FAO and the Eurasian Centre for Food Security (ECFS) are launching the book "Sustainable soil management in the Eurasian region" (available in Russian). This publication represents the first experience of regional application of the recommendations contained in the Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management and its supporting documents.

Download the publication here (soon available)

The International Forum on Black Soil Conservation and Utilization was held in the Jilin Province of the People's Republic of China from 21 to 23 July 2021. Organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (MARA) in partnership with the International Network of Black Soils (INBS) of FAO's Global Soil Partnership, among others.

Standard operating procedures (SOPs) offer step-by-step instructions on how to perform laboratory analyses.

SOPs are a critical component in ensuring the replicability, credibility and traceability of data. They are crucial in case of measurement's errors and go hand-in-hand with the execution of internal and external quality control exercises.

Indeed, SOPs help lab staff to carry out routine operations by describing, in detail, how to perform a laboratory process or experiment safely and effectively. SOPs aim to achieve efficiency, quality of output and uniformity of performance, while reducing miscommunication and failure to comply with laboratory and international standards. The harmonization of laboratory standard operating procedures and methods is at the basis of harmonizing soil laboratory data.

29-30 June, 2021

The second meeting of the International Network on Fertilizer Analysis (INFA) was attended by over 200 participants from more than 70 countries and was successful in establishing the governance of the network, and in defining the topics for the working groups. The event was attended by distinguished speakers, who exchanged experiences with the participants.

Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN) has launched a series of online trainings on different topics related to soil analysis.

The capacity development programme will start with a cycle of webinars on dry chemistry/ soil spectroscopy. This initiative is part of a wider training programme that will comprise also other subjects such as wet chemistry, health and safety, equipment purchasing, quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), and laboratory management. All trainings will be implemented in different languages and time zones, according to the trainer's availability, in order to allow a larger audience to attend the sessions.