Elir Rojas
World Population Day and World Soil Conservation Day
Chili
In this third column I'm writing about international days related to the Hass avocado (Persea americana Mill) , we find ourselves amidst several storms arriving with great force, once again demonstrating that the days of discussing adaptation and mitigation to climate change have been overtaken by reality. The watchword now is immediate action and addressing the consequences.
This time there will be two milestones: World Population Day (July 11) and International Soil Conservation Day (July 7).
World Population Day was established in 1990 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and originated in 1987 when the world population reached five billion people, which, among other factors, requires being fed based on sustainable processes, in which the Hass avocado producers and exporters in Chile associated with Paltas de Chile AG assumed in their strategy of good practices, measuring and verifying their processes.
We are confident in the quality of avocados as a food source for the growing global population, which needs food products that contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Similarly, international and national organizations promote the consumption of healthy foods, which also come from geographical areas that need to be kept in good, healthy condition.
This brings us to the relationship between population and International Soil Conservation Day, which originated in 1963 in memory of scientist Hugh Hammond Bennett, founder of the Soil Erosion Service, the precursor to the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service. He demonstrated that erosion can be prevented and reduced, leading the U.S. Congress to pass the Soil Conservation Act in 1935. He also contributed to soil conservation projects in Argentina and the Chaco region. Currently, the FAO recognizes World Soil Day, celebrated annually on December 5th.
The population and its food depend on having healthy soils, something that is fundamental for farmers and especially for those who produce Hass avocados in Chile and in several other countries, helping to prevent erosion, especially in arid and semi-arid areas.
Consequently, good practices in avocado ( Persea americana Mill) production are the sum of good soil management to have a food already recognized for its qualities and part of the country's culture.
Elir Rojas Calderón
Bachelor of Geography / Geographer+Hydrologist+CO2
elir.rojas@gmail.com
