This document summarizes the proceedings of the first meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN). GLOSOLAN was established to harmonize soil analysis methods and strengthen the performance of laboratories through standardized protocols. The meeting discussed the role of National Reference Laboratories in promoting harmonization, and how GLOSOLAN is structured with regional networks feeding into the global network. Progress made in 2018 included registering over 200 laboratories, assessing capacities and needs, and establishing regional networks. The work plan for 2019 includes further developing regional networks, standard methods, a best practice manual, and the first global proficiency testing. The document concludes by outlining next steps to launch the regional network for North Africa and the Near East.

1. First Meeting of the GLOSOLAN, FAO
Headquarters, Rome, 1-2 Nov 2017
1
Mission, status and way
forward
By Lucrezia Caon
GSP Secretariat

2. Pillar 1: Promote sustainable
management of soil resources for
soil protection, conservation and
sustainable productivity
Pillar 2: Encourage investment,
technical cooperation, policy,
education, awareness and extension
in soil
Pillar 3: Promote targeted soil
research and development focusing
on identified gaps, priorities and
synergies with related productive,
environmental and social
development actions
Pillar 4: Information and Data
Pillar 5: Harmonization of methods,
measurements and indicator for the
sustainable management and
protection of soil resources

3. 3
June 2017
5th GSP Plenary Assembly
Proposal to establish a
Global Soil Laboratory
Network (GLOSOLAN)

4. Purpose: to improve the quality of soil laboratory data to support decision making at
field and policy levels
Objectives :
1. To strengthen the performance of laboratories through use of standardized
methods and protocols.
2. To harmonize soil analysis methods so that soil information would be
comparable and interpretable across laboratories, countries and regions.
3. To provide a certification for technical competencies in laboratory analysis.

5. 5
June 2017
5th GSP Plenary Assembly
November 2017
1st GLOSOLAN meeting
Establishment of GLOSOLAN

6. What is the role of these National Reference Laboratories?
To promote harmonization at the national level. How?
How does GLOSOLAN work?
Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Regional Soil Laboratory
Networks (RESOLANs)
National Reference Laboratories, which were appointed by the
national focal point of each GSP member country

7. • Transfer information on GLOSOLAN to other labs in their country
• Transfer the knowledge acquired through GLOSOLAN activities to other
labs in their country
How does GLOSOLAN work?
Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Regional Soil Laboratory
Networks (RESOLANs)
National Reference Laboratories, which were appointed by the
national focal point of each GSP member country

8. How does GLOSOLAN work?
Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Regional Soil Laboratory
Networks (RESOLANs)
National Reference Laboratories, which were appointed by the
national focal point of each GSP member country
Promote the establishment of National Soil Laboratory Networks

9. Besides National Reference Laboratories, there are other
laboratories that spontaneously registered in GLOSOLAN.
These laboratories should be involved in the work of
GLOSOLAN through the National Soil Laboratory Networks

10. First Meeting of the GLOSOLAN, FAO
Headquarters, Rome, 1-2 Nov 2017
10
GLOSOLAN’s potential is tremendous
o To support decision making at field and policy levels;
o To support countries in reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals and on other
international commitments;
o To contribute to the development of international standards and indicators;
o To contribute to the establishment of the Global Soil Information System (GLOSIS);
o To contribute to the development of harmonized methods for the assessment and
monitoring of degraded lands and/or lands affected by climate change and other
threats, as identified in the Status of the World Soil Resources report;
o To improve the connection between soil chemistry, physics and biology;
o To contribute to and improve soil classification and description (in this regard,
GLOSOLAN should work closer to the other components of Pillar 5);
o To assist companies manufacturing laboratory equipment in improving their products
(and so also potentially open the path for new investments in the network);
o To expand the opportunities for technical and scientific cooperation;
o To strengthen the capability of extension services;
o To identify research needs; and
o To increase investments in research.

11. 11
June 2017
5th GSP Plenary Assembly
November 2017
1st GLOSOLAN meeting
Establishment of GLOSOLAN
Main achievements of GLOSOLAN in 2018
- More than 200 laboratories registered in the network
- Global assessment of lab’s capacities and needs (first GLOSOLAN
survey)
- Presentation of the concept note for the writing of a Best Practice
Manual presented to the 6th GSP Plenary Assembly
- Establishment of RESOLAN Asia (SEALNET) and Latin America
(LATSOLAN): development of regional Standard Operation
Procedures and performance of regional proficiency testing (ring
test) to measure lab proficiency

12. 12
Proficiency testing results in Latin America
(LATSOLAN)

13. 13
Proficiency testing results Asia (SEALNET)
Soil pH

14. 14
Proficiency testing results Asia (SEALNET)
Soil pH

15. 15
Proficiency testing results in Asia (SEALNET)

16. 16
June 2017
5th GSP Plenary Assembly
November 2017
1st GLOSOLAN meeting
Establishment of GLOSOLAN
November 2018
2nd GLOSOLAN meeting
Consolidation of GLOSOLAN
- Development of the GLOSOLAN work plan
for the period 2019 – 2028
- Decision on how to work with
international actors like ISO and WEPAL on
Standard Operation Procedures and
proficiency testing
- Decision on the writing of the Best
Practice Manual

17. 17
GLOSOLAN work plan 2019
• Establishment of RESOLAN Africa, Europe, Eurasia, NENA and Pacific
• Development of the GLOSOLAN Terminology
• Review the GSP Soil Data Policy
• Develop Standard Operation Procedures for sample pre-treatment,
inorganic carbon (CaCO3 equivalent), OC Walkley-Black and OC dry
combustion and writing the related volumes in the Best Practice Manual
• Initiate the work on spectroscopy (NIR/MIR) and harmonization
• Writing of a resolution for the international exchange of soil samples for
research purposes under GLOSOLAN
• Writing of a document on the preparation of samples to use in
proficiency testing
• Launching of the first global proficiency testing, including the
development of criteria for laboratories to participate in it

18. RESOLAN-NENA
LATSOLAN
RESOLAN- Africa
RESOLAN-
North America
???
RESOLAN-Pacific
SEALNET
RESOLAN-Europe & Eurasia
March 2018
November 2017
# of countries Nat. Ref.
Lab.
Spontaneous
application
Total
NENA 19 11 11 22

19. Launch of new RESOLANs
Steps to take:
1. Identification of existing laboratory network at the regional and
national level
2. Registration of as many laboratories as possible in GLOSOLAN (link to
the establishment of the National Soil Laboratory Networks)
3. Organization of a launch meeting: identification of a hosting
country/laboratory
4. Development of a regional work plan in line with the GLOSOLAN work
plan
5. Election of the RESOLAN Chair and Vice-chair, and establishment of a
working group to support implementing the proposed activities
6. Implementation of RESOLAN and GLOSOLAN activities, including the
participation in regional and global proficiency testing and the
development of Standard Operation Procedures
19

20. Action 1: Nominate your National Reference Laboratories
Algeria, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
United Arab Emirates
Action 2: Identification of existing laboratory network at the
regional and national level
Action 3: Launch the Regional Soil Laboratory Network for
NENA
Action 4: start establishing National Soil Laboratory Networks

21. Thanks for your attention
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