On 3 December 2018, the Permanent Mission of Thailand together with the Permanent Missions of Argentina and El Salvador, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) hosted an event on the occasion of World Soil Day 2018 (5 December 2018) at the United Nations Headquarters, New York. The theme of this year is “Be the solution to soil pollution”.

Thailand has hosted this event for 5 consecutive years in order to raise awareness on the importance of soils and sustainable soil management towards agriculture development, nutrition and food security. The celebration of World Soil Day around the world on 5 December each year coincides with birthday anniversary of His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej who worked tirelessly during this reign in the field of soil resources development, in particular agriculture development.   

Following the adoption of the World Soil Day and the International Year of Soils by FAO, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations in New York, presented a resolution to the Second Committee of the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly to declare 5 December of every year as the World Soil Day and 2015 as the International Year of Soils. 

In his opening statement, H.E. Mr. Vitavas Srivihok, Ambassador and permanent representative of Thailand to the United Nations, reiterated the importance of cooperation among relevant stakeholders to promote sustainable soil development and management in order to achieve SDGs.

For more information World Soil Day, please visit:

http://www.un.org/en/events/soilday/