The global report of “black soils”, precious baskets that provide food for millions of people, fertile and nutrient-rich as they are

ROME – There are many “World Days” – as we know -. Every day of the year. Therefore, in addition to the one dedicated to volunteering – today, December 5th – the one dedicated to soils is also celebrated. L’Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) celebrated it, precisely, today with the launch of its first global report on black soils, which are more at risk than ever from the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and land use change. THE Black Soils they have the characteristic of being dense and dark lands, rich in organic matter. They are intrinsically fertile but are also very sensitive to human intervention and subject to degradation. They contain a lot of organic carbon and represent a huge greenhouse gas potential. However, they guarantee a food basket for many countries and it is therefore essential to promote their conservation and sustainable use to support and ensure food security where it is lacking, while still protecting the environment. With its 725 million hectares of black soil, Russia owns about half of the total land area. Other countries with large areas of black earth include Argentina, China, Colombia, Hungary, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Poland and the USA.

The nutrients that come from the soil. 95% of the food we eat comes directly or indirectly from our soils, which have the extraordinary ability to store, transform and recycle the nutrients we all need to survive, allowing life to continue. Of the 18 nutrients essential to plants, 15 are supplied by the soil – if they are healthy. However, around a third of soils worldwide are already degraded and the loss of soil fertility means the land is less productive and many grains, vegetables and fruits are not as rich in vitamins and nutrients as they were 70 years ago. .

The role of land for food security. The focus of the event World Soil Day of this year, held in hybrid form at the FAO headquarters in Rome, is the role of soils in food security and how loss of soil fertility translates into low yields and crop failures, leading local populations to starvation, to malnutrition and poverty. In the current food and fertilizer crisis, small farmers – especially from vulnerable countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia – lack access to organic and inorganic fertilizers and are currently facing a 300% increase in fertilizer prices. These crises call our attention to the crucial role of sustainable management and restoration of our precious resource, in safeguarding healthy soils and their fertility.

That black treasure. Black soils are characterized by a thick, dark soil horizon rich in organic matter. They are found in Russia (327 million hectares), Kazakhstan (108 million hectares), China (50 million hectares), Argentina (40 million hectares), Mongolia (39 million hectares), Ukraine (34 million hectares) , United States of America (31 million hectares), Colombia (25 million hectares), Canada (13 million hectares) and Mexico (12 million hectares). With their inherent fertility, they are considered decisive for the global food supply.

Another key quality. Black soils have another key quality: they are crucial for climate change mitigation and adaptation, as they contain 8.2% of the world’s soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and can provide 10% of the global seizure potential of the SOC. SOC sequestration offers multiple benefits for humans and the environment and is one of the most cost-effective options for climate change adaptation and mitigation, as well as for combating desertification, land degradation and food insecurity.

The looming threats. As the report shows The Global Status of Black Soils, this black treasure is under threat. Due to land use change (about 31% of global black soils are under cultivation), unsustainable management practices and excessive use of agrochemicals, most black soils have already lost at least half of their stocks of SOC and suffers from moderate to severe erosion processes, as well as nutritional imbalances, acidification and biodiversity loss. The report highlights two main goals: the conservation of natural vegetation on black soils such as grasslands, forests and wetlands, and the adoption of sustainable soil management approaches on cultivated black soils. It also proposes tailored recommendations for farmers, national governments, research and academia, and the international black soil network.

Atlas of Asia. There World Soil Day also saw the pre-launch of theSoil Atlas of Asiaa collaborative effort between the Global Soil Partnership of FAO with the European Commission through its Joint Research Center and with the financial support of the Korean Rural Development Administration and participating countries. The atlas is designed to raise awareness of soil health among a range of stakeholders. Thanks to the contributions of more than 100 soil experts from 45 countries, the atlas portrays the rich diversity of the region’s soils.