Voluntary Guidelines on Sustainable Soil Management

The Fourth Plenary Assembly of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) endorsed the Voluntary Guidelines on Sustainable Soil Management

The Assembly, which met at FAO headquarters in Rome on 23-25 May 2016, endorsed the Voluntary Guidelines on Sustainable Soil Management (VGSSM).  Cristina Grandi, Chief Food Security Campaigner, was on-site representing IFOAM – Organics International. 

We are pleased that the guidelines contain most of the inputs provided by IFOAM-Organics International for the zero draft. In particular, they include a chapter on preserving and enhancing organic matter and organic farming is recommended for Sustainable Soil Management.

Although the VGSSM are of voluntary nature and not legally binding, they provide an easily accessible and understandable reference to a wide range of stakeholders: government officials, policy makers, farmers, pastoralists, forest and land managers, extension services and agricultural advisors, development partners, civil society, private sector and, academia, etc.

It is a tool the organic movement can use in its advocacy work to local and national authorities in order to promote policies and actions in favor of organic farming. You can download it here.