Iran Press/ Asia: As the global celebrations marking Word Soil Day in Rome, Italy, on Thursday, December 5, 2024, FAO held a ceremony through a webinar to celebrate the day and award prizes to the pioneer in the field.
There in the ceremony, the King Bhumibol WSD Award, sponsored by the Kingdom of Thailand, was awarded to the Ministry of Agriculture of Iran for having organized the best WSD celebrations last year.
Also, Iran's Deputy Minister of Agriculture for Water and Soil Affairs received the award in person in Thailand and delivered a speech at the awarding ceremony.
The events Iran organized in 2023 revolved around the theme: "Soil and Water, a Source of Life."
According to FAO, also, a Glinka prize, sponsored by the Russian Federation, was awarded to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand, specifically to the Land Development Department (LDD) for its global leadership in integrating science, policy, and community-driven initiatives to enhance soil health.
This year’s theme also revolved around a three-part contest: a children's booklet contest on soil data and information; a farmers’ contest for those demonstrating effective and innovative practices for improving soil health; and a podcast contest through which soil scientists, researchers, educators, artists, and creatives seek to raise awareness about the importance of soils among children.
Alongside the celebrations of WSD in Thailand and Saudi Arabia, there were more than 5,000 events worldwide, playing a key role in engaging the public and recognizing the work of farmers as custodians of the soil.
215
