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ROME, Jun 23 2017 (IPS) - Soils are polluted due mostly to human activities that leave excess chemicals in soils used to grow food, the United Nations reports.

Excess nitrogen and trace metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury can impair plant metabolism and cut crop productivity, ultimately putting pressure on arable land, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on 23 June informed. “When they enter the food chain, such pollutants also pose risks to food security, water resources, rural livelihoods and human health.“

The issue took centre stage at the Fifth Plenary Assembly (PA) of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) held at FAO headquarters in Rome this week.

“Soil pollution is an emerging problem, but, because it comes in so many forms, the only way we can reduce knowledge gaps and promote sustainable soil management is to intensify global collaboration and build reliable scientific evidence,” said Ronald Vargas, a FAO soils officer and Secretary of the GSP.

“Combating soil pollution and pursuing sustainable soil management is essential for addressing climate change,” said for his part Rattan Lal, President of the International Union of Soil Sciences, in his keynote address to the Plenary Assembly.

Soil pollution is mostly caused by human activities that leave excess chemicals like nitrogen, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury in soils used to grow food

Degraded soils after flooding in Pakistan. Floods are an important transportation vehicle for soil pollutants. Credit: FAO

Tackling human-caused problems through sustainable practices will mean “more change will happen between now and 2050 than during the 12 millennia since the onset of agriculture,” he added.

The GSP Plenary Assembly is a unique, neutral and multi-stakeholder platform to discuss global soil issues, to learn from good practices, and to deliberate on actions to secure healthy soils for an effective provision of ecosystem services and food for all,” said Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General, Climate and Natural Resources. “Action at the country level is the new frontier.”

The Plenary Assembly endorsed three new initiatives aimed at facilitating information exchange: the Global Soil Information System; the Global Network of Soil Laboratories, set up to coordinate and standardize measurement across countries; and the International Network of Black Soils, launched to increase knowledge about the world’s most fertile agricultural soils, which are also known for their high carbon content.

Soil Pollution Under Scrutiny

Around one-third of the world’s soils are degraded, due mostly to unsustainable soil management practices. Tens of billions of tonnes of soil are lost to farming each year and one cause is soil pollution, which in some countries affects as much as one-fifth of all croplands, the UN specialised agency reports.

The term soil pollution refers to the presence in soils of chemicals that are either out of place or at higher-than-normal concentrations. Such contamination may be produced by mining and industrial activity or by sewer and waste mismanagement.

In some cases, FAO adds, pollutants are spread over large areas by wind and rain. Agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides – and even antibiotics contained in animal manure – are also major potential pollutants and pose special challenges due to the fast-changing chemical formulas employed.

“Soil pollution is an insidious risk because it is harder to observe than some other soil degradation processes, such as erosion. The hazards posed depend on how soil properties affect the behaviour of chemicals and the speed with which they enter ecosystems.”

The diversity of contaminants and soil types, and the ways they interact, make soil surveys to identify dangers difficult and expensive, according to FAO.

Black Soils

Although commonly referred to in national soil classifications, “black soils” are far from uniform. The new International Network of Black Soils defines them as containing at least 25 centimetres of humus and with soil organic carbon content above 2 per cent; by this definition they cover about 916 million hectares, or 7 per cent of the world’s ice-free land surface.

Around one-quarter of black soils are the classic “Chernozem” type, with a humus layer of more than 1 metre; these are found in the breadbasket steppe regions of Eastern Europe and Central Asia and in the former prairies of North America, the UN agency adds.

The International Network of Black Soils aims to promote the conservation and long-term productivity of black soils by producing analytic reports and serving as a platform for knowledge sharing and technical cooperation.

Israel envoy: Jordan dispute should end shortly

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JERUSALEM (AP) — The Latest on the escalation in Israel and the Palestinian territories over a contested Jerusalem holy site (all times local): 6:15 p.m. Israel's U.N. ambassador says he believes the standoff with Jordan over the killing of two Jordanians by an Israeli security guard near Israel's embassy in Amman will be resolved "shortly .

(1 of 8) Security officials park near the approach toward the Israeli embassy in Amman, Jordan, on Sunday, June 23, 2017, in the aftermath of a shooting that left a Jordanian man dead and an Israeli man wounded. A security official confirmed a Jordanian had been killed and an Israeli wounded, but would not provide further details. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the incident with the media.

