International Year of Soils 2015: Healthy soils for a healthy life

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has been nominated to implement the International Year of Soils - IYS 2015, within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership and in collaboration with Governments and the secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

The IYS 2015 aims to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of soil for food security and essential ecosystem functions.

Our soils are in danger because of expanding cities, deforestation, unsustainable land use and management practices, pollution, overgrazing and climate change. The current rate of soil degradation threatens the capacity to meet the needs of future generations.

As long as soils are at risk, sustainable agriculture, food security and the provision of ecosystem services are compromised