Exploring the Nexus of Soil Health, Diversified Crops, and Agricultural Productivity for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
Achieving SDG 2 will require radical improvements in regenerative and sustainable agricultural production. The science to support such improvements needs to be fuelled by a wide diversity of knowledge sources ranging from cutting edge scientific research to Indigenous practices honed through generations. This session will highlight scientific advances, applications, and lessons learned for inclusivity and collaboration across the three areas of research and development fundamental to improving regenerative and sustainable agriculture: soil health, adapted and diversified crops, and sustainable productivity growth.
Healthy soil is the very foundation of our food systems and provides several vital ecosystem services, including nutritious food, productivity, flood regulation, habitat for biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration. However, over one-third of the Earth’s surface is degraded. In order to reverse this trend, sustained, collective and collaborative action will be required.
There’s a need to increase awareness and adoption of innovative technologies that enhance sustainable agricultural productivity. This includes technological and managerial innovations, innovative nature-based solutions, and new institutional arrangements and infrastructures. Precision agriculture technologies and climate-smart approaches are emerging areas.
To inform capacity building efforts that empower communities with options and information tailored for their own local conditions and preferences requires inclusive decision making and collaborative innovation building on cutting edge science and local knowledge.