Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
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Global Soils: Preserving the
Capacity for Food Production
LUCA MONTANARELLA
European Commission - DG JRC, Via E. Fermi, 2749, I-21027 Ispra (VA), Italy
E-mail: luca.montanarella@jrc.ec.europa.eu
http://eusoils.jrc.it/index.html
http://esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
ABSTRACT
Global soil resources are limited and non-renewable. Therefore there is
the need to establish a framework for preserving these limited resources
for future generations. Current rates of soil degradation and land-take
by urban sprawl and other land uses is severely threatening the capacity
of planet Earth to produce sufficient food for the projected population
of more than 9 billion by 2050. A clear target needs to be set and a
functioning global governance system needs to be established for halting
the rate of soil loss in order to preserve this precious resource. After 20
years from the Rio Convention, a binding target of zero net soil
degradation by 2050 needs to be approved by all Nations as a
fundamental sustainable development goal, together with a global soil
partnership
for
soil
protection
federating
all
relevant
stakeholders
towards the achievement of this ambitious goal.
