Global Soils Conference 2024
Caring Soils Beyond Food Security:
Climate Change Mitigation & Ecosystem Services
World population reaches 9.1 billion by 2050, about 34% higher population than today. According to UN reports, food insecurity is one of the major problems facing the world today. About 95% of food is produced directly or indirectly from soil resource. Therefore, sustainable soil resource management is one of the key socio-economic and environmental issues across the globe. In many parts of the world there is considerable difference between potential and actual yield resulting in food shortage, poverty and malnutrition. It is inevitable that the quantity and quality of the food produce to sustain the present and future generation mostly depends upon the soil fertility. Several researchers and policy makers have made considerable efforts to address soil quality issues for sustainable development. Notwithstanding these efforts, still unprecedented nutrient mining and soil degradation issues creep to upset the sustainability in production system and ecosystem services. In the coming decades, soil science will remain at the focal point of discussion for food production and environmental conservation, but it will be equally essential for devising strategies for issues such as climate change adaptation and mitigation, protection of biodiversity, essential ecosystem services, water quality, poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Thus, it is necessary to maintain and improve soil health to produce more food, fuel and fibre with less land without affecting the soil biodiversity and natural ecosystem services under changing climate scenario across the world. This ‘Global Soils Conference 2024’ is addressing all these important issues, which will be held during November 19-22, 2024 at NASC Complex, New Delhi, India.
Global Soils Conference 2024 will be a significant and prestigious event to be organized by the Indian Society of Soil Science, New Delhi in collaboration with International Union of
Soil Sciences and supports from many national and international organisations with a motivation to provide an excellent international platform with renowned keynote and plenary speakers from all over the world. The main objective of the conferences is ‘Caring soils beyond food security: Climate Change mitigation and Ecosystem Services”. This conference aims to address various challenges, issues and concerns/ importance of soils and the latest technology developments in sustainable soil/resource management in the light of the global issues such as food security, soil health improvement, enhancing input use efficiency through new fertilizers, rapid soil assessment techniques, land degradation, environmental quality, biodiversity protection and climate change adaptation and mitigation. The event will enable to assemble a diverse array of stakeholders, including scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, farmers, and environmental advocates, to engage in a comprehensive dialogue about the importance of soils beyond traditional agricultural perspectives. By examining the latest scientific research, sharing innovative management practices, and exploring policy frameworks, the conference will illuminate how caring for soils can lead to far-reaching benefits for the planet. The discussions and collaborations fostered here are poised to catalyze a paradigm shift in how soils are perceived and managed globally, promoting an integrated approach that recognizes and leverages their multifunctional capabilities.
Industry interface meeting, Farmers’ interaction and Students’ meet will be organized in this occasion to ensure larger participation from all the stakeholders during this conference. The conference will also provide an ideal and global platform to discuss various challenges faced by agriculture sector vis-à-vis food and nutritional security area with the global experts. The conference is expected to result in:
- A comprehensive set of recommendations for global sustainable soil management, climate
change mitigation and ecosystem services. - Enhanced international cooperation and partnerships in soil-related research and policymaking.
- A global network of soil scientists and practitioners for ongoing collaboration.
- Increased public and policymaker awareness of the critical role of soils beyond food production.