The Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils held its seventh working session from 30 October to 2 November 2017 at FAO Headquarters in Rome. Mr. Eduardo Mansur, Director of the CBL Division, FAO,  welcomed the participants, recalling them the high tasks they are called to perform by the end of 2017, which means the delivery of the Global Soil Organic Carbon Map for World Soil Day 2017.

ITPS members reviewed and cleared  the GSOC map and the “Global Assessment of the impact of plant protection products on soil functions and soil ecosystems”. The organization of the next big event, the Global Symposium on Soil Pollution (GSOC18) came under the spotlight. During its second session ITPS dealt with the establishment of a working group on SOC management to implement the recommendation of the outcome document of the Global Symposium on Soil Organic Carbon (GSOC17). The preparation of a Code of Conduct on fertilizers use as per implementation of the VGSSM together with the development of a study on the economic benefits of Sustainable Soil Management (SSM) for farmers and other land users were discussed in details.  ITPS members were commended for their active role in these endeavors and for seeking collaboration with other international organizations and panels to promote concrete activities in support of the implementation of SSM practices in the different regions of concern.