In 2022, 32 soil doctors trainers were certified, training 120 farmers as soil doctors and providing training to 200 farmers in the participating communities. The programme was strengthened through the creation of manuals, and the participation of soil doctors and soil doctors trainers in national and international events, who were able to share their experiences and knowledge. Collaboration with the government has been fundamental, as the programme has been integrated into the National Soil Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture (ENASAS) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (see the presentation made at the 11th Plenary Assembly of the GSP).

Subsequently, in 2023, PUEIS introduced a training system for soil doctors trainers to address the growing interest from technicians from both the public and private sectors, including extensionists, academics and farmers applying to join the programme. Once the system was established, in collaboration with the GSP, the programme was scaled up considerably, creating 11 soil doctors master trainers, and training a total of 291 individuals as soil doctor trainers across different states. In October 2024, after the completion of the cascade   process of training, the 11 master trainers will be certified by the GSP. This will allow the training programme to be scaled up nationally, with some private funders willing to support it.

Currently, the Global Soil Doctors Programme operates in 26 of the 32 states, with 351 soil doctors trainers, 819 certified soil doctors and 838 additional farmers seeking certification as soil doctors. There has been a remarkable interest in the programme, made up by women (28 percent) and men (72 percent), and an estimated 4 000 farmers have benefited through the cascade training model.  Participating farmers cover several important cropping systems in the country, including maize, cactus, beans, squash, vegetables and avocado. The challenges faced by farmers are varied, including the loss of topsoil due to erosion, soil compaction, salinization and water scarcity. To tackle these degradation processes, farmers are applying several sustainable management practices including the filtration of urban water before irrigation, the application of compost manure, regulating soil moisture , as well as traditional farming practices, such as the milpa system.

Mexico has produced exemplary soil doctors, such as Macrina and María de Lourdes Sanchez, two sisters who have trained 45 farmers in sustainable management practices in Xochimilco city since their certification in June 2022. Their success reflects the programme’s positive impact in the community, promoting soil improvement and empowering women farmers. Their experience has been so successful that it attracted the attention of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), who invited Maria de Lourdes Sanchez to share her experience at an international event on soil health in Morocco in July 2024.In Mexico, the Global Soil Doctors Programme is presented as a comprehensive initiative that not only seeks to improve soil health and productivity, but also promotes personal and community development through education and collaboration. The programme fosters cultural inclusion by offering training in Spanish and Nahuatl, thus facilitating communication and learning.

Moving forward, PUEIS aims to upscale the programme in all the states of the country. The expansion of partnerships and a focus on long term sustainability are key to ensuring its continuity and effectiveness