The inception workshop of the project “TCP/BHU/3703: strengthening Soil Laboratory facilities and performance to support evidence based decision making” was held on 15th January 2019 at the headquarters of the National Soil Services Centre in Thimpu, Bhutan. This project is funded by FAO through the Technical Cooperation Programme.

The 14^th Conference of the Parties of the UN Convention on Biodiversity took place in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt on 17-29^th November 2018.

On this year’s World Soil Day, Wednesday 5 December 2018, the Kingdom of Thailand launched the Centre of Excellence for Soil Research in Asia (CESRA). The establishment of the research center, located in Nakhton Ratchasima’s Pak Chong district, is part of the regional implementation plan of the Asian Soil Partnership (ASP) endorsed by ASP member countries in December 2016. Its mission is to support the execution of the Asian Soil Partnership implementation plan with focus on regional soil research priorities. 

This week, we sat down with Dr. Rosa Poch, to find out more on her career and expectations from the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS). Rosa Poch is the current Chair of the ITPS for the next three years, an agricultural engineer with a PhD in Soil Science and a Professor of Soil Science at the University of Lleida. 

The first World Soil Day Award was given on Wednesday 5 Dec. 2017 to Practical Action Bangladesh, for organizing the most outstanding World Soil Day event in 2017