Organic farmers of the Pacific to support Year of Soils

Organic farmers of the Pacific to support Year of Soils

19 February 2015

Recognising that soil is one of the essential elements for life, along with water, air and sunlight, organic farmers across the Pacific region will be actively supporting the 2015 United Nations International Year of Soils.

Through the Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community (POETCom), organic farmers and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) will be raising the awareness of civil society and decision-makers about the fundamental role of soils for human life.

“Soil isn’t something people think about a lot, but it’s the basis for our lives on this planet, from food to housing to clean water,” the POETCom coordinator, Karen Mapusua, said.

“It takes around 2000 years for just 10 centimetres of soil to be made through the earth’s natural processes, but according to the University of New Mexico through poor management we are losing about 6.4 billion tonnes of soil globally each year"

“If we’re going to be able to feed ourselves in the future we have to save our soils. There are over 5000 certified organic farmers in the Pacific and many more using traditional organic practices that improve soil health and even build soil– these farmers play an important role in protecting our soils and ensuring food security,” Ms Mapusua said.

The campaign will include regular articles, info-graphics and YouTube clips available through the POETCom webpagewww.organicpasifika.com , which will aim to promote effective policies and actions for the sustainable management and protection of soil resources, as well as to provide everyone with simple things that we can all do to contribute to ‘soil saving’ and ‘soil building’.

“You can join the campaign by sharing through your networks the resources and information we will be developing throughout the year, and which will be available on our Facebook page Organic Pasifika,” Ms Mapusua said.

POETCom is a network of organic farmers and supporters across the Pacific islands region. POETCom works in partnership with European Union and the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the secretariat is supported by SPC.

For more, please visit: www.organicpasifika.com or Facebook/Organic Pasifika

ENDS

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