At this year’s World Sustainability Forum in Basel, the topic of soil plays an important role. More than one third of the world’s arable soils have already been lost due to erosion within the past few decades. To safeguard key ecosystem functions that depend on intact soils for future generations, more sustainable management practices are urgently needed, because soil is the basis for food production, soil and plant health, and water filtration. From 7 to 9 September 2015, research, political and economic representatives will meet to share their knowledge of recent developments and progress in sustainability.
FiBL will also take part in the forum: Paul Mäder, a soil expert, will organize a panel. It will provide a vision on how agricultural production can be maintained while natural resources like soil are protected. The focus lies on improving soil through optimized agricultural systems such as organic agriculture or reduced soil tillage. The panel will also show how to increase plant growth and soil fertility through recycling of organic matter and the use of beneficial root fungi (mycorrhiza) and bacteria. Experts from FiBL and all over the world will speak at the panel discussion and present their research outcomes.
Further information
Contact
Paul Mäder, FiBL Schweiz
Links
- sciforum.net: The World Sustainability Forum
- sciforum.net: Topics at the Forum