The United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared 2015 the International Year of Soils (IYS) and 2016 the International Year of Pulses (IYP) to increase awareness and understanding on the importance of soils and pulses respectively for sustainable food production, food and nutrition security and essential ecosystem functions. In order to ensure due complementarities, close links have been maintained between these two celebratory events, taking account of the symbiosis between soil and pulses for contributing to food security and nutrition, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The development of this book started with the Seminar “Soils and pulses: symbiosis for life. A contribution to the 2030 Agenda” held in April 2016, jointly organized by the Permanent Representation of Italy to FAO, FAO and Biodiversity International.
The publication “Soils and Pulses – a Symbiosis for Life” is available online here: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i6437e.pdf