After the publication of the Call for experts to serve on the ITPS (February – March 2022), the GSP Secretariat screened the received nominations and consolidated a final list of candidates that were submitted to FAO Members in mid- April 2022. Members examined them according to their procedures bearing in mind regional distribution and gender balance, and submitted to the GSP Secretariat the list of selected regional experts at the beginning of May 2022. The Tenth Global Soil Partnership Plenary Assembly (23-25 May 2022) appointed the new list of 27 experts to serve for a three-year term as members of the ITPS, approving the establishment of the Panel on that basis.

• Five from Africa: Mr Igue Attanda Mouinou (Benin); Mr Georges Martial Ndzana (Cameroon);  Mr Sheleme Beyene Jiru (Ethiopia); Mr Matshwene Edwin Moshia III (South Africa) for his second mandate; Ms Nyambilila Abdallah Amuri (Tanzania).
• Five from Asia: Mr Jin Ke (People's Republic of China) for his second mandate; Mr Ranjan Bhattacharyya (India); Ms Jeyanny Vijayanathan (Malaysia); Mr Harsha Kumara Kadupitiya (Sri Lanka); Ms Nopmanee Suvannang (Thailand).
• Five from Europe: Ms Taina Pennanen (Finland); Ms Claire Chenu (France); Ms Adele Muscolo (Italy); Ms Rosa Maria Poch (Spain) for her second mandate; Mr Pete Smith (United Kingdom).
• Five from Latin America and the Caribbean: Mr Guillermo A. Studdert (Argentina); Ms Lúcia Helena Cunha dos Anjos (Brazil) for her second mandate; Mr Jorge Dionisio Etchevers Barra (Mexico); Mr Gaius Eudoxie (Trinidad and Tobago); Ms Deyanira Lobo (Venezuela).
• Three from Near East: Mr Mohamed Abdel Wareth Mahmoud (Egypt); Mr Saeed Saadat (Iran); Mr Ghiath Ahmad Alloush (Syria).
• Two from North America: Mr David Lobb (Canada); Mr Michael Castellano (United States of America).
• Two from South West Pacific: Mr Braj Singh (Australia); Mr Ravendra Naidu (Fiji).

They all share a recognized academic profile, experience at international and national level in different soil-related activities in line with the newly approved GSP Strategic Action Framework, expertise in key topics, such as sustainable soil management, soil organic carbon, soil pollution, soil fertility, soil biodiversity, soil restoration, soil mapping and information systems, and a sound record of peer-reviewed publications. Within the framework of their expertise and responsibilities they will substantially contribute to the work of the GSP, providing a 360-degree technical and political feedback useful to bring the soil agenda forward. The ITPS meets regularly twice a year at the FAO headquarters in Rome (Italy). Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ITPS has met virtually, maintaining the semi-annual frequency. Intersessional work of the ITPS is performed in working groups, established by the ITPS Chair according to the various priorities of the assigned annual work program.

Functioning

The Plenary Assembly has tasked the ITPS with a number of crucial activities that should be implemented with immediate effect, and to this end, the first working session of the fourth Panel is being organized to take place virtually in June 2022. Broadly speaking, the main tasks of the ITPS are:

(A)    To provide scientific and technical advice on global soil issues mainly to the GSP and in relation to specific requests submitted by global or regional institutions;

(B)     To support the inclusion of sustainable soil management in different development agendas;

(C)     Review and follow up on the situation and issues related to soil in the context of food security, natural resource use and management; and

(D)    Follow up the implementation of the new GSP Action Plans with due attention to their impact and contribution to different global policies and initiatives related to sustainable development, food security, climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The details of the functions, duties and process of the ITPS can be found in the enclosed Rules of Procedure. I encourage you to familiarise with the GSP mandate and its Terms of Reference.

Future work programme 2022-2023

The following is a non-exhaustive list of the ITPS work programme for the period 2022-2023 and includes:

1. The 22nd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS - Glasgow, 31 July - 5 August 2022);
2.  The follow-up of the Global Symposium on Soil Erosion (GSER19);
3. Supporting the implementation of the Global Symposium on Soils for Nutrition (GSOIL4N);
4. The exercise of a leading role in the preparation of the Global Maps on Soil Nutrient Balances;
5. The technical support to the International Networks established during the last years;
6. The support to the elaboration of the Technical Manual for the Sustainable Management of Mountain Soils;
7. The support to the finalisation of the Technical Manual for the assessment, mapping, monitoring and reporting of soil pollution;
8. The preparation and publication of future periodic technical-scientific notes (so called ITPS Letters);
9. The support to the drafting of the second version of the State of the World’s Soil Resources Report;
10. The implementation of the World Soil Day 2022 dedicated to soil fertility, “Soil: where food begins”;
11. A continuous collaboration with international organisations and panels (International Union on Soil Science (IUSS); Science-Policy Interface of the UNCCD; 4pour1000 initiative; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); Science-Policy Interface of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD-SPI); Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); and the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI) 

The Secretariat has been asked by the Plenary to continue supporting and facilitating the activities of the Fourth Panel of the ITPS, including the organization of its first meeting, and the assistance with its internal organization and administrative issues.

The key points that will be under discussion during this intense 17^th Working Session are:

• Appoint a Chairperson of the ITPS by consensus;
• Report on the collaboration between different agencies for GSOIL4N 2022;
• Follow up on the GSP Plans of Action and the Regional Implementation Plans;
• Review of the work plan for ITPS 2022-2025.

Further information

• Draft Agenda (available soon)
• Explore the new list (BY REGION)

For more information [email protected]