WG: ASSESSEMENT

PRIORITY 1

Advocate for the development of global harmonized methods, including standard operating procedures (SOPs) to identify and measure soil pollutants

OUTCOME

Soil laboratories are well-informed about the harmonized SOPs for soil pollutants and their usage

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

LONG TERM By 2025, 80 percent of soil laboratories working with the GSP will be aware of how to use the harmonized SOPs for measuring soil pollutants in the laboratory

SHORT TO MEDIUM TERM At least one soil laboratory working with the GSP from each region is involved in the development of harmonized SOP

KEY ACTIVITIES

• Liaise and work in partnership with the GLOSOLAN;
• Analyze the available protocols for soil pollutants;
• Develop SOPs for pollutants of concern, such as bioavailable heavy metals, obsolete pesticides and Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHP); and
• Facilitate cooperation among soil laboratories in the use and implementation of soil pollutants SOPs through webinars and workshops on in-person training.

PRIORITY 2

Advocate for creating a global database on soil pollutant threshold values in agricultural soils and other land uses focusing on heavy metals and pesticides

OUTCOME

(1) Foster a deeper understanding of existing soil pollutant threshold values worldwide; and (2) Countries making informed decisions based on the data and information of soil pollutant threshold values

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

LONG TERM Number of countries are working towards the adoption of threshold values for soil contaminants within national regulation

SHORT TO MEDIUM TERM At least 50 percent of the countries are involved in the discussions on the establishment of threshold values for soil pollutants.

KEY ACTIVITIES

• In support of SoiLEX, launch a survey among INSOP members and GSP focal points to better understand the existence of soil pollutants threshold values and identify gaps;
• INSOP members help to analyze and interpret the generated data from the survey for the preparation of the INSOP global threshold values database on soil pollutants; and
• INSOP members help to develop the INSOP threshold values database on soil pollutants and disseminate its findings to the government, policymakers, private sector and civil society worldwide.

WORKING GROUP 2: MAPPING

The generation of a spatial datasets on the distribution of polluted soils and potential sources of pollution is of utmost importance in informed decision making. This area of work is carried out in close consultation with the International Network of Soil Information Institution (INSII).

SCOPE

The overall objective of the 'Working Group (WG) 2: Mapping' is the identification of potential sources of pollution. This is of utmost importance in informed decision-making, so that pollution "hot spots" or areas of special concern due to the risk to human health and the environment can be easily identified. The overall goal is the generation of a spatial datasets on the distribution of polluted soils and potential sources of pollution. Collaboration with the INSII and its members will focus on a better understanding of the coexistence of contaminants and facilitate the management of sites with mixed contamination. Read more

DATE OF THE MEETING

to be confirmed 

ACTIVITIES

Content available soon

JOIN INSOP NOW

   LINK

MONITORING AND REGULATION OF POLLUTED SOILS

PRIORITY 1

Advocate for a better understanding of national legal instruments on the prevention, monitoring and/or remediation of soil pollution

OUTCOME

A global INSOP database is developed and utilized by the countries to learn about the existing legal instruments of soil pollution prevention, monitoring and/or remediation

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

LONG TERM Proposal of an international instrument that positions soil pollution as a major global challenge and monitors its impacts

SHORT TO MEDIUM TERM Number of countries advocating for the development of soil pollution legal instrument

KEY ACTIVITIES

• In support of SoiLEX, INSOP members help to analyze national soil legislation and identify minimum principles for addressing soil pollution;
• In support of SoiLEX, INSOP members prepare a policy brief on the current legislation and existing gaps in monitoring soil pollution;
• Assist countries willing to develop soil pollution policies;
• In partnership with INSOILFER, spread awareness and identify countries willing to monitor the concentration of heavy metals on fertilizer labels; and
• In support of SoiLEX, launch a series of webinars aiming to explain soil pollution legal instruments currently in place.

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT AND REMEDIATION OF POLLUTED SOILS

PRIORITY 1

Advocate for the development of national capacities and strengthen technology transfer for remediation and sustainable management of polluted soils

OUTCOME

(1) INSOP remediation database is widely recognized; and (2) Sustainable practices are disseminated among countries for remediating polluted soil, maximizing environmental, social, and economic benefits

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

LONG TERM An international database of sustainable soil pollution remediation practices is available for global use

SHORT TO MEDIUM TERM At least 60 percent of countries are represented through case studies in the global database

KEY ACTIVITIES

• Agree on the definition of what is sustainable remediation and develop criteria to assess remediation technologies;
• Develop the remediation action plan checklist;
• Launch a survey among INSOP members and GSP focal points to identify successful case studies and barriers in using sustainable remediation technologies; and;
• INSOP members contribute to the development of a global database for the sustainable remediation of polluted soils to assess remediation technologies.

AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE AND FOOD QUALITY

PRIORITY 1

Advocate for the promotion of soil pollution to be included in the One Health approach and the Global Health Observatory

OUTCOME

Increased dedication and global awareness in including soil pollution indicators in the Global Health Observatory

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

LONG TERM By 2027, new soil pollution indicators will be proposed to the Global Health Observatory

SHORT TO MEDIUM TERM At least 60 percent of INSOP members are involved in the analysis of soil indicators

KEY ACTIVITIES

• Develop indicators and guidelines for assessing the risks of soil pollution to food safety and human health;
• Initiate contact between FAO and WHO to better understand health data on soil and food contamination via knowledge exchange dialogue;
• INSOP members help to collect and analyze health data related to soil and food contamination, promoting the One Health approach;
• Advocate for social media campaigns emphasizing the relationship between soil pollution and the One Health approach; and
• Advocate for the inclusion of soil pollution indicators in the Global Health Observatory under the Environment and Health theme based on analyzed health data.

PRIORITY 2

Support the inclusion of soil pollution risk assessment and minimization measures in the Global Soil Doctors Programme in supporting land users to avoid soil pollution

OUTCOME

Farmers are aware of soil pollution risk to food produce and minimize the impact using the Global Soil Doctors Programme

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

LONG TERM By 2027, farmers’ communities in at least 6 developing countries will be utilizing the provided training and exercises to prevent soil pollution (depending on funding)

SHORT TO MEDIUM TERM By 2025, farmers’ communities in at least 3 developing countries will be utilizing the provided training and exercises to prevent soil pollution

KEY ACTIVITIES

• Soil Doctors’ posters on what is soil pollution revised and approved for training purposes;
• Soil Doctors’ field exercises on identifying soil pollution revised and approved for training purposes;
• Tailored modules and exercises for soil pollution prevention and adoption are developed to meet specific community needs for training purposes; and
• Advocate for involving farmers’ associations in knowledge exchange dialogue on pollution prevention and best practices of sustainable soil management through workshops and social media campaigns.

WORKING GROUP 6: SOIL AND WATER 

Most contaminants in aquatic ecosystems come from anthropogenic land-based sources. Therefore, soil management can have an enormous impact on water quality, including pollution. Contaminants of concern such as plastic pollution of which 80% entering the ocean has a land origin, eutrophication and other land-based contaminants reaching the fresh and marine environments will be discussed and knowledge gaps addressed.

SCOPE

The overall objective of the 'Working Group (WG) 6: Soil and water' is to raise awareness on the effects different contaminants of terrestrial origin could have on marine and aquatic ecosystems. In collaboration with the assessment WG, the WG will create a knowledge exchange platform on the environmental and associated ecotoxicological risks on soil and water pollution. Read more

DATE OF THE MEETING

to be confirmed

ACTIVITIES

Content available soon

JOIN INSOP NOW

   LINK