The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in cooperation with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and in partnership with the International Union of Soil Scientists (IUSS), is hosting a one-day conference on 7 December 2015 to coincide with World Soil Day (5 December) and mark the completion of the 2015 International Year of Soils. The meeting will bring together more than 100 experts in soil science to review the achievements made over the years, as well as future challenges and opportunities. A detailed programme is available here.
During the conference, experts will discuss topics such as the intensification of agricultural production versus resource conservation, how to make agricultural production systems more resilient to climate change and reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture, and approaches to improve the nutritional quality of food crops.
The 2015 International Year of Soils was declared by the United Nations in order to raise awareness about soil health. As a highly valuable, finite resource, soils are essential to guarantee food security and to protect the earth’s ecosystems.
Soils worldwide have come under strain due to climate change, population growth and urban expansion, deforestation, pollution, and unsustainable farming practices. Experts estimate that soil degradation affects 1.9 billion hectares of land worldwide – around two-thirds of global soil resources. Soil erosion is the main contributor to land degradation globally, leading to economic losses estimated at around US$ 126 billion a year.
Background information: nuclear techniques and soil management
Nuclear techniques make a significant contribution to climate-smart agriculture, helping farmers fight erosion, improve soil fertility and increase crop yields. The IAEA, in partnership with the FAO, helps countries apply isotopic techniques to establish sources of erosion, measure moisture and soil quality to maximize water and fertilizer-use efficiency, combat soil salinity, and monitor sedimentation.
These measures enable farmers to put better land conservation practices in place that have led to a number of improvements:
- In Benin, cereal crop yields increased as a result of soil-fertility improvement measures based on isotopic techniques, reducing the import of expensive mineral fertilizers.
- In Viet Nam, improved conservation practices following precise soil measurements have led to a 45% reduction in erosion in target areas. As three-quarters of the country’s territory is sloping land, erosion is a major problem.
- In Sudan, drip-irrigation systems have helped more than 1,000 women farmers in the water-scarce region of Kassala to grow key nutritious crops, such as rocket and purslane.
Media opportunities
- The conference, to be held from 9:00 to 17:00 CET on 7 December 2015 in Room C1 of the Vienna International Centre’s C Building, 2nd floor, is open to journalists.
- Speakers include IAEA Deputy Director General Aldo Malavasi, FAO Director of Land and Water Division Moujahed Achouri, Director General of the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Christian Holzer, and IUSS President Rainer Horn.
- Journalists interested in interviewing participants are encouraged to contact the IAEA Press Office.
Accreditation
All journalists are requested to inform the IAEA Press Office of their plans to attend. Journalists with permanent credentials to the VIC need no additional credentials. We encourage those journalists who do not yet have permanent accreditation, to request it at UNIS Vienna.
Others should contact Theresa Mackay for accreditation. Please email T.Mackay@iaea.org or call [+43-1]-2600-21273.