“TOWARDS A GLOBAL SOIL PARTNERSHIP”

Alexander Müller (ADG/NR)24 May 2012, COAG

REPORT OF THE 22 SESSION OF COAG (16-19 June 2010)

b) and c) are interlinked as FAO needs to strengthen its soils capacities in order to provide targeted guidance and support to FAO member countries and sub-regions. Soils are critical for FAO Member countries for achieving food security goals, sustaining agricultural and economic development and for climate change adaptation and mitigation. A Global Soil Partnership is certainly the right vehicle to address the current pressure to soils and strength capacities at FAO and country members.

Process of Establishment of the GSP

PREPARATORY PROCESS

With partners, FAO started the planning and preparation of the GSP (special attention to existing networks, potential niche, etc).

March-August 2011

LAUNCH MEETING

200 representatives worldwide to discuss the idea of establishing the GSP.

Background paper, partners identified, soils re-positioned in high level policy and technical

agendas and meeting organized

September 2011Meeting implemented

Full support to GSP initiativeRoadmap

PROGRESS RESULTS

Process of Establishment of the GSP

PROGRESS RESULTS

ESTABLISHMENT OF TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP

76 Soil Scientists worldwide from all type of organizations in a voluntary basis composed the TWG to prepare the ToRs under the facilitation of FAO. Continues open interaction and contribution coordinated by FAO till the time of reaching an agreement.

December 2011-February 2012

Zero draft GSP Terms of Reference prepared (TOR -15 pages)

Process of Establishment of the GSP

PROGRESS RESULTS

DIFFUSION AND REVISION OF ToRs/ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUP

- Presentations to Country Members of the Zero Version (in particular GRULAC and G77). - Request comments from country members to FAO.- Inclusion of comments from range of countries. - Meeting with Regional Chairs - agreed to summarize the Zero version to 2 pages and call the Zero draft as “Background Document”. - Full agreement that there is no need for an Open-Ended Working Group.- Inclusion of all comments and suggestions to short version. - GSP Advocacy at all levels and recognition worldwide by countries and partner processes.

February-April 2012Consolidated GSP Terms of Reference (ToR) (2 pages)

Process of Establishment of the GSP

PROGRESS RESULTS

FAO PROGRAMME COMMITTEE

The GSP ToRs were intended to be considered at the recent PC session

FAO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE (COAG)

As establishment of GSP was requested by COAG, it is now presented for its consideration: a) establishment of the GSP;

b) endorsement of the ToRs.

May 2012 However, GSP is already in the PWB 2012-2013, therefore no need to discuss inside the PC.

RIO+20 Conference

- 3 side events on Soils to be organized at Rio together with UNCCD, EC, EMBRAPA, etc. to include soils centrally in the Sustainable Development Agenda and Goals.

- To present GSP after its establishment at COAG.

June 2012

May 2012………..Soils cannot wait! They deserve serious, concerted attention by FAO and partners

……………….

How to move forward?

Because it is everywhere, we tend to overlook the fact that soil is a limited natural resource.

Because of increasing degradation, increasing demand and pressures on soil resources, and their vital importance for human livelihoods and wellbeing the international community cannot keep postponing actions to support the sustainable use of soil resources.

GSP already gained a good momentum (already recognized and welcomed worldwide: 18900 quotes in Google) and support from many international, regional and national institutions and processes.

Its official endorsement is now vital to move forward and make the Partnership an effective process for prioritising and delivering actions at all levels! Donors have indicated interest to financially support it, providing it is officially welcomed by the countries.

TOWARDS THE GSP: REGIONAL SOIL PARTNERSHIPS

Nanjing, China 8-11 February 2012

Amman, Jordan 1-5 April 2012

Mar del Plata, Argentina 16-20 April 2012

THANKYOU