Item 3: Current initiatives, new proposals and next steps of 5 pillars of action Pillar 2. Encourage investment, technical cooperation, policy, education, awareness and extension in soil • Writing of the policy brief “The multi-faced role of soil in Asia” Dr. Munir Zia, Pillar 2 Chair

1. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
Item 1
GSP developments of
regional interest
Ms. Lucrezia Caon
NENA Soil Partnership coordinator
Item 3
Pillar 2 | Current initiatives,
new proposals and next steps
By Munir Zia
R&D Coordinator, Fauji Fertilizer
Pakistan
ASP Chair for Pillar2

2. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
i. Policy Brief for Asia “The multi-
faced role of soil in Asia”
ii. Implementation of Global Soil
Doctors Program – Asia
(Separate Presentation)
Pillar 2 Initiatives:

3. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
The multi-faced role of soil in Asia
Executive summary
Key messages
1. Introduction
Short intro to the agricultural sector in Asia…importance, main crops, import/export.
Main constrains faced by the agricultural sector in Asia.
Main soil threats in each Asian country…
Table reporting the main soil threats in each Asian country
2. Healthy soils for food security and nutrition
Start by mentioning the 4 dimensions of food security…which dimensions of food security
are not met/weak? Make the link with soil threats looking at the table in chapter 1. What
strategies are countries implementing to manage these soil threats and ensure food
security and nutrition?
We need of data. For example, what are the countries most affected by soil pollution?
What type of pollution are we talking about? What are their consequences on human
health and food production?
PROPOSED CONTENTS

4. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
The multi-faced role of soil in Asia
3. Soil health and water scarcity
Data proving that water scarcity is or is becoming an issue in Asia. What countries does it
affect the most? How improved soil health will address the issue of water scarcity?
What are countries doing to cope with this problem – case studies?
4. Healthy soils for climate change mitigation and adaptation
Talk about carbon sequestration and fertilizer use. Link to RECSOIL, mapping (establishment
of national soil information systems), Fertilizer Code, policy and decision making, GLOSOLAN
and INFA
5. Sustainable soil management to prevent regional environmental conflicts
Case studies
Example: flooding entering from one country to the other; this is causing pollution.
6.Recommendations and the way forward
Glossary
References
PROPOSED CONTENTS

5. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
The multi-faced role of soil in Asia
Executive summary
Key messages
1.Introduction
2.Healthy soils for food security and nutrition
3.Soil health and water scarcity
4.Healthy soils for climate change mitigation
and adaptation
5.Sustainable soil management to prevent
regional conflicts
6.Recommendations and the way forward
Glossary
References
PROPOSED CONTENTS
Do you agree on
these topics? Do they
reflect the role that
soil plays or can play
in Asia?

6. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
The multi-faced role of soil in Asia
Who can contribute to write what?
Section Authors
Introduction
Healthy soils for food security and
nutrition
Soil health and water scarcity
Healthy soils for climate change
mitigation and adaptation
Sustainable soil management to
prevent regional conflicts
Recommendations and way forward

7. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
The multi-faced role of soil in Asia
We would like to add 2 tables in the policy brief:
- Table on the main soil threats in each country
- Table on SSM practices per country
Example on how info should be reported:

8. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
The multi-faced role of soil in Asia
Country Threat 1 Threat 2 Threat 3 Threat 4 Threat 5
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
erosion in hills
and river areas
salinity pollution flooding/drought acidification
Bhutan
Cambodia
China
India
Indonesia
fertility
depletion
soil erosion salinity soil quality
degradation
(after mining)
decrease of crop
production
Japan
Laos
Preliminary screening of the main soil threats in the region

9. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
The multi-faced role of soil in Asia
Country Threat 1 Threat 2 Threat 3 Threat 4 Threat 5
Malaysia
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal soil erosion loss of SOM soil
acidification
soil water
management
soil fertility
depletion (NPK)
Pakistan soil fertility soil salinity soil erosion soil pollution agricultural
crop
productivity
Philippines soil erosion soil fertility
decline
flooding/drou
ght
salinity acidification
Korea
Singapore
Sri Lanka soil erosion compaction loss of soil heavy metals salinity
Preliminary screening of the main soil threats in the region

10. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
The multi-faced role of soil in Asia
Country Threat 1 Threat 2 Threat 3 Threat 4 Threat 5
Thailand soil
erosion
misuse
related to
the
suitability
of the
land
salinity drought low fertility
Timor Leste
Viet Nam
Preliminary screening of the main soil threats in the region

11. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
The multi-faced role of soil in Asia
Provision of case studies
Topic Authors Notes
Pollution
Water use
Population growth and
urban expansion
Climate change
Carbon sequestration
Fertilizer use
Other???

12. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
Deadlines
- completion of the tables discussed during this
meeting: end of February 2021
- first draft of the policy brief by mid-April
- revision mid-April-first of week of May
- finalization of the document by the end of May (this
includes also graphic editing)
- publication in June (launch at the GSP Plenary
Assembly)

13. 6th Asian Soil Partnership MEETING | 4-5 February 2021
Thanks for
your attention