Founded on 19 May 1924, IUSS will commemorate its centenary and contribution to both nature and human wellbeing. The event aims to strengthen connections with various disciplines, policymakers, stakeholders, institutions, and associations to effectively address societal needs in agriculture, forestry, environment, urban planning, energy, education, and other areas. The centennial celebration will feature two days of intensive congress, hosting plenary and parallel scientific sessions. These sessions will involve soil scientists and specialists from diverse fields, focusing on past accomplishments and future challenges.

Since its inception, the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) of FAO has maintained a robust partnership with IUSS characterized by collaboration and synergy. As a longstanding collaborator, FAO and GSP will host two dedicated lunch symposia.

THE STATUS OF THE WORLD’S SOIL RESOURCES REPORT 2025

This symposium will highlight the methodology and procedures used by the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS) and the GSP for producing the second edition of the report. It will also present partial conclusions of regional assessments and threats to ecosystem functions like global food and fiber production, biodiversity, and water quality. Participants will engage in discussions on global soil trends.

GLOBAL SOIL MAPPING AND MONITORING AND THE GLOBAL SOIL HEALTH INDEX (GSHI)

This session aims to spotlight FAO's GSP efforts in monitoring soil health and leveraging soil information and data. It will showcase the GSP's work in country-driven global soil mapping and monitoring crucial for effective soil resource management. Additionally, FAO's GSP capacity development program and progress in developing a comprehensive global soil health dashboard will be discussed.

Also, GSP colleagues will deliver numerous presentations throughout the thematic sessions of the scientific program, covering a range of topics such as soil data harmonization, soil microbial analysis, soil biodiversity, youth soil advocacy, and sustainable soil management:

• FAO’s GSP activities on soil data harmonization for global soil mapping and monitoring
• Inter-laboratory proficiency tests (PTs) and the reliability of soil laboratory measurements worldwide: the case of GLOSOLAN
• The importance of a harmonized approach in soil microbial analysis: the standard operating procedures of the FAO’s Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
• The Global Soil Biodiversity Observatory: implementation phase
• Sowing seeds of awareness: The GSP and IUSS unite for youth soil advocacy
• Nurturing soil literacy: The innovative strategies for awareness and action of FAO’s Global Soil Partnership
• Structure and methodology of the Status of the World's soil resources report
• Sustainable Management of Black Soils: Urgent Need for Achieving Global Food Security and Climate Change Mitigation
• Cultivating Sustainable Soil Management: FAO´s Global Soil Doctors Programme in Action
• Increasing soil carbon and soil health in productive systems in Costa Rica, Mexico, and Togo through the FAO´s Recarbonization of agricultural soils (RECSOIL) Initiative
• The RECSOIL initiative contribution towards Land Degradation Neutrality and soil health

Check the detailed agenda on the IUSS website.

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