The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) was founded in 1924 in Rome at Villa Lubin within the International Institute of Agriculture. This international organization, promoted by David Lubin, passed its assets, library and mandate to FAO after 1945.

Now, a century later, the IUSS is preparing to celebrate its centenary in Florence, from 19 to 21 May. Over three days, the event will feature conferences addressing the pressing needs of civil society in the fields of agriculture, forestry, the environment, urban planning, energy, education and more. Thousands of scientists will converge from all over the world to take part in these discussions.

AGENDA | PHOTOGALLERY

土壤是粮食的起源。没有健康的土壤，种植有营养的粮食无从谈起。土壤侵蚀等问题有可能导致农作物减产高达50%，农民的生计、生态环境、农业生产和粮食供应都会受到影响。土壤健康事关每一个人。

世界各地的农民面临诸多挑战，包括不当使用化肥和农药，以及缺乏关于土壤状况的知识。

From 19 to 21 May 2024, the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) will mark its centennial in Florence, with three days of conferences addressing civil society needs in agriculture, forestry, environment, urban planning, energy, education, and other areas.

A five-day mission in Honduras was carried out as part of a comprehensive initiative focused on improving soil analysis capabilities and implementing soil sampling strategies and fieldwork campaigns. The project involved the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and the Dirección de Ciencia y Tecnología Agropecuaria - Secretaría de Agricultura y Ganadería (DICTA-SAG). Its primary objective ws standardize methodologies for soil sampling, ensuring the generation of reliable data crucial for agricultural and environmental applications. This mission was a component of the SoilFER project (Soil mapping for resilient agrifood systems), a unique framework designed to unlock valuable insights on soils to inform policymaking and fertilizer recommendations, both at the national and field scale.

PHOTO GALLERY | DETAILS OF THE EVENT

Representatives from approximately 60 soil laboratories across 23 different countries attended the Latin American Soil Laboratory Network (LATSOLAN). The gathering kicked off in Santiago de Chile on 8 April and continued with sessions in Chillán from 9 to 11 April. The workshop entitled “Pathways to precision in soil analysis: advancing soil laboratories in Latin America and the Caribbean” aimed to advance soil analysis in the region through collaborative efforts between LATSOLAN members.

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