July 24, 2017

Danny Danon told reporters at the U.N. headquarters in New York Monday that "we are resolving it with the Jordanians." Jordan reportedly wants to investigate the guard who opened fire and has prevented staff from leaving the premises.

On another flashpoint, Danon said removing metal detectors from a major Jerusalem shrine is being discussed by the government. He said Israel doesn't want to see weapons brought onto the religious site and noted that metal detectors are used at the Vatican and Mecca.

Danon spoke ahead of urgent Security Council closed consultations on escalating tensions in Jerusalem. He said the council should demand that Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas stop violence, stop paying "terrorists," and stop "Palestinian lies."

5:25 p.m.

Israel has set up metal railings leading to metal detectors outside an entrance to a major Jerusalem holy site.

The installation of the metal detectors last week had outraged the Muslim world.

The railings seen Monday are of the type used for crowd control, to create orderly lines.

Israeli police declined to comment. A media report has suggested that such railings could be part of an eventual compromise that would enable the removal of the metal detectors.

Israel erected the metal detectors after Arab gunmen killed two policemen from inside the shrine earlier this month.

Palestinians alleged the security devices are part of an Israeli attempt to control the Muslim-administrated site and launched mass protests.

Israel has denied such claims, but has begun considering alternatives amid escalating Muslim protests.

5 p.m.

A former head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency who was at the center of the last major crisis with Jordan says a deal could be reached to pacify Amman as well as cool tensions at a major Jerusalem shrine.

Danny Yatom said Monday that Israel should remove metal detectors from outside the Jerusalem holy site, administered by a Jordanian religious body, in return for Amman releasing Israeli staff.

Israel set up the security devices after Arab gunmen killed Israeli policemen at the site, holy to both Muslims and Jews. The move incensed the Muslim world.

"(The) Jordanians will release our people from the embassy and especially the security officer that shot, and in return we will help the Jordanian Waqf to carry on its role on Temple Mount," Yatom told The Associated Press, adding " We will also take off the metal detector gates."

A shooting at Israel's embassy in Jordan further complicated the crisis.

Jordan wants to investigate the guard who opened fire and has prevented staff from leaving the premises.

Yatom resigned as Mossad chief in the aftermath of a failed attempt to assassinate a leader of the Islamic militant group Hamas Islamic in Jordan.

1:30 p.m.

Israeli police say a Palestinian assailant has stabbed an Arab citizen of Israel in the neck in central Israel, apparently mistaking him for a Jew.

Police spokesman Luba Samri says Monday's attack was nationalist in nature. She says the 21-year-old attacker is a Palestinian working illegally in Israel. He stabbed the 32-year-old victim at a fast food stand in the central Israeli city of Petah Tikva, apparently thinking the man is Jewish.

The attacker then tried to escape but a bystander rammed him with his car and handed him over to police.

The attack comes amid tensions over a sensitive Jerusalem holy site.

In the past two years, Palestinians have killed 45 Israelis, two visiting Americans and a British tourist, mostly in stabbing attacks. During that period, Israeli forces have killed more than 255 Palestinians, mostly attackers.

1:10 p.m.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says an Israeli security guard who shot and killed two Jordanians after one of them stabbed him will be brought home to Israel.

Netanyahu says he has spoken to the guard in question and assured him that Israel has experience in dealing with such situation and would bring him home.

A news website linked to the Jordanian military reported that Jordan is refusing to let the guard leave before he is questioned. The stabber's father says he is demanding justice for his son's death. The guard opened fire after being stabbed with a screwdriver.

The incident sparked a diplomatic standoff and further complicated efforts to resolve an escalating crisis over Jerusalem's most contested holy site.

12:30 p.m.

The father of a Jordanian youth who stabbed an Israeli security guard near Israel's Embassy in Jordan and was then shot to death says he demands "justice" over his son's killing.

Zakariah al-Jawawdeh tells The Associated Press that his son is a "son of Jordan who was shot on Jordanian soil" and it would be unacceptable for the Jordanian government not to seek justice for this.

