Soils Newsletter, Vol. 38, No. 2, January 2016

In 2015 the Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition (SWMCN) Subprogramme held several events to celebrate the "International Year of Soils" (IYS), to raise awareness and improve the understanding on the importance of soil for food security and essential ecosystem functions. The side event on 'Managing Soils for Climate-Smart Agriculture' on 16 September 2015 during the 59th IAEA General Conference was well attended with more than 80 participants including many country delegations attending the IAEA General Conference. The four speakers from Member States showcased the successes and impacts in the field as well as their experience on the importance of soils in global food security, the impacts of climate change on soil and the crucial roles of nuclear applications for climate-smart agriculture. Similarly, the one-day conference on 7 December 2015 on "Celebration of the 2015 International Year of Soils: Achievements and Future Challenges", with the International Union of Soil Science (IUSS), to coincide with World Soil Day on 5 December and to mark the closing of IYS. Speakers from all Regional Soil Science Societies reported on their achievements with regards to managing soils for sustainable crop production and intensification. Working groups discussed future challenges and opportunities for soil research and development, and international partnership and collaboration. The roles of isotopic and nuclear techniques for managing soils to combat land degradation, improve soil fertility and resource use efficiency, while reducing the environmental impacts of agriculture, and improving the nutritional quality of crops were highlighted during the conference. At the event, participants proclaimed the 'Vienna Soil Declaration: Soil matters for humans and ecosystems', which sets the framework for future research in soil science and links achievements to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and global endeavours to combat climate change. It sends a strong message for the future that we want