Exhibition “Healthy Soils for a Healthy Life” on the occasion of the World Food Day (16 October), the International Year of Soils (2015) and the 70th anniversary of the UN and FAO

Mr. Barthassat,
Ms. Aviles,
Ladies and gentlemen,

A warm welcome to today’s opening of the exhibition “Healthy Soils for a Healthy Life”. I thank the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and in particular its Liaison Office in Geneva, for organizing this exhibition. Special thanks also to the Republic and Canton of Geneva and Genève Région-Terre Avenir for their support to this event.

As we gather today, we are marking the World Food Day which is designed to build awareness and strengthen international and national solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty in the world.

This Day takes on special meaning in 2015 as it has been declared the International Year of Soils, drawing attention to the importance of soils for food security and essential functions of the ecosystem.
In a creative way – with a giant carrot surrounded by thematic boxes and information displays – the exhibition sheds light on the importance of soils. Soil is the foundation of agriculture, providing the essential nutrients, water, oxygen and root support for food-producing plants, feed, fuel and medicinal plants. Soils also play a role in disaster risk reduction, retaining water after heavy rainfalls and thereby preventing inundations. As they store carbon they can decrease greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere and help combat global warming.

Ancient cultures already understood the importance of soils. In many proverbs this wisdom has been passed on from generation to generation. “The land (or soil) is our inheritance”, goes a saying from Zimbabwe. “To the one, who gives to the land, the land gives back three times more”, says a Russian proverb.

In modern times humankind has become complacent with their soils, steadily converting grassland and forests to cropland and grazing fields. Restoring degraded lands and adopting soil conservation practices will be an essential prerequisite for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

As nearly 800 million people still suffer from chronic undernourishment, the second SDG calls “to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”. Soils and land will play a crucial role in achieving at least 9 of the 17 SDGs - from ending hunger and maintaining biodiversity to mitigating climate change.

Mesdames et messieurs, en plus de l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture - au moins 55 organisations à Genève œuvrent pour la réalisation du 2ième objectif de développement durable ici à Genève. Les 55 organisations sont engagées, entre autre, dans les droits de l’homme, l’environnement et le commerce de la nourriture.

Je remercie vivement nos collègues du Bureau de liaison de la FAO à Genève de nous avoir amené cette exposition pour nous éclaircir de manière créative sur les faits importants de la nourriture et l’importance des sols, et aussi pour votre intérêt à ce sujet et je vous souhaite “bon appétit” pour la réception plus tard qui mettra en vedette des produits locaux certifié par « Genève Région - Terre Avenir ».

Merci beaucoup.