MESSAGE: FAO’S REPRESENTATIVE IN VIET NAM

MESSAGE: FAO’S REPRESENTATIVE IN VIET NAM

Dear Colleagues,

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is pleased to contribute to the organization of the 16th International Conference of the East and Southeast Asia Federation of Soil Science Societies (ESAFS 2024). This biannual event serves as a vital platform, bringing together soil scientists from across the region to engage in discussions, share expertise, and disseminate knowledge and technology in the field of soil science.

Healthy soils are cornerstones of life, supporting agriculture, water purification and regulation, and biodiversity, regulating the climate and increasing ecosystems’ resilience to extreme weather events and climate change. Despite their fundamental importance for sustainable ecosystems and human activities, soils face threats from both natural and human-induced degradation factors. About 33% of the global soils are already degraded, and the trend is accelerating. In recent decades, the status of soil fertility has declined due to unsustainable soil management practices, causing a drastic decline in food vitamin and nutrient content. Because 95 percent of the food we eat comes from the soil, it is imperative to address the above challenges and promote effective and sustainable management practices to protect our soil while ensuring a sustainable and food secure world for all.

At the global celebrations marking World Soil Day 2023 on 5 December 2023, FAO Director-General Dr. QU Dongyu said “Healthy soils and water directly impact the quantity and quality of our food and will determine the future of our agrifood systems. We must work together to find innovative ways to produce more food using less water and in harmony with our soils”. In this connection, FAO plays a pivotal role in addressing global soil challenges. As the leading international agency dedicated to food and agriculture, FAO focuses on promoting sustainable soil management practices, addressing soil degradation, and enhancing soil health.

Through research, capacity building, and policy advocacy, FAO works closely with member countries and other key stakeholders to develop strategies for preserving soil fertility and soil biodiversity, combating soil threats such as erosion, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of agrifood systems. FAO’s initiatives like the Global Soil Partnership contribute to global efforts aimed at transforming agrifood systems to achieve better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all, leaving no one behind. Through its offices, FAO operates at global, regional, and national levels in partnership with governments, international organizations, civil society, academia, research centers and farmers’ cooperatives.

In Vietnam, agricultural productivity confronts significant challenges stemming from soil erosion, nutrient depletion, pollution, and unsustainable practices, contributing to degradation. Compounding these issues is a deficiency in comprehensive data and monitoring systems, impeding effective management. In response to these challenges, FAO has initiated various national projects, spanning soil assessment, monitoring, and capacity building. Currently, FAO is assisting the Government in formulating a National Soil Health Strategy (NSHS) and a National Plan for Soil Health Management (NP-SHM), aligning with the “One Health” approach.

FAO remains committed to foster ongoing collaboration with Governments and interested partners to advance sustainable soil management. We are very pleased to join forces with the Vietnam Society of Soil Science (VSSS) and Thai Nguyen University in the organization of this important conference.

Yours sincerely,

Rémi Nono Womdim, Ph.D. FAO Representative in Viet Nam