The son, a 17-year-old, stabbed the guard with a screwdriver late on Sunday. The guard opened fire, killing his attacker and another Jordanian.

The incident sparked a diplomatic standoff and further complicates efforts to resolve an escalating crisis over Jerusalem's most contested holy site.

The father on Monday denied reports that his son was motivated by tensions at the site. He says his son was unaffiliated with any group.

12:15 p.m.

A news website linked to the Jordanian military is reporting that Jordan is refusing to let an Israeli security guard who shot two Jordanians near the Israeli Embassy leave the country.

Monday's report in Hala Akhbar says Jordan wants to investigate the shooter and if Israel refuses to allow that, it will take "diplomatic measures."

The report gives the first indication from Jordan on a diplomatic standoff with Israel over the shooting.

The Israeli security guard killed the two Jordanians after being attacked by one of them with a screwdriver late on Sunday. Israel says the guard has diplomatic immunity under international conventions and is in touch with Jordanian authorities on the matter.

The incident further complicates efforts to resolve an escalating crisis over Jerusalem's most contested holy site.

10:55 a.m.

A senior Muslim cleric says Jerusalem's police chief has met with a lawyer representing the Muslim leadership to discuss solutions to the escalating crisis over a contested holy site.

The crisis erupted last week, after Israel installed metal detectors at the compound following a shooting attack that killed two policemen. Israel's move triggered Muslim protests and claims that it's trying to expand its role at the site, which is also holy to Jews. Israel denied this charge.

Cleric Ikrema Sabri said on Monday that a lawyer for the Muslim leadership met Sunday with Jerusalem police chief Yoram Halevi, and heard a response to Muslim demands.

Sabri says newly installed security cameras, described in media reports as a possible alternative to the metal detectors, were discussed.

The lawyer is briefing Muslim leaders Monday.

9:45 a.m.

Israel's former Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni says she fears that Israel is on the verge of a religious battle with the Muslim world.

Livni says that tactical differences over security measures at a Jerusalem holy site have deteriorated into something far worse and Israel has to stop this.

Linvi told Israel's Army Radio on Monday that "we are a step away from turning our conflict with the Palestinians, and cooperation with Jordan and other Sunni nations, into a pan-Muslim event against the state of Israel."

She says the Israeli Cabinet needs to show leadership to prevent this from happening.

Tensions have been high since Israel set up new measures after Arab gunmen earlier this month opened fire from the site, killing two Israeli policemen. A deadly shooting near Israel's Embassy in Jordan has exacerbated tensions.

9:20 a.m.

Israeli media are reporting that President Donald Trump's Mideast envoy is on his way to the region to try and defuse a growing crisis over a sensitive Jerusalem holy site.

The newspaper Haaretz says that Jason Greenblatt is expected to arrive on Monday in the Trump administration's first direct foray into the crisis.

Tensions have been high since Israel set up new measures after Arab gunmen earlier this month opened fire from the shrine, killing two Israeli policemen.

Israel says the measures are meant to prevent more attacks but Palestinians allege they are an Israeli attempt to control the Muslim-administrated site and have launched mass protests.

Three Palestinians have been killed in street clashes and a 20-year-old Palestinian stabbed and killed three members of an Israeli family in their home in a West Bank settlement.

8:45 a.m.

Israel's security Cabinet has reached no decision about the new security measures at a Jerusalem holy site that have set off a wave of violence.

The top decision-making forum met overnight and into early Monday to discuss the latest developments, including an incident in which a security guard at the country's embassy in Jordan opened fire, killing two Jordanians, after being attacked.

The incident is threatening to complicate the crisis over the holy site, which is administered by Muslim authorities under the auspices of Jordan.

Israel set up the new measures after Arab gunmen opened fire from the shrine, killing two Israeli policemen. It says they are meant to prevent more attacks. Palestinians allege they are an Israeli attempt to control the site and have launched mass protests

Polish ministers, lawmakers meet president

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WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The Latest on Poland's president vetoing bills that would have given politicians influence over the Supreme Court (all times local): 4:30 p.m. Poland's prime minister and parliament speakers have arrived at a presidential residence in Warsaw for a meeting with President Andrzej Duda following his surprise decision Monday to veto legislation key to the government's reorganization of the judiciary.

