International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) Concludes; 2015 is the International Year of Soils

2014 marked the United Nation’s International Year of Family Farming. Numerous activities and actions were carried out, promoting the critical role family farmers play in agricultural, forestry, fisheries, pastoral and aquaculture production. Via Campesina, the globe’s largest federation of small farmers, published this analysis to put the campaign and the day to day challenges of family farmers into perspective.

Of special interest was photo contest sponsored by the AgriCultures Network and World Rural Forum.  The theme of the contest was “Family Farming: Feeding the world, caring for the earth.”

Click here to learn more and see the other entries.

The United Nation’s has declared 2015 as International Year of Soils (IYS).

According to the UN General Assembly:

The specific objectives of the IYS 2015 are to:

• Raise full awareness among civil society and decision makers about the profound importance of soil for human life;
• Educate the public about the crucial role soil plays in food security, climate change adaptation and mitigation, essential ecosystem services, poverty alleviation and sustainable development;
• Support effective policies and actions for the sustainable management and protection of soil resources;
• Promote investment in sustainable soil management activities to develop and maintain healthy soils for different land users and population groups;
• Strengthen initiatives in connection with the SDG process (Sustainable Development Goals) and Post-2015 agenda;
• Advocate for rapid capacity enhancement for soil information collection and monitoring at all levels (global, regional and national).

For a beautiful look at the incredible role soils play, please take a look at Lily Film’s “Symphony of Soil”

Symphony of the Soil – Trailer from Lily Films on Vimeo.