For the first time since its establishment, its working session took place in a different venue than FAO HQ, indeed, thanks to the kind invitation of the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS), its third session took place at its premises in Potsdam, Germany on 13-17 April 2015. This arrangement was connected with the third Global Soil Week (19-23 April) that was organized in Berlin by IASS. During this event, a first ever joint session of the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils and the Science Policy Interface of the UNCCD was implemented with the aim of finding potential synergies and collaboration.

The agenda of this session was as usual very packed as very items were to be addressed by ITPS members. Twenty two members actively participated and five could not make it due to prior commitments and personal issues.

After an active series of debates, discussions and in-situ drafting, ITPS members addressed every item with their usual deep commitment, high professionalism and endless motivation.

The main outputs of this session were:

• Endorsement of Pillar 3 Plan of Action
• Finalization and endorsement of the Status of World’s Soil Resources Report
• Preparation of a concept note on “Sustainable management of soil resources” (as requested by the 24^th session of the Committee on Agriculture).
• Agreement on the position on collaboration between ITPS and other panels such as SPI, IPBES and IPCC.
• Proposal for Indicators on the SDG process where soils play a role.
• Draft report from the ITPS to the upcoming third session of the GSP Plenary Assembly

The report will be soon available where the details of these significant achievements will be explained accordingly.

ITPS members reflected about their experience since its appointment in 2013 and made fruitful suggestions that will be shared by ITPS chair during the upcoming GSP Plenary Assembly as a substantial contribution to this process. Indeed, this session is to be the last considering the completion of its term 2013-2015, unless the Plenary Assembly consider the extension of its term.