*Global CA-CoP* *CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE* *for sustainable agriculture, land use and ecosystem management* Dear Subscribers, Please see herebelow the latest ESDAC Newsletter (March 2021). Apologies for any cross-posting. *Amir Kassam * *Moderator* *Global CA-CoP* e-mail: [log in to unmask] URL: http://www.fao.org/conservation-agriculture *Conservation Agriculture is an ecological approach to regenerative sustainable agriculture and ecosystem management based on the practical application of context-specific and locally adapted three interlinked principles of: (i) Continuous no or minimum mechanical soil disturbance (no-till seeding/planting and weeding, and minimum soil disturbance with all other farm operations including harvesting); (ii) permanent maintenance of soil mulch cover (crop biomass, stubble and cover crops); and (iii) diversification of cropping system (economically, environmentally and socially adapted rotations and/or sequences and/or associations involving annuals and/or perennials, including legumes and cover crops).* *These practices are complemented with other complementary good agricultural production and land management practices to generate and sustain optimum performance.* *Conservation Agriculture systems are present in all continents, involving rainfed and irrigated systems* ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: PANAGOS Panos (JRC-ISPRA) <[log in to unmask]> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2021 at 16:06 Subject: European Soil Data Centre Newsletter No.128 (Mar 2021) - https://esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu/public_path/newsletter/202102.pdf To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> ESDAC: http://esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu ESDAC Newsletter No *128* (Mar 2021) New EU soil strategy <https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12634-Healthy-soils-new-EU-soil-strategy/public-consultation>* (public consultation)* All citizens and organisations are welcome to contribute to this consultation. The Commission is, given the scale of this subject concerning essentially the broad public interest, looking for input from a wide range of stakeholders, including citizens, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other organisations dealing with environmental and nature protection. All types of land managers, farm advisors, urban planners, rural and landscape developers, agro- (agrochemical, seed and other), food and beverage industry, extractive industries, other relevant industry stakeholders, research and academia as well competent public sectors in particular those dealing with the environment, agriculture, soil management and land planning are invited to participate. *Deadline* for comments: 27.4.2021. The survey link: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/SoilStrategySurvey2021 Open vacancy in Soil group <https://recruitment.jrc.ec.europa.eu/showprj.php?type=A&id=1913>*: Development of an integrated soil monitoring system for the EU* JRC is recruiting a Scientific Officer for the development of an *Integrated Soil Monitoring System *for the EU, combining the current LUCAS soil monitoring system of the European Commission with existing National soil monitoring systems in Member States. The system will especially collect *new data on soil biodiversity* in the EU. The research officer will support the implementation of the EU Soil Observatory. Candidates must possess a degree in biology, soil science, earth sciences, environmental sciences or agricultural sciences, together with at least 5 years job-related experience on soil ecology, soil survey, soil monitoring and soil classification and analysis. Candidates are expected to lead and contribute to scientific publications and policy briefs. *Deadline for applications*: 15.3.2021. https://recruitment.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ (2021-IPR-D3-FGIV-016568) *The European Commission is looking for *specialists in agricultural development <https://epso.europa.eu/content/administrators-field-sustainable-agriculture-and-rural-development_en> The European Commission (EC) is currently looking for specialists with professional experience in the field of sustainable agriculture and rural development. Recruited policy officers will mainly work at the EC’s Directorate General Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) in Brussels. Your main tasks will be to develop policies and new legislation, implement and manage existing legislation and programmes, perform economic analyses and provide policy perspectives. You will also negotiate and/or monitor trade agreements, contribute to evaluation activities on the performance and the EU added value of measures under the responsibility of DG AGRI. *Deadline for applications* 9.3.2021 Protocol for the assessment of Sustainable Soil Management <http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/GSP/SSM/SSM_Protocol_EN_006.pdf> This protocol, elaborated in the context of FAO’s Global Soil Partnership, constitutes a fundamental tool to assess if any intervention in the field is carried out in a sustainable manner. In practical terms, the protocol provides key indicators and a set of tools to assess soil functions based on its physical, chemical and biological properties. A set of methodologies, instructions and guidelines will be developed and released in an updated version of the protocol during the first half of 2021. JRC soil team has contributed to it. http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload//GSP/SSM/SSM_Protocol_EN_006.pdf <http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/GSP/SSM/SSM_Protocol_EN_006.pdf> *Stream sediment concentrations (or yields) from measured watersheds * We launch a call to collect available data on stream sediment concentrations (or yields) from measured watersheds in European Union. We currently focus on small catchments, mainly agricultural land use (no badland or steep mountains). These collected data will allow users to validate/calibrate their models. The data collection will be concluded with a joint publication. In case you are interested, contact Panos Panagos *More Details* *Download the ESDAC Newsletter*: PDF Format <http://esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu/public_path/newsletter/202102.pdf>. *Feedback*: [log in to unmask] ESDAC Alerts are e-mailed to 11,500 scientists. Follow us @EU_ScienceHub <https://twitter.com/EU_ScienceHub>; @lultimoalbero <https://twitter.com/lultimoalbero>; @PanosPanagos33 <https://twitter.com/PanosPanagos33> ######################################################################## To unsubscribe from the CA-Cop-L list, click the following link: &*TICKET_URL(CA-Cop-L,SIGNOFF);