21 August 2015: Participants attending the International Soil Conference (ISC 2015), titled ‘Sustainable Uses of Soil in Harmony with Food Security,’ called for greater action to stop the degradation of soils in order to enhance food security and sustainable development. The four-day conference was organized by Thailand’s Land Development Department, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other partners, under the auspices of the International Year of Soils (IYS).

ISC 2015, which took place in Cha Am, Thailand, from 18-21 August 2015, aimed to provide a platform for diverse stakeholders, including soil scientists, field-based extension workers, decision makers and land users, to share knowledge on appropriate technologies and soil management practices to enhance food security and conservation of the natural resource base.

Participants identified a number of threats that undermine some critical soil functions that contribute to sustainable food production and ecosystem services, including: urban sprawling; deforestation; unsustainable land use and management practices; pollution; overgrazing; and climate change.

The Conference further reviewed some emerging soil mapping and information systems for assessing soil capacity and functions, as well as a range of good practices such as: sustainable land management (SLM); sustainable peatland management; integrated plant nutrient and water management; composting; organic agriculture; agroforestry; and conservation agriculture. [FAO Press Release] [ICRAF Press Release] [ISC 2015 Website]