GSP Pillar Action 3-Promote targeted soil research and

development focusing on identified gaps and priorities and synergies with related

productive, environmental and social development actions

Soils R&D in general should help to better understand:

(i) soil processes and how they contribute to soil functions,

(ii) how we can efficiently manage (protect and enhance) soils so that they can

continue to fulfil these functions, including the rehabilitation of degraded soils, and

(i) how we better understand the geographic distributions of soil functioning and the

trajectories of future changes in these functions.

Summary of recommendations for implementation of the GSP Pillar 3 Plan of

Action

Recommendation 1: Compile for all partners evidence of the return of investment

in soil research, stressing the importance of soil functions (e.g., economic cost of

soil degradation and the value of its rehabilitation) for the provision of services by

ecosystems and in reaching the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Recommendation 2: Encourage inter- and transdisciplinary research and

development to support the five pillars to enhance the development of appropriate

sustainable soil management practices and systems, the applicable use of soil

information, the harmonization of methods and determination of best indicators,

and the dissemination of research results beyond the scientific community, to

globally support economic growth, environmental sustainability and social

development.

Recommendation 3: Capitalize on existing R&D research initiatives and outputs

through metaanalysis and synthesis reviews for all partners, to identify global,

regional and local emerging priorities.

Recommendation 4: Foster synergy and engagement between research and end-

user communities, and donor agencies, to facilitate active collaboration in a joint-

learning approach that can be effective in broadening the research focus and

enhancing its impact

Continued……..Soil Acidification- Almost 1/3rd of soils globally affected with acidity either

with active or potential acidity

Salinization- Can due to geological reasons as well as man made

Waterlogging- Wetlands are unique and their soil management also requires special intervention

Compaction- Widespread Mechanization can lead to soil crusting and compaction

Sealing and Capping- Rapid Urbanization is posing a great threat

Soil contamination- contamination by chemicals (fertilizers, petroleum products, pesticides, herbicides, mining)

Source- SWSR-2015

Regional Soil Threats Across the Globe

Why and How Action is needed?

GSP envisages that the definition of R&D priorities is to be done at regional level

via the Regional Soil Partnerships (RSPs). Since many of the required actions will

be carried out by these RSPs, the recommendations are of broad nature, and

should guide implementation in accordance with regional and national contexts

and priorities.

Asia• Soil erosion – Trend is increasing

• Organic carbon change- Trend is declining-

• Nutrient imbalance – Trend is faster rate of depletion-

• Loss of soil biodiversity-Region suffers rapid deforestation rate -

• Soil Acidification, Salinization , Waterlogging, Sealing and Pollution- Trend is manageable problems, however, has to be addressed for a profitable agriculture

Why urgent action needed?

• Diminishing Partial and Total Factor productivity-Response to added nutrients declining

• Rapid nutrient depletion, acidity and salinization- Relook in our approach , how we have managed in past

• Land Cover Change Assessment –Soil degradation is considered one of the root causes of stagnating or declining agricultural productivity – Develop Asian Spatial Soil Database

• Source- SWSR-2015 and own assessment

Rice Based Cropping Systems- Predominant in Asia- Research Gaps

• Long-term Soil fertility Changes in rice- based cropping systems (RBCs)

• Carbon fluxes under submergence, aerobic, DSR,TP,SRI and other growing environments

• Rice productivity in relation to internal supply capacity of nutrients

• Yield Gap Assessment ( Yield Gap 1,2,3)

• Management of micronutrients in RBCs in sodic soil,acidic soils

• Screening of rice germplasms for nutritional content

• Nutrient and water requirement for aerobic and other different growing environments

• Management of crop residues in RBCs

• Nutrient use efficiency and soil productivity under early and late sown conditions

• Screening of genotypes suitable for acid soils and related infertility syndrome

• Nutritional status of rice in farmers’ fields in relation to productivity

• Nutrient requirement of contemporary released varieties and hybrids of different duration groups

• Partitioning of zinc and iron in rice and prospects for grain enrichment

• Sustaining Soil and Crop productivity under different Rice growing environments

• Yield Maximization in rice through fortified approaches

• Addressing issues of High Arsenic Content and other heavy metals in soils and grains of rice

• Source- Own Assessment

Europe and Eurasia • Sealing and capping- Trend is increasing- capping In densely populated Western

Europe soil sealing is one of the most threatening phenomena

• Salinization and sodification- Salinization is a widespread threat in Central Asia, and it is challenging in some areas in Spain, Hungary, Turkey, and Russia.

• Contamination - Soil contamination is a widespread problem in Europe. The most frequent contaminants are heavy metals and mineral oil.

• Organic carbon change- Peatland drainage in northern countries also leads to rapid organic carbon loss. In Russia, extensive areas of agricultural lands were abandoned that resulted in quick organic matter accumulation;

• Nutrient imbalance – imbalance In the western part of the region the loss of nutrients is compensated by application of high doses of fertilizers. In the eastern part the use of fertilizers is insufficient, and in most soils nutrient mining results in intensive mineral weathering

• Soil erosion- Water erosion is active in all the cultivated mountainous and rolling areas; the worst situation is observed in Turkey, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

• Loss of soil biodiversity- there are almost no qualitative estimations of the biodiversity loss in soils.

• Soil Acidification, Waterlogging and Sealing - Acidification due to acid rains was a challenge in Northern and Western Europe. Waterlogging is mostly associated with irrigation that is basic for Central Asian countries. Source- SWSR-2015

•

In accordance with the “Soil Thematic Strategy” of the commission of the European

Communities (European Commission, 2012), the following priority areas for soil

research are critical “to close the gaps in knowledge” and “strengthen the foundation for

policies”:

• Spatial and temporal changes in soil processes.

