Urgent action is needed to address soil pollution and contain the multiple threats it poses to global food safety and food security. This was stated by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) recently on the occasion of World Soil Day.
Thousands of chemicals, which are commercially produced on a large scale, plastic and electronic waste, non-treated wastewater can all become a source of soil pollution, paving the way for the pollutants to enter the food chain with serious consequences for the health and wellbeing of the people and the planet.
“About 33 per cent of all soils are degraded - and soils continue to deteriorate at an alarming rate,” said Maria Helena Semedo, deputy director general, FAO, at the World Soil Day Ceremony at FAO’s headquarters in Rome.
“Soil acts as a filter for contaminants. But when its buffering capacity is exceeded, contaminants can enter the environment and the food chain. This undermines food security by making crops risky and unsafe for consumption,” she added.
“Human activities are the main source of soil pollution. It is in our hands to adopt sustainable soil management practices,” Semedo said.
She called for greater political support and significantly increased investment towards healthy soils. Maintaining healthy soils helps ensure safe and nutritious foods and is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Zero Hunger.
Reuse, recycle and reduce
This year, the theme of World Soil Day is Be the solution to soil pollution, and FAO offers a number of recommendations on how to reduce the soil contamination at the state, industrial and consumer levels.
For example, growing cities are producing mounds of garbage that end up in landfills and enter the soil, up to 80 per cent of which could be recycled.
As technological progress accelerates, electronic waste is considered as a new emerging threat to soils. Fifty million tonne of e-waste are generated every year, making it one of the world's fastest growing pollution problems affecting our soils.
FAO encouraged people to donate or recycle old devices rather than throwing them away.
While agrochemicals can help meet the world's growing demand for food, they leave a legacy of soil pollution and degraded agro ecosystems.
Nearly 60 per cent of the top agricultural soils in 11 European countries contain residues of multiple persistent pesticides.
FAO urged governments to promote the responsible and sustainable management of agrochemicals.
One third of the plastic produced globally ends up in our soils, with plastic particles then entering the food chain and the environment.
Stronger environmental policies and regulations are needed to prevent the use of excessive packaging and chemicals by industry.
However, every person can contribute to solving the problem by simply carrying a reusable bottle and grocery bag, and buying products with reduced or recycled packaging.
Economic impact of soil loss in Malawi - New study
FAO also presented the key results of its first ever economic assessment of the impact of soil erosion and soil nutrient loss.
The study, which was conducted under a pilot project in Malawi, funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Poverty-Environment Initiative, allows for a better understanding of the economic damages incurred by soil loss.
According to the study, a 25 percent increase in soil loss in Malawi would result in a reduction of GDP by 0.64 percent, which is the equivalent of about $40 million per year.
“Soil degradation has high economic costs: loss of soil health leads to reduced crop yields,” Semedo said, adding, “Preventing soil pollution must be a top priority worldwide.”
Glinka World Soil Prize
During the World Soil Day ceremony, the Glinka World Soil Prize 2018 was awarded to Rattan Lal, president, International Union of Soil Science (IUSS), for his outstanding contribution to sustainable soil management.
He was listed among the world’s most influential scientific minds in 2012, and was among the top one percent of all researchers in agriculture. His scientific work has notably contributed to soil organic carbon restoration and improvement of soil structure, but also played a major role in converting science into policy and decision-making.
The Glinka World Soil Prize, named after the pioneering Russian scientist Konstantin D Glinka, was established by the Global Soil Partnership with the support of the Russian Federation in 2016 and honours individuals and organisations whose leadership and activities have contributed to the promotion of sustainable soil management and the protection of soil resources.
This year the Russian Federation has also approved the financial contribution of $2 million to support the activities of the Global Soil Partnership in its second phase (between 2018 and 2020).
The first World Soil Day Award was also delivered to Practical Action Bangladesh for organising the best World Soil Day celebration in 2017. The new FAO-established award is funded by the Kingdom of Thailand.
