Havana, June 3 (RHC-PL)-- The Soils Congress 2015 begins sessions on Wednesday at Havana's Convention Center, where experts from more than 20 countries are debating the sustainable handling of that vital resource for food security.

Some 80 foreign experts and researchers are discussing their experiences in that sector, as well as more than 250 Cubans from institutions, universities and other centers linked to the field, Olegario Muñiz, president of the Cuban Society of Soil Science, told Prensa Latina news agency.

Today's event begins with a lecture on the preservation and improvement of soils in Cuba, and the strategies for its sustainable management, by Dagoberto Rodriguez, state soils director at the Ministry of Agriculture.

Pedro Sanchez, of Colombia's Earth Institute, will explain his world experiences that could be important for the management of Cuban soils.

Ronald Vargas, secretary of the World Alliance for Soils, will refer to the implementation plan of the institution in Latin America and the Caribbean, will also participate.

During the Congress, which ends on Friday, at least 800 papers will be discussed. Included among the topics are the preservation and improvement of soils in Cuba, and international experiences that can be important for the sustainable management of cultivable lands.

Prior to this event, a regional workshop, an initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), was held on June 1st and 2nd. The objective of that meeting was to gather important experts from the participating countries of Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean, and others involved to analyze the Implementation Plan in the 2015-2019 period.