Launch of the National Soil Laboratory Networks (NASOLANs) database
The Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN) was established in 2017 to build and strengthen the capacity of laboratories in soil analysis and to respond to the need for harmonizing soil analytical data. The network is organized in Regional and National Soil Laboratory Networks that allow GLOSOLAN to make bottom-up decisions and respond to regional and national needs.
In 2021, GLOSOLAN is paying special attention to the establishment of National Soil Laboratory Networks (NASOLANs) to:
- Allow all soil laboratories in a country to interact with each other, to overcome common challenges and to support each other in building their capacity in soil analysis;
- Promote harmonization processes of soil analysis at the national level;
- Facilitate the transfer of knowledge acquired by the laboratories participating in GLOSOLAN activities at the national level.
In order to support the establishment and functioning of NASOLANs, GLOSOLAN has released the Terms of Reference of the national networks and guidelines on how to establish a NASOLAN. In addition, it has created an online database where information on the NASOLAN in each country can be consulted. The database allows users to:
- find out the status of the network development in each country;
- find out which soil laboratories exist in each country and what analyses they perform;
- become familiar with the network’s activities;
- discover the laboratories’ and the network’s needs.
NASOLAN webpages provide multiple advantages:
- they increase the visibility of the national network at national, regional and global level;
- they ensure that all soil laboratories have access to their NASOLAN information;
- they allow projects and initiatives to connect with NASOLAN and its members. In this regard, soil laboratories can be easily contacted and involved in projects and initiatives independent of GLOSOLAN and the GSP;
- they draw the attention of donors to the needs of NASOLAN and the soil laboratories.
- they provide examples of how NASOLANs can be established.
At present, the database only contains profiles of countries that have provided information on their national network and of countries that are not in a position to establish a NASOLAN because they are geographically too small or have a limited number of soil laboratories. The database is updated on a regular basis. Information on currently missing countries will be provided as soon as possible.