Working Together for Soils: The Longstanding Collaboration Between FAO and the IUSS

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has a fundamental mandate to ensure food security, which is intricately linked to sustainable soil management and combating land degradation. Since the establishment of both FAO and the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS), a fruitful collaboration has existed, emphasizing the need for concerted efforts among organizations in studying and managing soil resources. This collaboration has resulted in the creation of global products regarded as milestones within the community of soil scientists. Over time, the partnership between FAO and IUSS evolved, leveraging innovative technologies to produce more products, such as the World Soil and Terrain database (SOTER) database, and fostering collaborations with diverse scientific fields. The significance of sustainable soil management has expanded to encompass new focal areas, including its role in climate change mitigation and adaptation, and the preservation of ecosystem services. In this context, FAO has been adapting activities to local contexts and supporting countries in improving soil management practices. These efforts culminated in the establishment of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) in 2012, which serves as a global mechanism to promote sustainable soil management at all levels. The GSP aims to engage diverse stakeholders by facilitating crucial partnerships and technical networks, developing knowledge and data products, and supporting the strengthening of soil governance in several countries.