate and environmental protection, promotes the sustainability goals of the United Nations (Agenda 2030), and shows what every single person can do right now.
Best4Soil Community of Practice Video Library
Best4Soil is building a community of practice network across Europe by interconnecting growers, advisers, educators and researchers. Click to view their library of videos providing information on applying healthy soil practices.
Best4Soil Community of Practice Factsheets
Best4Soil is building a community of practice network across Europe by interconnecting growers, advisers, educators and researchers. Click to view their library of factsheets providing information on applying healthy soil practices.
Fertilizer and Soil Health in Africa: The Role of Fertilizer in Building Soil Health to Sustain Farming and Address Climate Change
The new paper is a conceptual framework relating to fertilizer, crop productivity, and soil health. It features a number of key recommendations, generated from scientific information, which address soil health, climate change, farmer incentives, soil health investments, localization, and not only fertilizers but also auxiliary interventions.
The Soil Health Resolution flyer
The Soil Health Resolution is a set of commitments to enable and scale healthy soil practices to mitigate and adapt to climate change, restore biodiversity, improve water resilience, enhance food and nutrition security, and protect natural and cultural heritage.
Soil Health Inquiry - Response
The Government of the United Kingdom launched an inquiry into how they can reach their target of having all British soil sustainably managed by 2030.
Download the response from CA4SH member, the British Society of Soil Science.
Soil Policy Legacy Report
The Soil Policy event held at the 22nd World Congress of Soil Science in Glasgow, Scotland, was the first session of its kind, drawing together an expert group of 14 invited speakers to discuss the complexities, challenges and opportunities of soil policy and governance.
Included in this Legacy report are the main findings of the session, as well as dedicated articles from several speakers from that day.
Recordings from the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture 2023
Watch recordings of the 2023 Global Forum for Food and Agriculture proceedings in Berlin, Germany.
Integration du carbone organique du sol dans les contributions déterminées au niveau national: Insights from Mali
Malgré les avantages, il existe peu de politiques qui incitent les agriculteurs à investir dans le maintien et l'amélioration de la santé des sols. Cette note d'orientation met en évidence les possibilités d'inclure la santé des sols et le carbone organique du sol (COS) dans les contributions nationales déterminées (CND) du Mali.
IUCN Restoration BarometerReport 2022
The 2022 Restoration Barometer Report demonstrates the progress that reporting countries have made on their restoration targets during the as of the 2021-2022 reporting period.
Including soil organic carbon into nationally determined contributions: Insights from Senegal
Despite the benefits, there are few policies that incentivize farmers to invest in maintaining and improving soil health. This policy brief highlights opportunities for the inclusion of soil health and soil organic carbon (SOC) into the National Determined Contributions (NDC) of Senegal.