The 2nd meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN). Report released
The 2nd meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN) was held at FAO HQ in Rome, Italy, on 28 - 30 November 2018. The network’s purpose is to improve the quality of soil laboratory data to support decision making at field and policy levels. The objectives of the meeting were: 1) to consolidate the structural organization of the network, (2) to discuss the soil laboratory data and information policy, (3) to agree on the execution of regional and global proficiency testing (PT), and (4) to discuss the development of global and regional Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidelines.
The meeting was attended by 54 participants from 34 countries and opened by Mr. Mansur, Director of the Land and Water Division, FAO and Ms. Suvannang, Chair of GLOSOLAN. They highlighted that evidence-based decision-making pursued using harmonized and reliable data and information is critical to the achievement of sustainable soil management for food security and improved nutrition, a key goal in FAO’s mandate. The convened participants, together with fellows joining the meeting remotely, discussed the 17 items on the agenda starting from the review of the work performed by GLOSOLAN. Since its establishment, about 200 laboratories worldwide have joined the initiative, and the Regional Soil Laboratory Networks (RESOLANs) for Asia (SEALNET) and Latin America (LATSOLAN) were launched in 2017 and 2018, respectively. A first-ever global survey was launched to identify laboratory priorities and to assess regional differences in procedures and methodologies. Key survey findings concerned the difficulty in inter-comparing data at the international level because of differences in methods, procedures and laboratories’ infrastructure, and the need for capacity building and training. After reviewing the work performed by SEALNET and LATSOLAN in 2018, which included the performance of regional PTs, the launch of RESOLAN- Africa, the Near East and North Africa, Europe, Eurasia, North America and the Pacific was discussed.
The meeting was successful in reaffirming the objectives of GLOSOLAN and its foreseen impacts, and in identifying the indicators for GLOSOLAN’s assessment. The table of content of the Best Practice Manual was developed as well as the 2018-2028 GLOSOLAN work plan on SOPs. The decision to launch a first global PT in 2019 and invest in capacity building was made. Ultimately, participants brainstormed about the possibility for GLOSOLAN to work on accreditation and certification. The 3rd GLOSOLAN meeting will take place at FAO HQ in Rome from 28 to 30 October 2019.
Agenda | Details of the event | Presentations | Photogallery | Report