GLOSOLAN distributes new equipment to boost soil laboratory capacities
The Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN) was established in 2017 to strengthen the capacities of soil laboratory analysis and to respond to the need to harmonize soil data.
Equipment is an essential part of laboratory analysis capacities, but equipment is not the only tool required to gather reliable data. The Network encourages laboratories to provide their staff with regular training to implement good practices and to ensure that the equipment they use is well maintained before investing in new technologies.
GLOSOLAN purchases equipment for laboratories in developing countries based on how they perform on the GLOSOLAN proficiency test (see figure 1). Equipment is provided exclusively to those laboratories that demonstrate they do not require additional training on quality assurance and internal quality control.
Achieving quality results also depends on the abilities of individual laboratories to implement quality assurance procedures to either prevent or limit mistakes. Quality control procedures, and the continuous monitoring of laboratory operations and results is an essential component in deciding if the results are reliable enough to be released.
Laboratories eligible to receive equipment - low variability of results
Laboratories not eligible to receive equipment - high variability of results for identical samples
Figure 1. Results from the statistical analysis of data submitted by two laboratories that participated in the GLOSOLAN PT 2019
Based on the results of the global PT organized by GLOSOLAN in 2019, the Network provided equipment to 17 laboratories in need that also demonstrated to be active members to GLOSOLAN. The recipient countries were Botswana, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Georgia, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Thailand, the Republic of North Macedonia, Peru, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Zambia. All laboratories that qualified to access the GLOSOLAN donation programme were given the opportunity to receive equipment.
Such countries were invited to complete a form that enquired about criteria spanning the type of analysis they perform, the average number of soil samples they analyze per soil parameter annually, their available equipment and its status, in addition to their overall needs for equipment.
The GLOSOLAN Chair, Vice-Chair and coordinator processed the information provided by laboratories that completed the form and made the final decision on the equipment to procure to each laboratory. This approach ensured the provision of equipment that was urgently needed by each laboratory and that would allow their technicians to conduct or improve their performance in conducting analysis of basic soil parameters.
With the correct set of tools and technologies in place the provision of accurate, harmonized data and information can result in reliable and comparable information between countries and projects while facilitating new harmonized soil data sets conducive to evidence-based decision-making on sustainable soil management.
The donation of laboratory equipment was made possible thanks to the financial support of PhosAgro to the GSP/GLOSOLAN.
For more information
Details on the equipment provided to each laboratory are available on the GLOSOLAN equipment interactive map.
Further details on the donation system can be found on the GLOSOLAN equipment webpage.
Read more on the Proficiency Test