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No Thumbnail AvailableBook (stand-alone)Manual / guide
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Book (stand-alone)Technical studyArsenic contamination of irrigation water, soil and crops in Bangladesh: risk implications for sustainable agriculture and food safety in Asia 2006
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No results found.Arsenic in groundwater is a major health concern in Asia and the risks from using shallow tubewells for drinking-water are well known. At present, 12 countries in the region have reported high arsenic levels in parts of their groundwater and recent studies have documented the potential risks from arsenic in irrigation water. The most well known concern is arsenic contamination entering the food chain, affecting food safety. This poses a potential dietary risk to human health in addition to the r isk from drinking contaminated groundwater. Less well known but potentially more serious is the risk to crop production. Continuous build up of arsenic in the soil from arsenic contaminated irrigation water may reduce crop yields, thus affecting the nutritional status and incomes of rural farming communities. As part of the green revolution, millions of shallow tubewells were installed throughout Asia over the last three decades. This resulted in a sharp increase of groundwater extraction for ir rigation. Considering the high number of arsenic contaminated tubewells, the amount of contaminated irrigation water entering the soil and its effects on crop yields and toxity to plants as well as to livestock and freshwater fisheries are of urgent concern. This must-read technical report for those involved with the issue of arsenic in irrigation water examines the available knowledge to date, focusing on Bangladesh where most studies on arsenic contaminated irrigation water have been carried o ut. Specific attention is given to rice owing to its importance in Asia and because it is one of the crops most sensitive to arsenic contamination. The report identifies knowledge gaps, the risks to food safety and crop production and the possible threat to sustainable development in the region. The author provides recommendations to key stakeholders concerned and advocates an integrated regional programme covering both crop production and food safety aspects within the framework of land degrada tion. Most importantly, the scale of the problem needs to be quantified and appropriate management options developed and disseminated. -
Book (stand-alone)Technical bookGlobal assessment of soil pollution
Summary for policymakers
2021Also available in:
Soil pollution is invisible to the human eye, but it compromises the quality of the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe and puts human and environmental health at risk. Most contaminants originate from human activities such as industrial processes and mining, poor waste management, unsustainable farming practices, accidents ranging from small chemical spills to accidents at nuclear power plants, and the many effects of armed conflicts. Pollution knows no borders: contaminants are spread throughout terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and many are distributed globally by atmospheric transport. In addition, they are redistributed through the global economy by way of food and production chains. Soil pollution has been internationally recognized as a major threat to soil health, and it affects the soil’s ability to provide ecosystems services, including the production of safe and sufficient food, compromising global food security. Soil pollution hinders the achievement of many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those related to poverty elimination (SDG 1), zero hunger (SDG 2) and good health and well-being (SDG 3). Soil pollution hits the most vulnerable hardest, especially children and women (SDG 5). The supply of safe drinking water is threatened by the leaching of contaminants into groundwater and runoff (SDG 6). CO2 and N2O emissions from unsustainably managed soils accelerate climate change (SDG 13). Soil pollution contributes to land degradation and loss of terrestrial (SDG 15) and aquatic (SDG 14) biodiversity, and decreased security and resilience of cities (SDG 11), among others. The report addresses the extent and future trends of soil pollution, considering both point source and diffuse soil pollution, and describes the risks and impacts of soil pollution on health, the environment and food security – including land degradation and the burden of disease resulting from exposure to polluted soil. The process to develop the report involved in-depth regional assessments of soil pollution, and the regional chapters provide an overview of soil pollution issues at the global scale that is long overdue (Figure 1). The Editorial Board comprised over 30 international experts representing the ITPS, the Regional Soil Partnerships, relevant international fora and expert groups, and the private sector. The Summary for Policymakers presents the main findings of the report, together with options for action to facilitate global policy considerations in the UNEA process. The main report is a comprehensive publication which is available on the FAO website.
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Brochure, flyer, fact-sheetBrochureFarmers' Rights in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 2023The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is the first legally-binding international instrument that explicitly acknowledges the enormous contribution of farmers and indigenous communities to developing and managing crops and other plant genetic resources for food and agriculture – the basis of our food supply. For millennia, farmers and indigenous communities have taken care of the seed and plants that feed us all. And they continue contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of these resources now and in the future.This brochure contains a brief introduction to what Farmers' Rights are, why, they are important, how the international Treaty supports them and for whom they are relevant. The brochure is designed as attractive introductory product, that refers to more in-depth sources available on Farmers' Rights.
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Book (stand-alone)High-profileStatus of the World's Soil Resources - Technical Summary 2015This document presents a summary of the first Status of the World’s Soil Resources report, the goal of which is to make clear the essential connections between human well-being and the soil. The report provides a benchmark against which our collective progress to conserve this essential resource can be measured. The report synthesizes the work of some 200 soil scientists from 60 countries. It provides a global perspective on the current state of the soil, its role in providing ecosystem services, and the threats to its continued contribution to these services. The specific threats considered in the report are soil erosion, compaction, acidification, contamination, sealing, salinization, waterlogging, nutrient imbalance (e.g. both nutrient deficiency and nutrient excess), and losses of soil organic carbon (SOC) and of biodiversity.
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DocumentGuidelineVoluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management
Endorsed by the 155th session of the FAO Council, Rome, Italy, 5th December 2016
2016Also available in:
No results found.The Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management (VGSSM) were adopted by the 4th GSP Plenary Assembly (Rome, 23 May 2016), approved by the 25th session of the FAO Committee on Agriculture (Rome, 28 September 2016) and finally endorsed by the 155th session of the FAO Council (Rome, 5 December 2016). These guidelines provide technical and policy recommendations on how sustainable soil management can be achieved. The successful implementation of these guidelines should pave the way to boost ing soil health.The final and endorsed version of the Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management is available at this link