Decades of archived soil research have now been transformed into an accurate, up-to-date, and fully functioning information system – based on state-of-the-art digital soil mapping techniques. The new Macedonian Soil Information System or “MASIS” – formally launched here today – was developed with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and its Global Soil Partnership.

Soils are a precious resource in this landlocked country, but climate change and other threats – including heavy human activities – are degrading it at an alarming rate. Without a proper evidence base such as a soil information system, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia had no systematic way of making decisions to promote sustainable soil management, or of monitoring soil conditions and functions over time. Since soil information is needed to guide sustainable soil and land management, this has contributed to stagnating agricultural development.