Pillar 3 RESEARCH

Importance/Priorities of Pillar 3 for the Asian RegionPillar 3 aims to stimulate the implementation of targeted soil research as a

response to emerging demands for implementing sustainable soil management practices and for increasing soil productivity.

This should lead to a strategic combination of basic and applied research to generate knowledge for the development of new or improved technologies, for supporting development agendas, economic growth, environmental sustainability and social development.

As identified in the SWSR Report, rapid socioeconomic change and resulting changes in land use and its management, as well as climate change, have had great impacts on the soil resources in Asian countries.

Since the GLASOD and ASSOD projects of the 1980s and 1990s, no extended assessment of the status of soil resources has been carried out in the region.

STATUS OF WORLD’s SOIL RESOURCES REPORT

Threats ranking in Asia1. Soil erosion2. Organic carbon change3. Salinization4. Nutrient imbalance5. Soil pollution6. Soil sealing7. Acidification8. Compaction9. Water logging10.Loss of soil biodiversity

Main Activities for Pillar 3 in the Implementation plan

1. Identify knowledge gaps for identifying/developing indicators for assessing the economic cost of soil degradation and the value of its rehabilitation (stocks taking and gaps analysis).

2. Facilitate the coordination of regional soil research and policy support to launch target R&D programs aimed at answering the identified knowledge gaps for indicators development.

3. Identify regional and local emerging priorities of R&D activities by compiling databases for R&D initiatives and outputs.

4. Foster synergy and engagement between research and end-user communities, and donor agencies, to facilitate active collaboration in a joint-learning approach.

Main Challenges for Pillar 3 ActivitiesMain Challenges1. Stocktaking and gap analysis of evidences for soil research in each

country 2. Networking institutes and experts in the region to launch target R&D.3. Developing databases to identify regional and local emerging

priorities 4. Promote active collaboration between research and other

stakeholders

Timeline2017-2018: Stocktaking (1 & 3) and networking (2)2019-2021: R&D promotion (2 & 3) and multi-stakeholder collaboration (4)

Problems for Pillar 3 Activities Limited mobilization of resources to the activities Weak domestic network among researchers in different

organizations Fewer collaborations between research and other stakeholders

Key to success: Greater participation in the activities Roles of Chair, Working Group and National Focal point

Pillar 3 WG at ASP WS in May 2015Identified Gaps and their Priorities

1. Soil organic matter management (soil C dynamics, crop residue & livestock waste management, biochar)

2. Nutrient dynamics & management3. Proper management of marginal soils4. Remediation of problem soils5. Development of indicators for SSM6. Utilization of functions of soil microbes and

biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture7. Usage of molecular biotechnologies for soil

diagnosis

Suggested Actions1. Strengthening research networks in the region (ESAFS, international

R&D Centers)One paper about WG3 discussion is submitted to ESAFS 2015One session to discuss WG3 activity at ESAFS2017To link WG3 activities to related international Workshops/Conferences To communicate with international R&D Centers for designing possible

collaborative projects

Pillar 3 WG at ASP WS in May 2015

2. Strengthening commitment of governments and funding agencies Information for R&D in each ASP country is compiled and provided to

governmentsTo organize science-policy interface Workshop in order to adjust

common targets between scientists and policy makers/funding agencies

3. Increasing outreaching R&D results to farmers and other end-users Information for R&D outreaching activities in each ASP country is

compiled

Main Topics of Discussion for Pillar 3 Activities (1)

Activity 3.1: “Prove the return of investment in soil R&D” is too challenging, Change to “Compile evidences of the return of investment in soil R&D”.

Activity 3.1.1: “Indicators for assessing the economic cost of soil degradation and the value of its rehabilitation” is too challenging,

Delete “the economic cost of ” and “the value of “.

Activity 3.1.2: There is a question to establish “new” task forces, because this requires that research projects are facilitated. Existing Pillar 3 WG can facilitate this activity,

Rephrase Activity Description.

Main Topics of Discussion for Pillar 3 Activities (2)

Activity 3.2: “Establish the Center of Excellence for Soil Research in the Asian region (CESRA)” is not realistic,

Change to establish an international network of “soil science institutes and experts”, and Rephrase Activity Description of 3.2.1,….. But how the network be established?

Existing Pillar 3 WG and its extension would be realistic.

Activity 3.2.2: “Launch target R&D programmes” is too challenging, Change to “Develop research plans”.

Activity 3.2.3: Promotion of R&D and mobilization of financial resources, How we can approach? … Possible to merge to Activity 3.2.2?

Activity 3.2.4: Ensure governmental and institutional support, How we can approach?

Main Topics of Discussion for Pillar 3 Activities (3)

Activity 3.3.3: Adapt and translate the scientific message to inform all stakeholders,

Possible to integrate or collaborate with Pillar 2.

Activity 3.3.4: Identification of key partners and stakeholders, Possible to integrate or collaborate with Pillar 2 or Activity 3.4.1.

Activity 3.4.1: Identification of key stakeholders and potential donors, Overlap with Pillar 2, possible to collaborate with Pillar 2.

Activity 3.4.2: Promote multi-stakeholder discussions, Overlap with Pillar 2 , possible to collaborate with Pillar 2.

Activity 3.4.3: Carry out interdisciplinary soil R&D projects also involving, participatory approaches

Possible to merge to Activity 3.2.2.