• Ecological, economic and social drivers of soil threats.

• Factors influencing soil related ecosystem services.

• Operational procedures and technologies for soil protection

and restoration.

Soil biodiversity as an environmental service.

• Soil as part of our natural and cultural heritage to be

properly preserved.

Africa South of the Sahara • Soil erosion – Trend is increasing- Address issues related to the exposure of

the bare soil surface by cultivation, deforestation overgrazing and drought

• Organic carbon change- Trend is declining- Address issues related to complete crop removal from farmlands, the high rate of organic matter decomposition by microbial decomposition accentuated by high soil temperature and termite activities

• Nutrient imbalance – Trend is faster rate of depletion- Address issues related to fertilization which has not been soil and crop specific, farmers are unable to pay the price for fertilizers and the inability to follow the rates that are recommended

• Loss of soil biodiversity-Region suffers the world's highest annual deforestation rate - Address issues related to Cultivation, introduction of new species, oil exploration and pollutions which reduces the population of soil organisms thus reducing faunal and microbial activities

• Soil Acidification, Salinization , Waterlogging, Sealing and Pollution- Trend is manageable problems, however, has to be addressed for a profitable

agriculture Source- SWSR-2015

Latin America and the Caribbean • Soil erosion – Trend is increasing- Widespread across the region.

Landslides are accelerated by land use in highland areas

• Organic carbon change- Trend is declining- It is promoted by deforestation and monoculture.

• Nutrient imbalance – Trend is faster rate of depletion- Most countries have negative nutrient balances due to over-extraction. In some cases over fertilization also causes nutrient imbalance

• Loss of soil biodiversity- Suspected to occur in deforested and over-exploited agricultural area.

• Contamination-Industrial sources cause soil contamination

• Soil Acidification, Salinization , Waterlogging, Sealing and Pollution-

sodification Caused by inadequate irrigation technology and water quality. Land use changes also promote salinization. Acidification is still limited to some areas with overuse of N fertilizers

• Source- SWSR-2015

•

• 1. make an inventory of ongoing initiatives as well as past ones excuted in the last 10 years in the region

• 2, Define priorities of soil research based on needs and results found

• 3. establish a netwok of prioritized research by the main agroecological areas of the region( like acidity, minimun tillage, agroecological zonning)

• 4.Streghthen the national and regional capacities for applied research in soils

Near East and North Africa • Soil erosion – Trend is increasing- Wind erosion and dust storms are a

problem throughout the region

• Organic carbon change- Trend is declining- High temperatures throughout most of the region result in a very high turnover of soil organic Carbon.

• Nutrient imbalance – Trend is faster rate of depletion- Address issues related to fertilization which has not been soil and crop specific, farmers are unable to pay the price for fertilizers and the inability to follow the rates that are recommended

• Salinization , Waterlogging, Sealing and Pollution- Salinization is a widespread problem in the region due to the high temperatures, inappropriate irrigation practices and sea water intrusion in coastal areas cappingSubstantial expansion of housing, quarrying (Lebanon, Kuwait) and infrastructures is a concern

• Loss of Biodiversity -The extent of loss of soil biodiversity due to human impact is largely unknown in the NENA region Source- SWSR-2015

Southwest Pacific• Acidification- A widespread and serious problem that has the

potential to cause irreversible damage to soils particularly in southern Australia.

• Soil Erosion- Unsustainable rates of soil loss are associated with logging and clearing in several Pacific nations

• Organic Carbon Changes- The conversion of land to agricultural uses has generally caused large losses of organic carbon in soils.

• Nutrient Imbalance- Rapid intensification of agriculture in New Zealand and more recently Australia is causing significant environmental impact, particularly due to the large increase in fertilizer use and ruminant animals.

• Land sealing and capping- Loss of good quality agricultural land due to urban and industrial expansion is an emerging and potentially major problem for all countries in the region.

• Salinization- Salinization is a widespread and expensive problem in Australia and some atoll islands. Source- SWSR-2015

Research and Development to strengthen resilience of food

production system to disaster and climate change

Increased availability and better access to traditional and improved

crop and animal diversity

Participatory development of agroforestry, crop and livestock

productivity enhancing technologies

Develop varieties of crops resilient to salinity and climate

change

Develop soil health technologies

Development of integrated crop management

technologies

Developing improved Livestock systems

Improved agroforestry systems

Development of CC adaptation & mitigation technologies

Development of value chain products from Agroforestry

systems in the Pacific

Evaluation of livelihood impacts from agribusiness development

opportunities in the Pacific

Improve the dissemination and adoption of new agricultural

production technologies

Strengthen governance and organisational capacities of PIRAS

Build RAS capacity to effectively service growing demands on RAS

Strengthen extension research, information sharing and technology

transfer

Evaluation of livelihood impacts from agribusiness

development opportunities in the Pacific

Improve the dissemination and adoption of new

agricultural production technologies

Strengthen governance and organisational capacities of

PIRAS

Build RAS capacity to effectively service growing

demands on RAS

Strengthen extension research, information sharing and

technology transfer

Global and regional indicators will have to be determined to

evaluate implementation, performance and usefulness of

the Plan at global, regional and local scales.

They include:

• Outputs from workshops/writeshops

• Number of developed initiatives and prepared proposals

• Individuals trained (and corresponding demographics)

• Technologies adapted/developed

• Number of experts that were consulted/responded to

requests from the GSP and RSPs

• Type and amount of outreach efforts (e.g., videos,

publications)

• Impact on sustainable development

Thank You