The tenth regional assembly of ASLAC was a testimony to the cooperation and commitment of many actors in the region. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Mexico, in collaboration with ASLAC, led the event, with support from the FAO Office in Mexico, FAO’s Global Soil Partnership and the FAO Regional Office in Santiago, Chile.

The Chair of ASLAC, Ms Sol Ortiz García moderated the meeting, working closely with the ASLAC Steering Committee, which included ASLAC Vice-Chairs from South America, Mesoamerica and the English-speaking Caribbean, as well as regional representatives from key priority areas such as education, outreach, research and information.

During the assembly, ASLAC members presented several actions and projects focused on soil conservation and sustainable management. These included:

• The results of the pilot application of the Protocol on sustainable soil management provided important inputs for the finalization of the document and will be included in three scientific publications prepared jointly by the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the countries of the region.
• The SOILCARE project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), highlighted the importance of using soil knowledge to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets and build resilience to the effects of climate change.
• A parallel meeting of the Caribbean soil support group was held to follow up on specific soil activities in the subregion.
• The Latin American and Caribbean Soil Laboratory Network (LATSOLAN) highlighted the need for investment in laboratory infrastructure, technical capacity and quality control of soil analysis laboratories, with national laboratory networks playing a crucial role.
• Several speakers reported on the success of the Global Soil Doctors Programme in Chile, Mexico and Colombia, and the strong interest in its implementation in other countries of the region.
• The Global Soil Doctors Programme was presented through a field visit as an effective approach to training technicians and farmers in sustainable soil management practices. Participants were able to appreciate the work of the national promoter of the programme, the Interdisciplinary Soil Studies University Programme (PUEIS) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and the successful collaboration with other countries in the region.

In conclusion, the tenth regional assembly of ASLAC marked an important milestone in the promotion of sustainable soil management in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Assembly concluded with the participatory development of a work plan that includes short, medium and long-term actions to support soil health and the sustainability and resilience of agri-food systems. Regional cooperation, a strong commitment to sustainability and the adoption to new technologies were key elements that will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on food security and agricultural development in the region.