2022 will remain a special year in many aspects even if the CoVid 19, which has not finished striking humanity with new variants, seems to be in a phase of decline. As a consequence of climate change, many countries have experienced extreme weather events (high temperatures or prolonged frosts, extreme drought, unusually heavy rainfall, hail, storms, violent thunderstorms, etc.) that have greatly destabilized their agriculture and their natural environments, jeopardizing the food security of their population and their biodiversity. A conflict that was thought to be improbable has come knocking on Europe's doorstep and has caused regional and global disruptions in the energy, food and many other production markets, to the point of weakening the planet's economy.

Once again, it is the "health of the soil" that is at the heart of the international initiative "4 per 1000: Soil for Food Security and Climate". Even if the war in Ukraine is not a direct result of soil health, access to the organic-rich black soils of the Ukrainian Great Plains, rightly considered the breadbasket of Europe, is one of the issues at stake in this conflict.

Addressing this issue of soil health as an absolute priority to achieve all the objectives of the major United Nations conventions on climate change, combating desertification and preserving biodiversity, must be placed at the top of the international agenda. This is a task to which the International Initiative "4 per 1000" is particularly committed in 2022, a year in which the Conferences of the Parties of these three conventions met, as they do only every two years.

In this extremely heavy context after two years dominated by the CoVid 19 pandemic, Sharm El Sheikh hosted the 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. As it was the case in Abidjan last May, the "4 per 1000" Initiative and its partners, members and friends brought "soil health" as the major and priority topic through its now traditional "4 per 1000" Day held on the sidelines of the COP 27.

The objectives of the Strategic Plan 2020-2050 of the "4 per 1000" Initiative are more relevant than ever for our unique multi-stakeholder partnership in the field of food security and climate change, which brings together nearly 720 members and partners (countries, international organizations, research and educational institutions, agricultural and forestry producer groups, non-governmental organizations, companies, etc.). The Strategic Implementation Plan, which is intended to translate the strategic plan into operational terms until 2050, was presented and discussed after it had been validated by the Consortium of Members in August 2022. The Initiative had thus entered a phase of concrete achievements on the ground thanks to the support of its members, partners and supporters.

As part of the 6th Day of the "4 per 1000" Initiative, which was held on November 16 in a hybrid version, the Forum of Partners was opened by a High Level Segment moderated by the Chair of the "4 per 1000" International Initiative. Its theme was "Healthy Soils for a Healthy Planet". Numerous personalities representing 4 per 1000 partner structures (countries or regions, international organizations, agricultural producers' organizations, NGOs, research centers, companies, etc.) presented their point of view as well as the actions they are and will be deploying in this regard.

At the end of the morning, the annual activity report of the International Initiative "4 per 1000" was presented by the Executive Secretariat, followed by the presentation of the Activity Report of the STC (Scientific and Technical Committee) by the Co-Chair of the Committee. In the afternoon, the Consortium of Members held its meeting, for the presentation and adoption of the roadmap and the 2023 budget.

Videos and presentations related to this event so important in the life of the Initiative are now online and we hope to see you in December for the 7th Initiative Day in Dubai

Yours sincerely

Paul Luu

Executive Secretary of the 4 per 1000 Initiative