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Technical guidelines on soils for nutrition

Sustainable soil management for nutrition-sensitive agriculture

Year of publication 2023

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 44 p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Booklet

Synopsis (short abstract) These technical guidelines outline the role that soil health plays in the nutritional quality of food and provide soil management recommendations to increase the supply of micronutrients to the food chain. Micronutrient supply is part of a holistic view of soil health, where healthy soils contribute to a safe and healthy diet. The guidelines provide seven main actions, with concrete tools and instructions, including fertilization practices, the use of adapted varieties, the application of nature-based solutions, the development of policy guidelines and the development of training strategies. This document is addressed to all actors involved in food security and production, from farmers to policymakers, to engage them in sustainable soil management for nutrition-sensitive agriculture. The technical guidelines on soils for nutrition are the result of a review of existing scientific references on the topic and from field trials and demonstration sites developed under the Sustainable Soil Management for Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. The project explored the links between soil health and plant micronutrient content in cropping areas in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso and Malawi, and tested the effectiveness of sustainable soil management practices in increasing the micronutrient content of food. Similar measurements are recommended in the long term to complement the observed results and to obtain additional information about the relationship between soil health and the quality of locally produced food. Similarly, through capacities developed locally, in extension services and in rural communities, a major increase in farmer participation is expected. This will contribute significantly to the dissemination of sustainable soil management practices that have been shown to have a positive effect on the production of more nutritious food.

Last updated 19/04/2023

Cite this content as:

FAO. 2023. Technical guidelines on soils for nutrition – Sustainable soil management for nutrition-sensitive agriculture. Rome.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cc5069en

Language English

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