Spotlight on soils in the International Year of Soils 2015

The main goal of the International Year of Soils 2015 is to make decision-makers and the general public more aware of the soil's importance for food security and of the many other benefits of soil for society. This tallies with the objectives of NRP 68 and the Steering Committee sees the initiative as a great opportunity for fostering dialogue with different actors.

In collaboration with the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), NRP 68 has set up a working group in which various actors from administration, science and business circles as well as from NGOs are coordinating their activities for the International Year of Soils 2015. These activities are announced on the website boden2015.ch.

NRP 68 and the FOEN jointly publish a monthly fact sheet about specific soil organisms. Illustrated with an eye-catching photograph, these fact sheets are intended to give an impression of the diverse habitats offered by soils and the important role of individual organisms in making soil an asset for society. The FOEN will collect the fact sheets in a publication due to be issued by the end of 2015.

In collaboration with the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG), the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE), the FOEN and sponsors from the private sector, NRP 68 will also be launching the exhibition "Soil!", which will be visiting towns and villages in Switzerland during 2015 and 2016 with the aim of familiarising the public with soil issues and the benefits of soil for society. The exhibition can be booked for public or private information events by contacting the "Umsicht" Agency (info@umsicht.ch), which is in charge of managing the exhibition. The tour itinerary will be published on the boden2015.ch website.

The brochure "Soil, the hidden treasure" of NRP 68 (see separate news) is also intended as a contribution to the International Year of Soils 2015.