80 Years of growth: Recognizing advancements in sustainable management of our land, soil and water resources | Земельные и водные ресурсы | Продовольственная и сельскохозяйственная организация Объединенных Наций | Land & Water – Food and Agriculture Organization

FAO Global Technical Recognition Ceremony: Advancing Sustainable Development Goals in Agrifood Systems

Introduction

On 15 October 2025, in commemoration of its 80th anniversary, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) held a Global Technical Recognition Ceremony. The event’s primary objective was to honor countries and institutions for their innovative practices contributing to the transformation of agrifood systems, a critical step toward achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). The ceremony highlighted solutions across six thematic areas, with a significant focus on the sustainable management of land, soil, and water resources, which form the foundation of global food security and are central to multiple Sustainable Development Goals.

Recognized Contributions to Land, Soil, and Water Management

Thirty-nine entities were recognized for their contributions to resilient agriculture and food security through effective land, soil, and water resource management. These initiatives directly support the achievement of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The honored solutions are detailed below:

• Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management, Austria: For the “Soil pioneers 2050” initiative, which promotes climate-mitigating and soil-improving management systems, contributing to SDG 13 and SDG 15.
• Belgorod State Agricultural University named after V. Y. Gorin, Russia: For developing adaptive landscape farming systems that enhance agricultural resilience, supporting SDG 2 and SDG 15.
• Brazilian Soil Science Society and Brazilian Federation of the No-Till System, Brazil: For advancing the No-Tillage System, a technology that supports sustainable agriculture and addresses global demands in line with SDG 2 and SDG 15.
• Bureau of Center Land Consolidation, Royal Irrigation Department Thailand, Thailand: For the integrated land consolidation project in Kalasin province, which enhances agricultural development and food security (SDG 2).
• Department of Farmland Construction Management, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, China: For the implementation of a black soil conservation project, directly contributing to SDG 15 (Life on Land).
• Direction de l’Irrigation et de l’Aménagement de l’Espace Agricole, Morocco: For the Chtouka Project, an integrated and participatory water management approach that strengthens territorial resilience, aligning with SDG 6.
• District Administration, Washim, Maharashtra, India: For the “Ashirwaad” program, a holistic and integrated approach to combat agricultural distress and support SDG 2.
• Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education Kazan State Agrarian University, Russia: For a comprehensive program to restore hydraulic structures and develop land reclamation using water-saving technologies, advancing SDG 6.
• Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil: For the “SeloVerde” governmental platform, which supports environmental due diligence and contributes to SDG 15.
• Institute for Forest and Agricultural Management and Certification, Brazil: For developing The Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Removals Estimating System (SEEG), a tool crucial for SDG 13 (Climate Action).
• Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, Japan: For multiple innovations, including BNI-enabled Wheat, the P-dipping technique, Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) technology, and partial subsoiling for sugarcane, all of which boost yields, improve climate resilience, and reduce environmental impact in support of SDG 2 and SDG 13.
• Karnataka State Open University, India: For its contributions through the Krishi Bhagya Scheme, aimed at improving agricultural outcomes (SDG 2).
• Land Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand: For its role in the integrated land consolidation project for agricultural development in Kalasin Province, supporting SDG 2.
• Land and Survey Department of the Government of Tuvalu, Tuvalu: For the Tuvalu land and green registry, an innovative solution for improved tree inventory and land governance under SDG 15.
• Lebanese Agriculture Research Institute, Lebanon: For an ICT tool for irrigation scheduling, promoting efficient water use in alignment with SDG 6.
• Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Research Services, Malawi: For addressing water scarcity through research and promotion of drought-resilient crops, contributing to SDG 2 and SDG 6.
• Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, Moldova: For its work in sustainable land management, supporting SDG 15.
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland: For the “Soil Scout” wireless sensor network, enabling water-smart, climate-resilient farming in line with SDG 6 and SDG 13.
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies, Türkiye: For the TAGEM-SuET decision support tool for irrigation management, advancing SDG 6.
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Water Management, Türkiye: For implementing integrated water resource management in the Gediz River Basin, a key action for SDG 6.
• Ministry of Environment Climate Change Disaster Management and Meteorology, Solomon Islands: For the integrated management of protected areas for natural resource conservation, contributing to SDG 15.
• Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, General Directorate of Combating Desertification and Erosion, Türkiye: For a decision support system for Land Degradation Neutrality, directly targeting SDG 15.3.
• Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development Cooperativa Chortitzer, Paraguay: For implementing sustainable land management practices to combat land degradation, in line with SDG 15.
• Ministry of Natural Resources, People’s Republic of China, China: For the comprehensive management solution for the Yunhe rice terraces, integrating land, soil, and water resources to support SDG 2 and SDG 15.
• Ministry of Environment, Colombia: For an integrated water-territorial resilience model, a science-community hybrid approach supporting SDG 6 and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
• National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center, China: For promoting soil testing and formulated fertilization, which enhances sustainable production as per SDG 2 and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
• Natural Soil Service Centre, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Bhutan, Bhutan: For its work on sustainable land improvement, contributing to SDG 15.
• National Water Authority, Peru: For its application of the water stress indicator (SDG 6.4.2) at the river basin level to inform water policies, directly advancing SDG 6.
• Public Joint Stock Company PHOSAGRO, Russia: For its support of the Global Soil Doctors Programme, a partnership fostering soil health and aligning with SDG 2, SDG 15, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
• Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development, University Program of Interdisciplinary Soil Studies of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico: For its implementation of the Global Soil Doctors Programme in Mexico, supporting SDG 2, SDG 15, and SDG 17.
• Royal Irrigation Department, Thailand: For the “Bang Rakam Model,” a participatory community flood prevention and mitigation initiative that supports SDG 11 and SDG 13.
• Rwanda Water Resources Board, Rwanda: For strengthening water governance to enhance food security and adapt to climate change, a crucial effort for SDG 2 and SDG 6.
• Somalia Disaster Management Agency, Somalia: For a flood early warning system that serves as a model for anticipatory action, contributing to climate resilience under SDG 13.
• Swiss national research centre on Agriculture (Agroscope), Switzerland: For “Open smart irrigation,” a platform for climate-resilient water management that supports SDG 6 and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).
• University of Pécs, Hungary: For the “Spongecity” project, which improves urban climate change adaptation, aligning with SDG 11 and SDG 13.
• University of São Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, Brazil: For the SOHMA KIT®, a field-based soil health assessment toolkit that promotes sustainable land management (SDG 15).
• VITO Research Center, Belgium: For a Ukrainian-Belgian partnership focused on restoring soil health in conflict zones to build resilient agri-food systems, supporting SDG 2, SDG 15, and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
• Water Resources Research Institute, National Water Research Center, Egypt: For integrated water resource management for sustainable agriculture and community resilience in South Sinai, contributing to SDG 2 and SDG 6.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights several initiatives and innovations in agrifood systems, directly connecting to a number of Sustainable Development Goals. The primary focus on land, soil, water management, resilient agriculture, and food security links the content to the following SDGs:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article’s central theme is the transformation of agrifood systems to end hunger and ensure food security. The FAO’s ceremony honors practices that contribute to “resilient agriculture and food security,” which is a core component of SDG 2.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  Numerous recognized projects focus on water resource management, irrigation efficiency, and water-saving technologies. Examples include Morocco’s “participatory water management approach,” Türkiye’s “Integrated water resource management,” and Rwanda’s efforts to “strengthen water governance,” all of which are central to achieving sustainable water management as outlined in SDG 6.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  Many of the solutions mentioned are designed to build resilience to climate change and mitigate its effects. Austria’s project aims for “climate change mitigating…management systems,” Japan’s solutions boost “climate resilience,” and Somalia’s “flood early warning system” represents adaptation to climate-related hazards, directly addressing the goals of SDG 13.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The article repeatedly emphasizes the importance of land and soil conservation. Projects such as China’s “Black soil conservation project,” Paraguay’s efforts to combat “land degradation,” and Türkiye’s “Land degradation neutrality decision support system” are directly aligned with the objectives of SDG 15 to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The entire event described in the article, where the FAO recognizes and shares effective practices and innovations from various countries and institutions, exemplifies the spirit of SDG 17. It showcases global partnership and knowledge sharing to achieve sustainable development, such as the “Ukrainian-Belgian training partnership” for restoring soil health.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific solutions and themes discussed, the following SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 2.4

