The international "4 per 1000" Initiative

Welcome to the website of the “4 per 1000” Initiative.

The international “4 per 1000” Initiative aims to demonstrate that agriculture, and in particular agricultural soils, can play a crucial role in food security and climate change.
Launched by France on December 1, 2015 during COP 21, it consists of bringing together all voluntary actors from the public and private sectors (States, communities, businesses, professional organizations, NGOs, research, etc.) within the framework of the Action Plan Lima-Paris.

Discover the "4 per 1000" Initiative

Using MRV Tools

The international “4 per 1000” Initiative, in partnership with the FAO, the FARM Foundation and Deloitte Sustainability (France), carried out work on MRV (Monitoring, Reporting and Verification) tools and systems to Soil Health in the context of agroecology and the “4 per 1000” Initiative.

Using MRV Tools

‘SECURING OUR FUTURE’, POLICIES BRIEVES

In narrow collaboration with Save Soil and SEKEM, two policies brieves were prepared and shared with the three networks for endorsement before the UNFCCC COP 29 in Baku (Azerbaijan) and UNCCD COP 16 in Riyadh (Saoudi Arabia).

Find out more

The Strategic Plan of the "4 per 1000" Initiative

On 15 June 2020, the Consortium of Members approved the strategic plan of the international “4 per 1000” Initiative which will guide its action until 2050.

Consult the strategic plan

‘Farmers have the Earth in their hands’ , the first book of the "4 per 1000" Initiative

A book by Dr Paul Luu, from La Butineuse publishers.

Discover more about it

Regional ‘4 per 1000’ Latin America and Caribbean Conference

The Latin American and Caribbean Soil Carbon Research Symposium (LAC Soil Carbon) 2025 – June 25-28, 2025 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Latin American and Caribbean Soil Carbon Research Symposium (LAC Soil Carbon) 2025 aims to promote the importance of sustainable agricultural production for socioeconomic development and food security at both regional and global levels.

Promoted by the Soil Carbon International Research Consortium (IRC) and the international “4 per 1000” Initiative, the event will focus on organic carbon in soil, an essential resource for agricultural production.

Over four days, researchers, students, experts and practitioners will gather to exchange ideas and discuss regional and global challenges in promoting sustainable agricultural practices and preserving soil health.

Simultaneous translation will be available during the event in three languages: English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Information and inscription here

Understanding the “4 per 1000” Initiative in 3’30

Credit INRAE, IRD, CIRAD and CGIAR, Spring 2016

Why do we talk about “4 for 1000” ?

The International “4 per 1000” Initiative encourages stakeholders to engage in a transition towards a regenerative, productive, highly resilient agriculture, based on appropriate land and soil management, which creates jobs and income and thus leads to sustainable development.

It aims to show that agriculture can provide concrete solutions to the challenge posed by climate change while meeting the challenge of food security through the implementation of agricultural practices adapted to local conditions: agroecology, agroforestry, conservation agriculture, landscape management, etc.

The Initiative facilitates the development of concrete actions on the ground, benefiting to both farmers and herders, who are the first to be affected by land degradation, and more broadly to the entire world population.

The Executive Secretariat of the international “4 per 1000” Initiative is hosted by The Alliance Bioversity International-CIAT, an international organization based in Montpellier (France).

Discover the Initiative

What does “4 per 1000” mean? How do agricultural and forest soils play a major role in food security and climate? How is the Initiative organized? What is its Strategic Plan?

Discover

Acting with the Initiative

We are all concerned ! Urgent action is needed to ensure our food security and limit the impact of climate change.

Find out how to act.

Take action

Joining the Initiative

In concrete terms, how do you get involved?

Join

Members and Partners

Countries of origin of Members and Partners

Producer organisations

Mapping of Members and Partners of the “4 per 1000” Initiative

Consult the list of Members and Partners

Our partners and members of the "States and local Authorities" college take action!

Northern European countries have joined the International “4 per 1000” Initiative in force with Norway (Ministry of Agriculture and Food), Finland (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) and Denmark (Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries) becoming Consortium members. Sweden (Ministry of Rural Affairs) has joined the Initiative as a Partner. Around the governmental actors, many other structures from Northern European countries have also joined the international “4 per 1000” Initiative with the firm intention to act as soon as possible.

Find out more

Our partners and members of the "International Organisations" college take action!

The international “4 per 1000” Initiative benefits from a strong partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through the Land and Water Division, but also with the Global Soil Partnership.

Find out more

Our partners and members of the "Research and Education" college take action!

Embrapa is a Brazilian public agricultural research company. Embrapa strives to ensure that solutions that guarantee sustainable development are developed from the fields.

Find out more

Our partners and members of the "Producers organisations" college take action!

Conservation Agriculture is a farming system that promotes minimal soil disturbance (i.e. no tillage), maintenance of a permanent soil cover, and diversification of plant species (crops and cover plants). It enhances biodiversity and natural biological processes above and below the soil surface, which contribute to a more efficient use of water and nutrients, and allows for sustainable improvement of crop production [source FAO]. [source FAO].

In France, some Members of the “4 per 1000” Initiative advocate for Soil Conservation agriculture, whether they belong to the college of Producers Organisations or to the NGOs’ one

Find out more

Our partners and members of the "Civil society organisations" college take action!

Agroecology is a set of agricultural models whose principles and practices can create resilient systems, reducing the vulnerability of populations and enhancing local production. Many members of the international “4 per 1000” Initiative as Agrisud International, CARI or GRETare carrying out numerous actions in favor of agroecology.

Find out more

Our partners and members of the "For-profit businesses" college take action!

As a Partner of the international “4 per 1000” Initiative, the Kaoka company, “chocolate planter”, is working with its producer partners to find concrete solutions for restoring their soils and preserving landscapes and biodiversity.

Find out more