Global Symposium on Soil Pollution

Soil pollution implies the presence of chemicals and materials in soil that have a significant adverse effect on any organisms or soil functions. Soil pollutants include inorganic and organic compounds, some organic wastes and the so-called “chemicals of emerging concern” in amendments added to soils.

Soil pollution has a direct impact on food security and there is a direct link between the quality and safety of the food we eat and the level of soil pollutants. Because some pollutants are taken up by plants through different pathways, they accumulate in the food chain, compromising the safety of the food consumed by both humans and animals. Additionally, soil pollution affects food availability by reducing crop yields due to toxic levels of pollutants that hamper crop growth and reduce soil biodiversity, thus increasing the problem of food security.

The Global Symposium on Soil Pollution, to be held from 2 to 4 May 2018 at FAO headquarters is the first step in implementing the Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management in terms of preventing and reducing harmful substances in soil as a way to maintain healthy soils and food safety in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Specifically, the symposium outcomes should provide scientific evidence to support actions and decisions to prevent and reduce soil pollution for increased food security and nutrition, and ecosystem services, and promote the remediation of polluted sites.

The specific objectives of the symposium are to: 

1. Examine the current scientific and technical understanding of soil pollution and its effects on food production and safety;
2. Critically reflect on the impact of land use decisions at the national level (e.g. related to mining, and intensive agriculture and livestock production) on soil pollution and eventually, air and water where polluted soil or its pollutants can be transported by erosion processes or water runoff;
3. Identify limitations and prioritize key challenges related to restoring polluted sites;
4. Review existing international policies, agreements and frameworks addressing sources of pollution to agricultural land in order to assess their effectiveness and propose ways to improve them; and
5. Survey and review the use of soil thresholds for pollutants globally and explore additional research and policy needs

Key dates:

• Deadline for abstract submission | 15 February 2018
• Deadline for registration | 1 April 2018

Download the Concept note

Registration

Participants include representatives from FAO member states, UN Environment, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and WHO country parties, UN, governmental and non-governmental institutions, presenters whose abstracts are accepted, and scientists and practitioners working in related fields. Additionally, the symposium is expected to call the attention of the private sector working on agricultural inputs production and distribution, pollutant management, technology development for measuring and controlling soil pollution, and restoring polluted sites. Registration will be open until April, 1 2018.

Online registration

Abstract submission - Deadline approaching, less than 1 month left!

The Organizing Committee of the Global Symposium on Soil Pollution (GSOP18) is currently accepting abstracts that will compete for oral and poster presentations. The extended abstracts shall be written in English, maximum 2000 words in Word format.

Abstracts should address one of the following symposium themes:

THEME 1 | Soil pollution on agricultural fields

THEME 2 | The impact of soil pollution on food production and safety, the environment and overall human well-being

THEME 3 | Remediation of polluted sites

THEME 4 | Developing policies to prevent and control soil pollution

THEME 5 | Setting thresholds for soil pollutants

Guide for authors:

All extended abstracts must be submitted in the prescribed format (Extended abstract template) and emailed to GSOP18(at)fao.org, indicating ''Call for extended abstracts/Your full name/Preferred Theme'' in the subject line. They will be assessed by the GSOP18 Scientific Committee.

The deadline for abstract submission is 15 February 2018. Authors will be notified regarding their abstract submission by 15 March 2018 and details for oral and poster presentations will be provided. 

For any enquiries regarding GSOP18 and abstract submission, just write to us.

The GSOC17 Organizing Committee is looking forward to your active participation in this important event.

GSOP18 - Global Symposium on Soil Pollution
2 – 4 May 2018 - FAO HQ - Rome, Italy
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Email: GSOP18(at)fao.org