   “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.” This target is addressed by nearly all the initiatives, such as Malawi’s promotion of “drought resilient and nutritious varieties” and Brazil’s “No-Tillage System” which improves soil health and sustainability.

2. Target 6.4

   “By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity…” This is evident in projects like the “Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) technology” from Japan, Russia’s development of “land reclamation using water-saving technologies,” and the “ICT tool for irrigation scheduling” from Lebanon, all aimed at more efficient water use in agriculture.

3. Target 6.5

   “By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels…” This target is explicitly addressed by projects such as Türkiye’s “Integrated water resource management in Gediz River Basin” and Egypt’s initiative for “Integrated water resource management for sustainable agriculture.”

4. Target 13.1

   “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” This is demonstrated by solutions like Somalia’s “flood early warning system as a model for anticipatory action” and Colombia’s “Integrated Water-territorial resilience” model, which are designed to help communities adapt to climate-related disasters.

5. Target 15.3

   “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.” This target is directly supported by initiatives like Paraguay’s “Sustainable land management practices… to combat land degradation,” China’s “Black soil conservation project,” and Türkiye’s “Land degradation neutrality decision support system.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article explicitly mentions one SDG indicator and implies several others through the description of the projects’ goals and outcomes:

• Indicator 6.4.2: Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources (Explicitly Mentioned)

  The project from the National Water Authority, Peru is titled “Disaggregation of water stress level (SDG 6.4.2) at the river basin and sub-basin level and its application in water policies.” This is a direct reference to the official SDG indicator used to measure progress on water scarcity.

• Indicator 2.4.1: Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture (Implied)

  The various solutions recognized, such as Brazil’s “No-Tillage System,” Austria’s “soil health improving management systems,” and Bhutan’s “Sustainable land improvement,” are all methods for achieving sustainable agriculture. The adoption and spread of these practices would be a measure for this indicator.

• Indicator 13.1.2: Number of countries that have adopted and implemented national disaster risk reduction strategies (Implied)

  Somalia’s “flood early warning system” and Thailand’s “Participatory community flood prevention and mitigation” model are examples of implementing national or sub-national disaster risk reduction strategies, which is what this indicator tracks.

• Indicator 15.3.1: Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area (Implied)

  Projects focused on “combating land degradation” (Paraguay), “Black soil conservation” (China), and restoring soil health (Belgium/Ukraine partnership) directly aim to reduce the proportion of degraded land, which is the core of this indicator.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: fao.org