Why soil matters?

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17 Why soils matters - A european perspective
Proceedings of the Conference
Teresa Anderson,
Policy Officer for Climate & Resilience
for ActionAid International.
Teresa Anderson explained how
ActionAid works closely with farmers
in Asia and Africa, as well as with the
UN, within the Climate negotiations.
The organisation gives input to the
climate talks, based on its experience
with farmers who work with
agroecology and improve the capacity
of the soil, in a context of constant
climate adaptation. Teresa explained
how soil has a massive role to play in
adaptation. We should not be talking
about using soil to reach mitigation
targets due to the nature
of soil.
On the other hand, the potential
of agroecology is vital for climate
adaptation.
conducted with scientists
and governmental experts has
confirmed that agroecological
techniques (composting, mulching,
greater seed diversity, agroforestry)
are the answer for climate adaptation.
In this regard, the concept of
(CSA), developed
by the FAO and the World Bank, is
potentially positive but also quite
controversial. CSA entails 3 objectives,
aiming to preserve soil health in
a changing climate: adaptation,
mitigation and increasing yields.
However, there is no clear
definition, criteria or distinctions
on what is and what is not CSA, and
how it can benefit food systems facing
climate change. The
(GACSA)
was launched in September 2014. It
includes 20 member countries, some
NGOs and farmers’ organisations, but
also which
defend sustainable intensification.
60% of corporations in the alliance
are fertiliser companies such as
Syngenta and Monsanto, and the
2ND PANEL:
HEALTHY SOILS, CLIMATE-FRIENDLY FOOD:
RAISINGOPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COP21
The EU has paid limited attention
to the contribution of more
sustainable food production in
responding to climate challenges.’
Bart Staes
Bart Staes,
Greens/EFA member of the
Committee on Environment,
Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI)