18-19 October 2022

Day 1 – National Focal Points and laboratories 

Opening, endorsement of the agenda and group picture 

• AFRILAB Chair – Ms. Lesego Mooketsi-Selepe
• GLOSOLAN Vice-Chair – Mr. Abdourahaman Moustapha
• African Soil Partnership Chair – Ms. Anne Muriuki

Item 1. Quick updates (global, regional)

What is GLOSOLAN - Main achievements at global and regional levels - Regional capacities needs - NASOLANs: establishment and activities (stories from the region: Botswana, Nigeria)

Ms Lucrezia Caon, GLOSOLAN Coordinator, GSP/FAO

Item 2. Soil laboratories and national government: bridging the gap

• NRLs survey outcomes - Mr Filippo Benedetti, GSP/FAO
• National Soil Laboratory Networks
• Open discussion on how to strengthen the collaboration and communication between laboratories and national Focal Points (governments)
• Resource mobilization
• Improvement of national soil legislation systems (soil import, waste management and disposal, drainage system, etc.) 
  • Governance on the import of soil samples and guidelines on the management of soil samples in laboratories - SIMPLE - Mr Giacomo Rocchegiani, GSP Secretariat, FAO
• Presentation of the projects implemented/under implementation in the region (both by GSP and other organizations)
• Discussion on country-specific project proposals

Moderator: Mr Sougueh Cheik, AFRILAB Vice-Chair

Item 3. Announcements

New GLOSOLAN website - GLOSOLAN 5th anniversary celebrations - 6 th GLOSOLAN meeting

Mr Filippo Benedetti, GSP/FAO

DAY 2 – Laboratories only

Item 4. Proficiency testings

GLOSOLAN proficiency test (PT) 2021: regional outcomes (Mr Christian Hartmann, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement) - Regional and national PTs - Contribution to GLOSOLAN PT organization and implementation (link to video, NRLs survey)

Moderator: Mr Michael Watts, British Geological Survey

Item 5. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

GLOSOLAN harmonization process (updates, introductory session organization) - Regional harmonization of methods not used worldwide - Prioritize GLOSOLAN documents to be translated

Moderator: Mr Takesure Tendayi, AFRILAB Vice-Chair

Item 6. Capacity building

GLOSOLAN video trainings (need for more subtitles, launch a call for new videos) - GLOSOLAN webinars: call for trainers

Mr Filippo Benedetti, GSP/FAO

Item 7. Interpretation of laboratory results and provision of recommendations to farmers

• Guidelines already available in the region: presentation of survey results - Develop regional-based interpretation guidelines - Invite an extension agent to share his experience
• Relation between Laboratories and Farmers – The case of Zambia - Mr. Cornelius Zemba, Ministry of Agriculture - Zambia

Moderator: Mr Sadick Adams

Item 8. Closing remarks