Event type
Lead organisation
Event address
Museu do Amanhã
Praça Mauá, 1 - Centro
RJ
20081-240
Brazil
Latin America and the Caribbean have seen remarkable experiences and technological advances over the past 60-70 years, particularly through adapting techniques and practices to tropical conditions. However, food insecurity and negative impact on environment, including soils, remains a challenge, and there are difficulties in adopting technologies that suit the diverse regional production systems, economic structures, and social conditions.
Reaching various communities and addressing their specific needs is a complex task. Encouraging collaboration of all categories of stakeholders on converging issues are crucial steps toward addressing both regional and global challenges.
Launched in 2015 at COP 21 in Paris, the “4 per 1000” international Initiative brings all kinds of stakeholders together to build partnerships for sustainable agricultural practices, focusing on soil carbon sequestration to help tackle climate change and strengthen food security through evolution of food systems. Meanwhile, incepted in November 2023, the Soil Carbon International Research Consortium (IRC) provides global scientific background for addressing these challenges.
Soil carbon is a key indicator of soil health including fertility and productivity, as soils rich in carbon hold more nutrients and water for plants. All forms of soil carbon, organic and inorganic, play an important role in the global carbon cycle, and through their sequestration, soils become carbon sinks and contribute to the mitigation of climate change and to the improvement of the adaptation capacity and resilience of agricultural production systems, farms and rural societies. Organic carbon is critical for preserving soil health, supporting soil ecology, and building resilience in both natural and agricultural environments.
Soil is the largest active carbon reservoir on land and play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Maintaining healthy soil carbon levels is vital for producing food, bioenergy, and fibers in a sustainable way.