Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) is one of the main parameters determining soil health. Land uses and management practices that maintain or increase SOC stocks are being recognized as beneficial for climate change mitigation and adaptation, food security and nutrition, Land Degradation Neutrality, and biodiversity conservation. Although many practices are known for maintaining and increasing SOC, responses vary depending on local climate and soil type. Soil management practices should therefore, be selected to suit each specific context. Due to the urgency to unlock the potential of SOC, a Global Symposium on Soil Organic Carbon (GSOC17) was organized in March 2017. The outcome document recommended the preparation of a technical manual that identify, compile and highlight management practices and land use systems that promote the preservation and/or enhancement of SOC stocks. 

The publication “Recarbonizing global soils. A technical manual of recommended management practices” was developed as a response to the GSOC17 Outcome Document. It presents different sustainable soil management (SSM) practices, at different scales and in different contexts, supported by case studies and scientific data that have a positive effect on SOC stocks, as well as successful experiences of SOC sequestration in practical field applications. This technical manual will be launched on 8 September 2021 - the first day of the Ninth Global Soil Partnership Plenary Assembly.

*SSM: According to FAO’s ITPS, soil management is sustainable if the supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural services provided by soil are maintained or enhanced without significantly impairing soil functions that enable those services or biodiversity.

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.

防止土壤盐渍化，提高土壤生产力

2021 年 10 月 20-22 日 | 虚拟形式  | Time: 13.00-16.00 CEST 

鉴于新冠肺炎大流行，全球盐渍土壤研讨会（GSAS21）"防止土壤盐渍化，提高土壤生产力"将于2021年10月20日至22日以虚拟形式举行。

本次科学政策会议由粮农组织全球土壤伙伴关系（GSP）、政府间土壤技术专家组（ITPS）与乌兹别克斯坦共和国政府、《联合国防治荒漠化公约》科学政策对接（SPI-UNCCD）、国际土壤科学联盟（IUSS）、国际生物碱农业中心（ICBA）、国际盐渍土壤网络（INSAS）和全球农业水资源短缺框架（WASAG）共同举办。

为了填补这一空白，并在科学、政策和农民之间建立更紧密的联系，GSAS21将为广大科学家和从业人员提供机会，通过提交三个主题的论文（见下文）和说明盐渍土壤恢复和可持续利用的良好做法，来参与研讨会并发挥积极作用。

专题讨论会的注册工作即将开始。粮农组织六种官方语言的GSAS21官方网站正在筹备中，不久将投入使用。

The registration to the Symposium is open.

The official GSAS21 website in the six FAO official languages is online:

Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish

Please check the agenda

For any enquiries, please contact:  [email protected].

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.