Launch meeting of the International Network on Fertilizers Quality (INFA), 8 - 9 December 2020, virtual meeting Ms. Lucrezia Caon, GSP Secretary

1. Introduction to the Global Soil
Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Ms. Nopmanee Suvannang
GLOSOLAN Chair

2. Established in November 2017 to:
1. Strengthen the performance of laboratories through the use of
standardized methods and protocols
2. Harmonize soil analysis methods so that soil information would be
comparable and interpretable across laboratories, countries and
regions
3. [Aspiration] provide a certification for technical competencies in
laboratory analysis

3. For the harmonization of soil laboratory methods and data, and for building
the capacity of laboratories in soil analysis. Three major areas of work:
- Execution of external quality control (proficiency testing)
- Training on the execution of internal quality control
- Harmonization of Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs)
- Training on the implementation of GLOSOLAN SOPs
- Training on safety and health
- Training on equipment use, maintenance and
purchasing
- Establishment of a donation/bartering system
- Soil spectroscopy

4. Why GLOSOLAN?
Investing in more efficient labs and harmonized data has national, regional
and global implications. GLOSOLAN is an efficient and effective way to:
• Provide reliable evidence to support better decision-making at both field
and policy levels;
• Support countries in reporting on progress made towards the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs);
• Contribute to the development of international standards and indicators;
• Contribute to the assessment, monitoring and sustainable management of
soil and provide quality data to support the establishment of National Soil
Information Systems that can feed into the Global Soil Information System
(GLOSIS);
• Assist companies manufacturing laboratory equipment in improving their
products;
• Identify research gaps and increase investments in research.

5. A network of over 600 laboratories
Africa
AFRILAB
Asia
SEALNET
Europe &
Eurasia
EUROSOLAN
Latin
America
LATSOLAN
Near East &
North Africa
NENALAB
North
America
Pacific
ASPAC
127 98 123 159 61 7 77

7. Some of the technical support partners GLOSOLAN
works with are herewith reported.
GLOSOLAN does not mean to re-invent the wheel
but to be a catalyser. Only by joining efforts we can
make a difference and make better use of the
financial and human resources available

8. National Soil Laboratory Networks (NASOLANs)
GLOBAL
REGIONAL
NATIONAL
How does GLOSOLAN work?
The national focal point to the Global Soil Partnership nominate a laboratory
to serve as National Reference Laboratory (NRL).
The NRL is tasked to establish the NASOLAN for its country.

9. Why are NASOLANs needed?
• To support the implementation of GLOSOLAN activities
at the local level
• To bring local challenges to the attention of GLOSOLAN
that will develop strategies to address them
• To reach and support a larger number of laboratories

10. • Facilitate the implementation of GLOSOLAN activities
• Advertise GLOSOLAN activities and events (e.g. online or in person training
and meetings like those of the Regional Soil Laboratory Network),
motivating national laboratories to take part in it
• Organize national training and meetings in order to:
i. Transfer the knowledge and skills acquired in GLOSOLAN/RESOLANs to
other laboratories
ii. Discuss common challenges and need
iii. Explore financial resources mobilization opportunities
• Organize national proficienty testing exercises
Main NASOLAN tasks

11. GLOSOLAN’s main achievements
Establishment of 6 Regional Soil Laboratory Networks
in 2017-2020
2017
2018
2019
2020

12. GLOSOLAN’s main achievements
- Organization of annual regional trainings on:
o Internal and external quality control
o Health and safety
o Procurement of laboratory equipment
o Use and maintenance of laboratory equipment
- Organization of regional and global proficiency tests (PT):
o 2018: SEALNET and LATSOLAN PTs
o 2019: GLOSOLAN PT
o 2020: GLOSOLAN PT cancelled because of COVID-19

13. Based on the results of the GLOSOLAN PT 2019, GLOSOLAN is providing equipment
to 20 laboratories in 20 countries
GLOSOLAN’s main achievements

14. GLOSOLAN’s main achievements
The “Resolution on the
international exchange
of soil samples for
research purposes
under the Global Soil
Laboratory Network
(GLOSOLAN)” was
approved by the 27th
Committee on
Agriculture in 2020
(COAG 27)

15. June 2020 | Launch of the first ever-global
customs control procedure database
SIMPLE - Soil IMPort Legislation.
Available at
http://www.fao.org/global-soil-
partnership/glosolan/soil-analysis/quality-
assurance-and-quality-control/custom-
control-procedure-database/en/
GLOSOLAN’s main achievements

16. GLOSOLAN’s main achievements

17. GLOSOLAN’s main achievements

18. 22 April 2020 | Launch of the GLOSOLAN programme on
soil spectroscopy
GLOSOLAN’s main achievements

19. 23 -25 September 2020 | First Plenary Meeting on Soil
Spectroscopy
350 participants
from 63 countries
GLOSOLAN’s main achievements

20. GLOSOLAN’s main achievements
Publication of 5 Standard
Operating Procedures (SOPs) in
2019. Priority was given to
harmonize method for soil
carbon analysis
11 SOPs will be published by the
end of 2020

21. GLOSOLAN’s main achievements
• Publication of training and awareness raising material (examples
below)
• The GLOSOLAN website and all GLOSOLAN material is being
translated (at least) into the 6 UN languages

22. The appreciation for the work done by GLOSOLAN
since its establishment was such that GLOSOLAN
members and partners asked the network to also
look into the analysis of fertilizer quality.
Thereafter, the idea to establish the International
Network on Fertilizer Analysis (INFA) was launched.
INFA will operate under the umbrella of GLOSOLAN
and will stand to GLOSOLAN principles
By being a sub-network of GLOSOLAN, INFA should
focus its attention on what happens within fertilizer
laboratories

23. Everybody matters
All INFA members matter and should be put in the
conditions to play an active role in the network.
Together we are stronger
When possible, it is important to develop common
strategies and work plans at different scales. This will
make it easier to help each other
Create a tendency
The main goal of INFA activities should be that to
build the capacity of all its member laboratories

24. Thanks for your
attention