This document discusses the establishment of a Global Soil Partnership (GSP) to address increasing soil degradation and pressures on soil resources. It outlines the preparatory process for the GSP from March 2011 to April 2012, which included launching discussions with partners, holding an initial meeting in September 2011, establishing a technical working group to develop terms of reference, and revising the terms of reference through open comment periods and presentations to countries. The terms of reference were then presented to FAO's Committee on Agriculture in May 2012 for consideration and endorsement to officially establish the GSP and allow it to move forward as an effective process to prioritize and deliver actions to sustainably manage soil resources globally.

1. “TOWARDS A GLOBAL SOIL
PARTNERSHIP”
Alexander Müller (ADG/NR)
24 May 2012, COAG

2. REPORT OF THE 22 SESSION OF COAG (16-19 June 2010)
b) and c) are interlinked
as FAO needs to
strengthen its soils
capacities in order to
provide targeted guidance
and support to FAO
member countries and
sub-regions.
Soils are critical for FAO
Member countries for
achieving food security
goals, sustaining
agricultural and economic
development and for
climate change
adaptation and
mitigation.
A Global Soil Partnership
is certainly the right
vehicle to address the
current pressure to soils
and strength capacities at
FAO and country
members.

3. Process of Establishment of the GSP
PROGRESS RESULTS
PREPARATORY PROCESS Background paper, partners
With partners, FAO started the planning and preparation identified, soils re-positioned in
March-August 2011 high level policy and technical
of the GSP (special attention to existing
networks, potential niche, etc). agendas and meeting organized
LAUNCH MEETING Meeting implemented
September 2011 Full support to GSP initiative
200 representatives worldwide to discuss the idea of Roadmap
establishing the GSP.

4. Process of Establishment of the GSP
PROGRESS RESULTS
ESTABLISHMENT OF TECHNICAL WORKING
GROUP December 2011- Zero draft GSP Terms of Reference
76 Soil Scientists worldwide from all type of February 2012 prepared (TOR -15 pages)
organizations in a voluntary basis composed the TWG to
prepare the ToRs under the facilitation of FAO. Continues
open interaction and contribution coordinated by FAO till
the time of reaching an agreement.

5. Process of Establishment of the GSP
PROGRESS RESULTS
DIFFUSION AND REVISION OF ToRs/ESTABLISHMENT OF Consolidated GSP Terms of
AN OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUP February-April 2012 Reference (ToR) (2 pages)
- Presentations to Country Members of the Zero
Version (in particular GRULAC and G77).
- Request comments from country members to
FAO.
- Inclusion of comments from range of countries.
- Meeting with Regional Chairs - agreed to
summarize the Zero version to 2 pages and call
the Zero draft as “Background Document”.
- Full agreement that there is no need for an
Open-Ended Working Group.
- Inclusion of all comments and suggestions to
short version.
- GSP Advocacy at all levels and recognition
worldwide by countries and partner processes.

6. Process of Establishment of the GSP
PROGRESS RESULTS
FAO PROGRAMME COMMITTEE
However, GSP is already in the
May 2012
The GSP ToRs were intended to be PWB 2012-2013, therefore no
considered at the recent PC session need to discuss inside the PC.
FAO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE (COAG)
As establishment of GSP was requested by ………..Soils cannot wait! They
COAG, it is now presented for its consideration: May 2012 deserve serious, concerted
a) establishment of the GSP; attention by FAO and partners
b) endorsement of the ToRs.
RIO+20 Conference
- 3 side events on Soils to be organized at Rio
together with UNCCD, EC, EMBRAPA, etc. to June 2012 ……………….
include soils centrally in the Sustainable
Development Agenda and Goals.
- To present GSP after its establishment at COAG.

7. How to move forward?
GSP already gained a good
Because it is everywhere, momentum (already recognized
we tend to overlook the and welcomed worldwide:
fact that soil is a limited 18900 quotes in Google) and
natural resource. support from many
international, regional and
national institutions and
Because of increasing processes.
degradation, increasing
demand and pressures on Its official endorsement is now
soil resources, and their vital to move forward and
vital importance for make the Partnership an
human livelihoods and effective process for
wellbeing the prioritising and delivering
international community actions at all levels! Donors
cannot keep postponing have indicated interest to
actions to support the financially support it, providing
sustainable use of soil it is officially welcomed by the
resources. countries.

8. TOWARDS THE GSP: REGIONAL SOIL
PARTNERSHIPS
Nanjing, China Amman, Jordan 1-5 April 2012
8-11 February 2012
THANKYOU
Mar del Plata, Argentina
16-20 April 2012