Experts and Policymakers Convene at World Food Forum to Address Climate Change Through Soil and Water Management
Rome- Experts and policymakers came together at the World Food Forum’s Science and Innovation Forum on Thursday to highlight how new technologies for soil and water management can help to tackle and adapt to climate change.
Showcasing Field Examples and Strategies
Hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the event showcased field examples, strategies, and management options in integrated soil and water management that have a direct impact on the livelihoods of small- and medium-holder farmers and their communities.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu stressed the importance of developing and strengthening integrated information systems to address multisectoral challenges, with a special emphasis on providing accessibility to farmers who play a crucial role in managing natural resources. He highlighted that FAO is committed to transforming agrifood systems through the power of science, technology, and innovation.
The Impact of Climate Change on Agrifood Systems
The climate crisis is currently threatening the productivity of agrifood systems, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations and worsening existing inequalities. Soil degradation, water quality loss, and water scarcity are escalating, resulting in limited access to fertile soils and water resources, and exacerbating food and nutrition insecurity.
The Role of Integrated Climate-Smart Management
Integrated climate-smart land, soil, and water management technologies and practices are crucial for enhancing efficiency and increasing water and land productivity. The event focused on innovations in re-carbonizing soils, improving soil health, and enhancing water use efficiency. The discussion also included strategies for promoting integrated governance of natural resources and managing water scarcity to bolster the resilience of agrifood systems.
For instance, implementing efficient water use, judicious fertilizer use, reduced pesticide use, and improving soil health could potentially lead to an average crop yield increase of 80 percent.
Sustainable management of ecosystems in source areas and upper catchments, such as mountains, grasslands, and forests, is also vital for ensuring a reliable and healthy water supply. Furthermore, governance actions like supporting precision agriculture, remote sensing, and big data analytics can significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of integrated soil and water management.
Promoting Innovative Climate Solutions
The event provided a platform for various experts and speakers from different sectors and regions to discuss and showcase innovative climate solutions. Notable speakers highlighted the following:
- Rosa Poch, Chair of the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils, shared key findings and recommendations from the FAO-hosted Global Symposium on Soils and Water. These included increasing public awareness, adopting sustainable practices, monitoring soil moisture, using adapted plants, and accounting for green water in national water budgets.
- Malin Lundberg Ingemarsson, Programme Manager at Stockholm International Water Institute, emphasized the importance of innovative approaches to restoring degraded soils. She called for a shift in perspective to include pastoralists in addressing food security, climate, biodiversity, and water availability challenges.
- Axel Schmidt, Technical Advisor for the Water-Smart Agriculture program of Catholic Relief Services, outlined three cutting-edge research areas: real-time water and soil information using remote sensing, innovative soil analysis techniques, and geospatial tools for rainwater harvesting site identification.
- Federico Truco, Chief Executive Officer of Bioceres Crop Solutions, highlighted the importance of integrating technology and business model innovations for regenerative agriculture. His company has successfully engineered drought tolerance in soybeans and wheat to enhance sustainable land use and conserve water and carbon footprints.
- Amarjit Basra, Director and Chief Scientist at OCP Group in the USA, emphasized the need for disruptive innovations to increase yield enhancements in key food crops. His focus is on highly efficient fertilizer formulations, such as controlled release or slow-release fertilizers, to improve nutrient use efficiency.
FAO’s Commitment to Innovation for Soil and Water
To ensure global food security while conserving natural resources, FAO recognizes the need to produce 50 percent more food by 2050 compared to 2012 levels.
FAO is utilizing innovative technologies like Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, and Big Data to transform agrifood systems and generate high-quality data for effective water and land use planning, policies, and investments.
The Global Soil Partnership, supported by FAO, facilitates the assessment of soil health, moisture, and fertility using advanced technology. This aids farmers and policymakers in making science-based decisions.
The FAO’s Global Agro-Ecological Zones framework offers a comprehensive database of geospatial data layers, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions regarding crop suitability, yield gaps, and sustainable practices in a changing climate.
FAO is dedicated to the UN Water Action Agenda, fostering collaboration, partnership, capacity development, and catalyzing research and development investments to accelerate international actions on the large scale.
