On 15 May, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) held the World Symposium on Soil Erosion (GSER19) in Rome, to translate scientific evidence into recommendations and strategies to reduce soil erosion and improve food security. FAO hopes that the nations commit to the good practices for soil manipulation in order to meet the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030.

María Helena Semedo, General Deputy Director of the international organization, said that preventing soil erosion through education, promotion and actions on the ground “is the best way to preserve soil health and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals”.

In the document written after the event, FAO points out that intensive agriculture, tillage, monoculture, overgrazing, deforestation, and industrial and mining activities contribute to accelerate soil erosion and can cause crop yield losses of up to 50 percent.

Next steps

In the second half of 2019, FAO will move forward with an agreement with its countries to mitigate soil erosion to safeguard food security. The agency will aim to raise awareness and monitor the use of good agricultural practices to preserve soil health and ensure food security.