At its 144th meeting, held from 11-15 June 2012, the FAO Council adopted a decision requesting the wider UN System to recognize 5 December as World Soil Day and to institutionalize its observance. To recognize the Day, an event focused on “Securing healthy soils for a food secure world: A day dedicated to soils” will be organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the framework of the Global Soil Partnership, to raise awareness on the importance of soils in achieving food security, as well as their pivotal role for providing a range of ecosystem services. World Soil Day was first proposed by the International Union of Soil Sciences in 2002.  

date: 5 December 2012   location: Rome, Italy   contact: Global Soil Partnership Secretariat   www: http://www.fao.org/globalsoilpartnership/events/en/