The International Network of Salt-Affected Soils (INSAS) will convene its fourth meeting in Dunhuang, China supported by the China Agricultural University and the government of Dunhuang. The meeting will have both in-person and remote participation via Zoom. This 3-day meeting will include:

Day 1 – Workshop Science, policy and practice for the sustainable management of salt-affected soils
Day 2 (full day) – Technical sessions of INSAS
Day 3 (morning) – Field trip to the areas with salt-affected soils
Day 2 (full day) and 3 (afternoon) – Trainings on salt-affected soils assessment, crop growth modelling and halophytes

There is no registration fee, but in-person participants are responsible for their travel, accommodation, and meals. More information (online and in-person registration, agenda and abstract submission form) can be found using links provided below.

For students and early career scientists from the low-income countries, there is an opportunity to have a financial support to attend the meeting in-person. Please see the details at this link.

The Scientific Committee is currently accepting abstracts that will compete for oral and poster presentations during this event. The abstracts should be submitted in English, maximum 3.000 characters (without spaces). The deadline for submission of abstracts is 24 July 2025.

Abstracts should address one of the following themes:

• Mapping, assessing and monitoring of salt-affected soils;
• Sustainable management of salt-affected soils: Practices and policy;
• Halophyte and saline agriculture and its effect on soil health;
• Integrated soil and water management under saline/sodic conditions.

Link for in-person registration

Link to the abstract submission form

Link for online registration (Day 1)

Link to join the INSAS technical session (Day 2)

Link to join the trainings (Day 2 and 3)

Link to the draft agenda

Organizing committee (in alphabetic order of the surname):

Jorge Batlle-Sales, University of Valencia, Chair of INSAS, Spain

Yin Chun, Dunhuang Agricultural Technology Extension Center / Dunhuang Municipal Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, China

Haixiang Gao, China Agricultural University, China

Shuwen Hu, China Agricultural University, China

Maria Konyushkova, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Italy

Katarzyna Negacz, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Vice-chair of INSAS, Kingdom of the Netherlands

Xuming Qin, Beautiful China Ecological Environment Technology Co. LTD, China

Quanbin Ren, Dunhuang Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, China

Meisam Rezaei, Soil and Water Research Institute, Vice-Chair of INSAS, Iran

Yuxin Tong, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Italy

Chengsheng Wang, Dunhuang Municipal Government Office & Foreign Affairs Office, China

Guoqiang Xiang, Dunhuang Municipal People's Government, China

Hailing Zhang, Dunhuang Science and Technology Bureau, China

Scientific Committee (in alphabetic order of the surname):

Jorge Batlle-Sales, University of Valencia, Chair of INSAS, Spain

Haojie Feng, Shandong Agricultural University, China

Haixiang Gao, China Agricultural University, China

Shuwen Hu, China Agricultural University, China

Zhaoqiang Ju, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, CAS, China

Maria Konyushkova, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Italy

Wenju Liu, Hebei Agricultural University, China

Katarzyna Negacz, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Vice-chair of INSAS, Kingdom of the Netherlands

Meisam Rezaei, Soil and Water Research Institute, Vice-Chair of INSAS, Iran

Jie Wang, China Agricultural University, China

Yining Xia, Institute of Food Science and Technology, CAAS, China

Yunwu Xiong, China Agricultural University, China

Zijun Xu, Xinjiang University, China

Wenfeng Zhou, China Agricultural University, China