Information and Knowledge Management

The Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Subprogramme of the Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture plays a key role in the dissemination of factual, comprehensive and current information on the use of nuclear and related technologies to Member States to support their efforts to develop improved and integrated soil-nutrient-water-plant practices for enhancing soil quality, soil fertility, land productivity and ultimately sustainable agricultural production systems, as well as the conservation of valuable soil and agricultural water.

The Soil and Water Management and Crop Nutrition Subprogramme provides technical support to Member States through:

Scientific and Technical Information

Supporting the collection, compilation, analysis, synthesis and dissemination of new technical developments and knowledge in soil and nutrient management, agricultural water management and erosion control; collating technical information to maintain relevant databases and publishing books and scientific articles in peer-reviewed international journals. This information serves to raise awareness and understanding of the benefits of the use of nuclear and isotopic techniques in soil and water management and crop nutrition.

Strategic Advice

Contributing to the direction of strategic thinking and advice on land and water management in influential land and agricultural water management organizations, academic research, teaching institutions and policy and decision-makers by organizing consultant and expert meetings, seminars, symposia and international conferences. Also by conducting technical feasibility, risk assessments and cost-benefit studies of different soil and agricultural water management and conservation alternatives and strategic options for better planning and implementation of different land use and farming systems.

Policies and procedures

Assisting in the development of guidelines and operational procedures for different components of land and agricultural water management. Participating in technical committees and scientific advisory boards to review research development activities in the field of land and agricultural water management.

Networking

Reinforcing contacts among colleagues and institutions of Member States through websites, production and dissemination of newsletters and annual reports.

Public information

Promotion at the general public level as well as for popular scientific audiences of the benefits resulting from the use of nuclear and related techniques in the management of soil, water and crop nutrition through the production and dissemination of videos, brochures, posters and articles in popular magazines.