On Global Soil Day, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations held its tenth General Assembly.

In the opening address, the FAO Director-General said that one-third of the world's soils are in poor condition today. These soils are degrading due to unsustainable soil management practices.

The theme of this year's Soil Day is "Soil, the Source of Food". The Director-General said that the role of soil and its fertility is now more important than ever. We should pay more attention to protecting soils, ensuring food security for all, and making the transformation of agri-food systems more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.

The Director-General urged participants to work to promote and scale up locally sustainable soil management solutions.

The FAO pointed out in its promotional materials that although human science and technology have achieved many achievements, 95% of food still comes directly or indirectly from the soil. Soil has the extraordinary ability to store, transform and recycle the nutrients that humans depend on to sustain life.

At the same time, 15 of the 18 essential nutrients for plants are provided by the soil. However, about a third of the world's soils have been degraded. Loss of soil fertility means land is less productive and many grains, vegetables, and fruits are not as rich in vitamins and nutrients as they were 70 years ago.

During the session, FAO members focused on the role of soils in food security and how the loss of soil fertility leads to low crop yields and crop failures, leading to hunger, malnutrition, and poverty among local populations.

Soil health cannot be measured by agricultural fertility alone. According to the Soil Technology Group, healthy soils are those that "can maintain the productivity, diversity, and environmental services of terrestrial ecosystems."

Ronald Vargas, Secretary of the Global Soil Partnership, said, “Healthy soils provide safe and nutritious food and support healthy populations and ecosystems. Unhealthy soils not only lose their natural levels of biodiversity and productivity but also less tough and therefore prone to further degradation."

In some places, the excessive use of chemical fertilizers, especially nitrogen fertilizers, has caused soil pollution and even further affected water. But elsewhere, insufficient fertilizers are affecting food security.

The director-general said reduced fertilizer availability and soaring prices are driving up food prices and food insecurity. "We need to work together to produce safe, nutritious, and micronutrient-rich food in a sustainable manner, avoid soil degradation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce pollution in the agri-food system."

Data from FAO shows that in the current food and fertilizer crisis, small farming areas, especially vulnerable countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, lack access to organic and inorganic fertilizers.

Currently facing a 300% increase in fertilizer prices. These crises are a reminder of the critical role of sustainable management and restoration of our precious resources to protect healthy soils and their fertility.

In addition, the conference also released the "Global Black Soil Status Report" and "Asian Soil Atlas", and awarded the 2022 Glinka World Soil Award, the 2022 King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award, and the IUSS Outstanding Service Medal.