Inside this issue

Dear members: This month, we celebrate World Food Day on 16 October. This issue has two features that highlight the important role our Societies play in combating food insecurity.

First, our cover story this month (see p. 3) showcases the work of former SSSA Past President and SSSA–ASA Fellow Rattan Lal. On 15 October during Borlaug Dialogue, held virtually this year, Lal will be formally awarded the 2020 World Food Prize for developing and mainstreaming a soil-centric approach to increasing food production that restores and conserves natural resources and mitigates climate change.

Our second feature (see p. 8) is the first of a three-part series on food security. As food insecurity threatens areas of urban America, the role of urban agriculture, community gardens, and extension agents in feeding the community manifests. Innovations in urban agriculture—from creative reuse of stormwater to soil rehabilitation—help fight food insecurity and prevent further food issues.

This issue of CSA News magazine also provides a preview of this year's Virtual Annual Meeting (see p. 20). One of the benefits of being virtual this year is that there is no topical overlap. All recorded sessions will be available to registrants for three months aft er the meeting. This year's theme is “Translating Visionary Science to Practice.” You won't want to miss the great lineup of speakers and the opportunity to connect with your peers. This year's award winners and Fellows can be found on p. 43.

Finally, speaking of meetings, ASA and the International Certified Crop Adviser Program held a very successful Sustainable Agronomy Conference in August. The new virtual format saw attendees from across the United States join in for a combination of recorded presentations with live question-and-answer and panel sessions. The presentations were both practical and dynamic. From discussions of the economic impacts of sustainability, to talks about the practical, long-term implementation of cover crops, to providing ecosystem services and biodiversity on the farm, soil health improvement and measurement, and the 4Rs of nutrient stewardship, the lineup of speakers was engaging. They covered many of the most pressing issues in sustainability today.

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