“Those who know care, those who care lobby” - The Social and Capital Value of Living Soil  (Soil Security Series)

In Panel 2 of this series, panelists will explore the Capital and Connectivity dimensions of the Soil Security Framework, highlighting the critical gap in human-soil connection and economic recognition of the value of soil. We will hear different stories from around the world on how people connect to soil in socio-economic, cultural, and spiritual ways, which determine the nature of human activities that affect soil, a living entity, and all the forms of life that it supports. This panel will also feature case studies, tools, and frameworks that capture social bonds to soil, economic valuation models, and the role of incentives and governance. The session will foster dialogue across science, policy, and practice on how to activate societal will and unlock soil investment.

Speakers:

Dr. Julio C. Pachón-Maldonado (Moderator)

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Soil Security: Codification-Connectivity/Pedometrics, Sydney Institute of Agriculture & School of Life and Environmental Sciences, 

The University of Sydney

Julio Pachón is a soil scientist whose work centres on soil security, particularly the dimensions of Connectivity—people’s awareness and engagement with soils—and Codification—the legal and policy frameworks that protect them. He has collaborated with stakeholders across Europe, Africa, South America, North America, and Australia, combining field-based pedological experience with advances in digital soil mapping and policy analysis. His current focus is on self-assessment tools that allow farmers, policymakers, and land managers to connect directly with the latest soil research in a personalised way, while also exploring how artificial intelligence can assess legislation and strengthen governance frameworks that bring soils into global sustainability debates.

Dr. Hanieh Moghani

Expert Member

United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)

Hanieh Moghani is an Indigenous advocate, international legal scholar, and policy expert dedicated to advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the recognition of their knowledge systems.

Didi Pershouse

Founder of the Land and Leadership Initiative, Author of The Ecology of Care

Didi Pershouse is known worldwide for her deeply participatory workshops with the Land and Leadership Initiative on the role of a healthy "soil sponge" in preventing flooding, drought, heatwaves, and fire. She is the author of The Ecology of Care: Medicine, Agriculture, Money, and the Quiet Power of Human and Microbial Communities and Understanding Soil Health and Watershed Function, used in over 100 countries. While serving on Vermont’s state-appointed Payment for Ecosystem Services and Soil Health Working Group, she helped to reorient the state away from the financialization of nature and back toward publicly funded initiatives. She has worked closely with the UN-FAO Farmer Field School Programme and the Andhra Pradesh Natural Farming Initiative, involving over 1 million farmers in India. She writes and hosts The Wisdom Underground on Substack.

Avanti Pethe

UK/EU PR & Communications

Conscious Planet - Save Soil Movement

On behalf of Isha Outreach, IUCN NGO Member

Avanti works for the Conscious Planet vision of raising human consciousness as a transformative solution to the pressing challenges humanity faces today—from mental health to ecological sustainability. She represents Save Soil at global platforms such as the United Nations COP events, and led communications in various key Save Soil milestones, one being the 100-day Save Soil across 30,000 kms and 27 nations to raise global citizen awareness about soil degradation. 

Date, Time & Format: 

September 21 

16:30 IST / 21:00 AEST / 14:00 EAT/ 13:00 CEST / 07:00 ET

Convert to local time here

Zoom Registration Link: savesoil.org/SoilSecurity