In the final report adopted unanimously, Members noted that the Strategic Framework "builds on the momentum and harmonized transformations already taking place in the Organization, including structural reforms, the Hand-In-Hand Initiative and FAO's COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme."
Soil organisms play a crucial role in boosting food production, enhancing nutritious diets, preserving human health, remediating polluted sites and combating climate change, but their contribution remains largely underestimated, FAO said today in its report on “The State of Knowledge of Soil Biodiversity”.

4 December 2020 | 13:00-14:30 CET
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World Soil Day (WSD) is held annually on 5 December as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and advocating for the sustainable management of soil resources.

This year's campaign, "Keep soil alive, Protect soil biodiversity" urges us to focus our attention on the workers belowground - from tiny bacteria to agile millipedes and slimy earthworms - all of which contribute to processes that are indispensable to life on Earth.

The WSD ceremony will be held virtually on 4 December with the participation of Mr Qu Dongyu  - FAO Director-General, Ms Elizabeth Maruma Mrema (tbc) - Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity and thousands of soil fans. The winners of the Glinka prize and King Bhumibol WSD award will be announced during the celebration. An interactive quiz will challenge your knowledge of soil biodiversity.

More info available here

The Director-General spoke at the High-Level Dialogue on the Establishment of the International Platform for Digital Food and Agriculture, an online event FAO hosted to discuss the digital world’s opportunities for agri-food systems with policy makers, farmers’ representatives, business managers and technology companies.