5 December – World Soil Day

The survival of our planet depends on the valuable connection between soil and water. Over 95% of our food is thanks to these two essential resources. Soil water, vital for the uptake of nutrients by plants, connects all ecosystems. This symbiotic relationship is at the core of agriculture.

As a result of climate change and human activity, nearly 52% of arable soils have already degraded and are affecting water resources. Soil erosion disrupts the natural balance by reducing water infiltration into the different soil layers, thus limiting the diversity of living organisms contained in the “brown” gold of our planet.

Sustainable soil management practices such as minimum tillage, crop rotation, the addition of organic matter and cover crops improve soil health, reduce erosion and pollution, and enhance water infiltration and storage. These practices also preserve soil biodiversity, improve fertility and contribute to carbon sequestration, playing a crucial role in combating climate change.

The Dying of Soil – the Issue Has Been Raised Globally

World Soil Day 2023 (WSD) and its campaign aim to raise awareness of the importance and the connection between soil and water and to engage citizens around the world in improving soil health.

History

The International Soil Day was recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002. Under the leadership of the Kingdom of Thailand and within the framework of the Global Soil Partnership, FAO supported the official establishment of World Soil Day as a global platform for raising awareness regarding the importance of soil resources. The FAO Conference unanimously endorsed World Soil Day in June 2013 and requested its official adoption at the 68th UN General Assembly. In December 2013, the UN General Assembly designated 5 December 2014 as the first official World Soil Day.

SOIL Forum 2023: Biodynamic Agriculture and Soils

On the occasion of Soil Day, on 09.12.2023 in the town of Brezovo, at the “Otets Paisiy” Community Centre, from 10:00 to 16:00, the second SOIL Forum 2023 will be held.

“In order to continue the discussions on nature-based solutions in agriculture that we started at last year’s edition of the forum, we invite you to a meeting with leading producers who are already working with biodynamic methods, studying and practically applying the restoration of life in soils,” say the organizers in the invitation.

Participation fee: 10 BGN.

Partners: “Hrancoop – Sofia” Cooperative, Alter Agro, Bulgarian Association for Biodynamic Agriculture, “Otets Paisiy” Community Centre, town of Brezovo.

Link to the Facebook event invitation