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Brochure, flyer, fact-sheetPolicy briefThe multi-faced role of soil in the Near East and North Africa | Policy brief, Soil salinity 2019Salinization is the most severe threat to soils in the NENA region after soil erosion. Indeed, more than 11 percent of the region’s soils are affected by various levels of soil salinization Salinity has direct effects on the growth and development of plants. Sodic conditions may cause important deterioration of the soil physical properties, indirectly affecting crop growth via increased surface crusting, poor water infiltration, and reduced root zone aeration. The Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management (VGSSM) provide recommendations on how to prevent the development of salt-affected soils. If soils are already degraded and prevention is no longer an option, excess salts can be removed from the soil surface and the root zone using a variety of techniques. Under all conditions, the sustainable management of soil resources is key in preventing and combating salinization.
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Policy briefPolicy briefThe multi-faced role of soil in the Near East and North Africa
Global Soil Partnership Policy brief on soils and green water no. 3 - 2019
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The document supports the aim of all NENA (Near East and North Africa) countries to promote Sustainable Soil Management (SSM) and demonstrates the value of coordinated and targeted action to safeguard the conservation of soils within the region towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The brief analyzes the close links between soil health and water scarcity, suggesting key areas of intervention for policies. Soil degradation in NENA is driven by multiple and complex variables; threatening food security and water availability, increasing social economic inequality and depleting ecosystems, particularly through desertification. For this reason, it is fundamental that inclusive agricultural/environmental policies which include SSM fit within a broader natural resource management agenda, one that integrates water security, climate change adaptation and domestic crop production priorities. This is the third policy brief of a series, the Global Soil Partnership will be developing evidence-based policy briefs for all regions to support policy-makers in the promotion of SSM and healthy soils. -
Book (stand-alone)Technical bookRegional assessment of soil laboratories capacities and needs in the Near East and North Africa region 2023
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No results found.This report summarizes the main findings of a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) implemented by the FAO Office for the Near East and North Africa (NENA) and its Global Soil Partnership (GSP), focusing on the political, financial and infrastructural constraints that are common to the soil laboratories surveyed. Through this project, FAO opened the discussion on data quality and harmonization in the NENA region. The availability of reliable and harmonized soil data remains a challenge that affects decision-making at the national and field level, and the implementation of coordinated actions on the practice of sustainable soil management in the region. Recognizing this challenge, FAO and its GSP assessed the capacities and needs of 34 soil laboratories belonging to the Ministry of Agriculture in ten countries of the NENA region from October 2020 to April 2023. By generating data, laboratories play a role that influences the entire decision-making chain on soil management. The provision of support to soil laboratories indirectly supports farmers, extension services and policymakers, and strengthens national databases for country reporting on international agreements such as the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Book (stand-alone)High-profileStatus of the World's Soil Resources: Main Report 2015
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No results found.The SWSR is a reference document on the status of global soil resources that provides regional assessments of soil change. The information is based on peer-reviewed scientific literature, complemented with expert knowledge and project outputs. It provides a description and a ranking of ten major soil threats that endanger ecosystem functions, goods and services globally and in each region separately. Additionally, it describes direct and indirect pressures on soils and ways and means to combat s oil degradation. The report contains a Synthesis report for policy makers that summarizes its findings, conclusions and recommendations.The full report has been divided into sections and individual chapters for ease of downloading:
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Book (stand-alone)Technical bookSoil erosion: the greatest challenge for sustainable soil management 2019
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Despite almost a century of research and extension efforts, soil erosion by water, wind and tillage continues to be the greatest threat to soil health and soil ecosystem services in many regions of the world. Our understanding of the physical processes of erosion and the controls on those processes has been firmly established. Nevertheless, some elements remain controversial. It is often these controversial questions that hamper efforts to implement sound erosion control measures in many areas of the world. This book, released in the framework of the Global Symposium on Soil Erosion (15-17 May 2019) reviews the state-of-the-art information related to all topics related to soil erosion. -
Book (series)FlagshipThe State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021
Transforming food systems for food security, improved nutrition and affordable healthy diets for all
2021In recent years, several major drivers have put the world off track to ending world hunger and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030. The challenges have grown with the COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures. This report presents the first global assessment of food insecurity and malnutrition for 2020 and offers some indication of what hunger might look like by 2030 in a scenario further complicated by the enduring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also includes new estimates of the cost and affordability of healthy diets, which provide an important link between the food security and nutrition indicators and the analysis of their trends. Altogether, the report highlights the need for a deeper reflection on how to better address the global food security and nutrition situation.To understand how hunger and malnutrition have reached these critical levels, this report draws on the analyses of the past four editions, which have produced a vast, evidence-based body of knowledge of the major drivers behind the recent changes in food security and nutrition. These drivers, which are increasing in frequency and intensity, include conflicts, climate variability and extremes, and economic slowdowns and downturns – all exacerbated by the underlying causes of poverty and very high and persistent levels of inequality. In addition, millions of people around the world suffer from food insecurity and different forms of malnutrition because they cannot afford the cost of healthy diets. From a synthesized understanding of this knowledge, updates and additional analyses are generated to create a holistic view of the combined effects of these drivers, both on each other and on food systems, and how they negatively affect food security and nutrition around the world.In turn, the evidence informs an in-depth look at how to move from silo solutions to integrated food systems solutions. In this regard, the report proposes transformative pathways that specifically address the challenges posed by the major drivers, also highlighting the types of policy and investment portfolios required to transform food systems for food security, improved nutrition, and affordable healthy diets for all. The report observes that, while the pandemic has caused major setbacks, there is much to be learned from the vulnerabilities and inequalities it has laid bare. If taken to heart, these new insights and wisdom can help get the world back on track towards the goal of ending hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition in all its forms.