Reliable soil information begins long before maps and digital platforms. It starts with proper sample collection and continues in laboratories, where soil samples are processed, analysed and translated into data that inform agricultural policy, fertilizer recommendations and sustainable soil management strategies.

Under the Soil Mapping for Resilient Agrifood Systems in Central America and Africa (SoilFER) programme, strengthening national reference laboratories (NRLs) has become a cornerstone for building functional National Soil Information Systems (NSISs) in seven countries: Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Tunisia, Mozambique, and Zambia.

From the beginning of 2024, SoilFER conducted comprehensive technical scoping missions across all seven implementing countries to assess laboratory infrastructure, equipment gaps and analytical capacities. These missions, conducted in close coordination with the ministries of agriculture and other implementing partners, resulted in the formal selection of one NRL in each country, prioritising public institutions capable of adopting harmonised methodologies and integrating future Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMSs).

The programme also validated a consolidated list of equipment, reagents and consumables to enable the application of up to 18 standardised soil analytical protocols, aligned with international quality standards, including those of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN).

To ensure consistency and cost efficiency, FAO launched a coordinated global procurement process covering more than 80 pieces of laboratory equipment in each of the seven countries. The process followed competitive international tender procedures, including technical and financial evaluation and due diligence to ensure compliance with FAO standards. An external audit is being conducted to independently verify the timely delivery and proper installation of laboratory equipment and materials procured under the programme at the designated NRLs.

Because each country followed its own timeline to designate its NRL, procurement required careful synchronisation. Once a minimum number of laboratories were formally confirmed, global tendering could proceed. With procurement completed and equipment installed in several participating countries, upgraded laboratories are becoming operational, and soil analysis is already underway in most of them. However, equipment alone does not guarantee quality results. Renovation works are being implemented in each selected NRL to ensure laboratories meet safety, operational and technical standards.

Upgrades include improvements to laboratory layout, power supply stabilisation, ventilation systems, water and gas installations, chemical storage facilities and safety provisions required for wet and dry chemistry operations. Renovation and procurement are being aligned to ensure that once equipment is installed, laboratories can operate immediately using harmonised standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The establishment of National Soil Laboratory Networks

Laboratory strengthening under SoilFER extends beyond a single institution. Four National Soil Laboratory Networks (NASOLANs) have been formally established with another two soon to be operational:

• Ghana Soil Laboratory Network (GHASOLAN) (already established in the framework of GLOSOLAN);
• Guatemala Soil Laboratory Network (GUASOLAN);
• Honduras Soil Laboratory Network (HONSOLAN);
• Zambia Soil Laboratory Network (ZASOLAN);
• in Mozambique, their NASOLAN was initiated in early 2026; and
• in Kenya, the network launch is planned for the second quarter of 2026.

These networks promote interlaboratory collaboration, harmonised methodologies and interlaboratory comparisons, strengthening national soil governance and ensuring long-term sustainability.

The work does not end there. Infrastructure investments are accompanied by targeted technical training. As of June 2025, 52 laboratory technicians were trained in Central America (34 percent women) and 90 technicians were trained in Zambia (40 percent women), complemented by regional webinars involving additional sub-Saharan participants. As of February 2026, 256 participants were trained in Tunisia (62.5 percent women) in laboratory, soil survey and data management methodologies, and 50 participants were trained in Mozambique (23 percent women) in soil sampling, laboratory preparation and soil fertility trial methodologies.

This extensive capacity development focused on harmonised analytical methods, quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), laboratory health and safety equipment handling and laboratory data management. By building technical competencies even ahead of equipment installation, SoilFER ensures laboratories are prepared to generate reliable, comparable datasets from the outset.

Laying the foundation for spectral libraries and digital soil mapping

The upgraded laboratories will enable the creation of the first government-led national soil spectral libraries in participating countries. These spectral datasets will form the foundation for soil property prediction models and cost-effective long-term soil monitoring systems. Analytical outputs will directly feed into NSISs, digital soil mapping processes and national decision-support tools under development.

In total, laboratories are being equipped to analyse 40 276 soil samples collected across 20 138 sampling sites, supporting high-resolution soil mapping efforts. The upgrade of NRLs under SoilFER goes beyond short-term programme delivery. The programme is building sustainable national systems capable of generating and managing soil data long well beyond the programme lifecycle through transforming public laboratory infrastructure, institutionalising laboratory networks and reinforcing technical capacity.

Through coordinated procurement, infrastructure renovation, harmonised methodologies and human capacity development, SoilFER is strengthening the analytical backbone of NSISs, ensuring that participating countries are equipped not only to analyse soil samples today, but to maintain and update their soil intelligence systems in the years ahead.

The SoilFER programme acknowledges the financial support of the Government of the United States and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Related links

• SoilFER Geospatial Platform
• SoilFER Programme overview
• Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)