Carla Mucavi delivers a speech during the World Soild Day event held at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on December 5, 2018. (Photo: Xia Li)

New York（People’s Daily）- In celebration of the 5th annual World Soil Day, members from the International Soil-Friendly Farming Association (ISFFA) held a symposium at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York City on Wednesday.

This year’s event, aimed at soil-friendly farming efforts, ISFFA members addressed ways to improve food safety and quality while calling on the international community to increase soil conservation efforts. Other topics addressed included environmental protection and sustainable development of crop industries.

Representatives and experts from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Bank Group - International Finance Corporation, New York University (NYU), University of California Riverside, and other international organizations and academic institutions, also held in-depth discussions on friendly farming practices.

Pollution and degradation have sounded food security alarms bells raising concerns over food health and safety. Experts and panelists alike were in agreement that China deserves global recognition for their efforts in developing soil-friendly fertilizer, which should be promoted throughout the international community.

“Soil-friendly farming is essential for global food security. It can effectively improve soil health and promote new industrialized farming methods, thereby eliminating global hunger,” said Milton Earl McGiffen Jr. with the University of California, Riverside.

Kingenta Vice President and Director of King Farm delivers a speech at the World Soild Day event held at UN heaedquarters in New York City on December 5, 2018. (Photo: Li Xia)

Representatives and experts agreed the long-term benefits of soil-friendly farming can help achieve sustainability the three key sectors: ecological environment, crop yield, and food quality.While speaking at the event, UNFAO Liaison Office Director Carla Mucavi praised ISFFA efforts on promoting sustainable soil development.Mucavi pointed out that the "China Program," explored by the Kingenta Group, a key ISFFA partner in China, improved healthy soil-friendly farming practices.

In the past year, with the support of the Chinese government,ISFFA and other sectors, China has helped cultivate land by improving soil health through healthier pesticide  methods that have seen 15 percent annual yield increases.  

“By reducing unhealthy pesticide use, huge social and economic benefits can be achieved,” said Kingenta Vice President and King Farm Director, Li Jiguo.

“The four aspects proposed by the Chinese representative, Renovation of the Land, Weight Loss and Efficiency, Quality Improvement, and Comprehensive Services, are practical for the implementation of soil-friendly farming,” said Darren R. Kanter, Vice-Chair of the International Nitrogen Initiative and Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at NYU.

“The World Bank is very much in line with the concept of embracing soil-friendly farming. It is very impressed with the practice of China, especially in helping farmers to provide services to them, said Larry Jiang with the World Bank - International Finance Corporation, and principal environmental specialist.

ISFFA representatives said China’s efforts demonstrated the value of soil-friendly farming necessary to maintain sustainable development of agriculture and healthy industrialization, providing a reference point for soil-friendly farming methods.