(1 of 1) People shout slogans in front of the presidential palace Warsaw, Poland, Monday, July 24, 2017. Polish President Andrzej Duda announced that he will veto two contentious bills widely seen as assaults on the independence of the judicial system.

July 24, 2017

The ruling Law and Justice party had held a meeting behind closed doors immediately after Duda's announcement. Deputy Parliament Speaker Ryszard Terlecki said afterward they hoped the president "can still change his mind."

Duda had not yet signed the veto at the time when Prime Minister Beata Szydlo and speakers of both chambers of parliament arrived for the meeting in the afternoon, his press office said.

3:30 p.m.

Top members of Poland's ruling party say they are "surprised" and "disappointed" by President Andrzej Duda's decision to veto two bills that the party has considered crucial to its policies but which were seen as damaging judicial independence.

Duda, who hails from the party and on whose loyalty the party had counted, said Monday he was rejecting a bill on the Supreme Court and another one on a top judicial body.

Shortly after, some government members and party figures arrived somber-faced at the office of Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the party's leader and policymaker.

Kaczynski told reporters he had "no comment" as he arrived.

Deputy Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki , who is also the economy, finance and development minister, said he was "surprised" and "disappointed."

The same words came from Deputy Parliament Speaker Ryszard Terlecki as he left the meeting, held behind closed doors. A large group of protesters chanted "shame" as the men left.

2:20 p.m.

A spokesman for the European Union's executive says that European commissioners will discuss at their regular meeting on Wednesday their reaction to Poland's contentious bills that are seen as an assault on judicial independence and the announcement by the country's president that he will veto two of them.

Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas on Monday had no immediate reaction to the announcement by President Andrzej Duda that he will veto the bills, which have sparked widespread protests in Poland but have been approved by lawmakers.

Schinas says that "all events that are unfolding will be discussed globally by the college on Wednesday also in the spirit and within the context of the statement we issued last week."

Last week, European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans warned that Poland could face a proceeding under Article 7 of the EU treaty, which makes possible sanctions in case of a "serious and persistent" breach of the EU's basic values. In theory, Poland could be deprived of its vote in the EU's council of governments, but such a move would have to be unanimously approved by member states.

1 p.m.

The head of Poland's Supreme Court — the focal point of a legislative battle — says she has thanked President Andrzej Duda for his decision to reject contentious legislation seen as a threat to judicial independence.

Malgorzata Gersdorf met with Duda shortly after he announced his decision to veto bills on the Supreme Court and a top judicial body. Under the legislation that was to reorganize the court's work, all of its current judges were to be dismissed, except for those chosen by the justice minister and approved by the president.

Gersdorf said she has thanked Duda for his veto and that the meeting was in a "very friendly atmosphere."

She vowed "intellectual" support for Duda, who has said he will propose new, improved legislation but will first hold wide consultations with experts.

10:30 a.m.

Poland's democracy icon and former president, Lech Walesa, says it was a "difficult and a courageous decision" for President Andrzej Duda to decide to reject two controversial bills seen as an assault on judicial independence.

The bills were crucial to the wide restructuring of the judicial system that the ruling populist Law and Justice is pursuing. With his decision Duda has defied the party that he has so far been aligned with.

Walesa said Monday that Duda "begins to feel like a president."

He called on the people to continue their days-long massive protests and make Duda also reject a third bill in the package on changes to the judiciary.

"We will either make them turn back or we will bring about a change," Walesa said referring to the ruling party.

Walesa said he was encouraged to see many young people take part in the protests that made Duda veto the contentious legislation.

10:00 a.m.

Poland's president says he will veto two contentious bills that are widely seen as assaults on the independence of the judicial system and are part of a planned legal overhaul by the ruling party that has sparked days of nationwide protests.

In announcing his decision Monday, Andrzej Duda broke openly for the first time with Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the ruling Law and Justice party. Duda is closely aligned with the party and has supported its agenda since taking office in 2015.

Duda said he would veto two of three bills recently passed by lawmakers. One would have put the Supreme Court under the political control of the ruling party, giving the justice minister, who is also prosecutor general, power to appoint judges.

Duda said a prosecutor general should not have such powers.

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