Alert Archivi - iuss.org

IUSS Alert 246 (april 2026)

Mitia Mambella — Wed, 06 May 2026 07:57:58 +0000

State of the art

The IUSS Divisions, Commissions and Working Groups Chairs can now share their publications on the IUSS Alert. Every month, send your publications to the Secretariat and they will be published here. Please do so by the 15 of every month to make sure your articles are published in the monthly current issue. Let’s keep our community posted on the progress of Soil Sciences.

Highlighted IUSS publications

By Division 2

Limited recovery of soil organic matter composition in fen peatlands after rewetting

By Keunbae Kim, Judith Schellekens, Willem-Jan Emsens, Rudy van Diggelen, Camiel Aggenbach, Erik Verbruggen, Yvonne Liczner, Agata Klimkowska, Franziska Tanneberger, Wiktor Kotowski, María Jesús Iglesias Briones, Boris Jansen, Karen Vancampenhout (2026).

About half of Europe’s peatlands have been drained for agriculture, forestry, and peat extraction, with lowland fens disproportionately affected due to their high nutrient availability and productivity post-drainage. Peatland rewetting has gained importance as a strategy to mitigate carbon losses and restore biodiversity; however, its effectiveness in reestablishing below-ground processes remains uncertain. Soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics play a crucial role in peatland restoration outcomes, influencing peat structural integrity and hydrological properties, as well as the availability of substrates and nutrients for microbial and plant communities. In this paper, the Authors present a Europe-wide assessment of the effects of fen drainage and rewetting on SOM molecular composition, analyzing fens with contrasting hydrological status (undrained, drained, and rewetted) across three depths (0 − 5, 15 − 20, and 45 − 50 cm) using pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Despite considerable variability induced by site-specific heterogeneity, the molecular composition of undrained fens clearly reflected the dominant contributions of sedges, grasses, and brown mosses to peat formation in fens, with characteristic stratification. Drainage consistently led to a decline in components from plant biopolymers (carbohydrates and lignins) across sites, and an increase in microbially altered compounds (N-compounds, benzenes, and aliphatics), with the most pronounced effects at intermediate depths (15 − 20 cm). Rewetting partially reversed these alterations, with some fens exhibiting a shift in molecular composition reverting toward undrained conditions, particularly in sites rewetted for longer periods. However, significant differences remained between rewetted and undrained fens. The findings suggest that while rewetting over time can facilitate partial recovery of carbon dynamics, the below-ground legacy of drainage-induced alterations can persist, at least for a timescale of several decades.
Read more: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117646

Plastic pathways and intervention strategies in urban water systems

By Paolo F. Tasseron, Tim H.M. van Emmerik, Anna Schwarz, Anna Wilking, Francesca Alberti, Martine van der Ploeg (2026).

Plastic pollution escalated into a global environmental problem, threatening human health, ecosystems, and sustainable development. Despite global, regional, and local mitigation efforts, plastic production is expected to double, exceeding waste management infrastructure growth. Understanding plastic pathways, analyzing impacts, and designing effective interventions in urban water systems necessitate a finer regional or local resolution than currently provided by global and national studies. The Authors have quantified the mass flows of ten most abundant plastic items throughout their life cycle and proposed interventions for the Amsterdam urban water system. They used a dataset of 9968 floating (plastic) items at twenty diverse locations, with the top ten items comprising 80% of the total items (39.3% of the total mass). Despite representing less than 0.01% of plastic use in Amsterdam, end-of-life littering and spills cause disproportionate environmental harm relative to their abundance. Systematic interventions are required in Amsterdam to reduce the annual loss of 16.0 (2.9-34.7) metric tons of plastic into the IJ River. We defined seven interventions to reduce plastic consumption and contribute to a closed-loop plastic system. Successful implementation demands a transition with changes in legislation (regarding production, item design, and waste management), decision-making, and consumer behavior. The Authors prioritize intervention methods according to the waste hierarchy, emphasizing waste prevention over impact mitigation. Decision-support tools including these interventions can guide authorities to achieve (inter)national reduction and circularity goals. Ultimately, the paper aims to provide decision-makers with actionable insights, accelerating the transition to a circular and less polluting plastic economy and sustainable, plastic-free environments.
Read more: DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5678548

News from the IUSS

Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development 2025-2034 – Healthy Soils for Humanity

The new decade of soil sciences for sustainable development has begun, read the manifesto and download the logo here: https://www.iuss.org/decade-of-soil-sciences-for-sustainable-development/
The Decade aims to prioritize production, dissemination, and use of actionable scientific knowledge across all areas of soil sciences to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Divisions, Commissions, and Working Groups are encouraged to coordinate with the IUSS Research Forum in planning activities aligned with the themes of the Decade. These may include special issues, books, position papers, policy briefs, webinars, conferences, workshops, sessions at the World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS), and other relevant initiatives.

Division and Commission Officers Election – 2026 and members of the Standing Committees Election 2026

The election process is now completed, and the winners will be announced via IUSS Alert within May 31, 2026.

Presidential Election 2026
The Presidential Election Committee has examined the candidacies for the position of the IUSS President Elect, and the outcomes have been endorsed by the Executive Committee. The IUSS Secretariat will reach the IUSS Full Members in the next few days to provide them with the candidates’ official documents and the guidelines for the voting process.
To enquire: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

IUSS Joint Commission 1.7/3.8 “Permafrost-Affected Soils

Call for papers, Submission Deadline: Tuesday, September 1st, 2026

We would like to draw your attention to a Special Issue, “Applied Pedology: Practical Solutions Across a Variety of Disciplines and Issues” in Soil Use and Management. The special Issue is framed within the IUSS initiatives of the Research Forum for the 2025-2034 Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development (DSSSD) (https://www.iuss.org/decade-of-soil-sciences-for-sustainable-development/). We’d like to extend an invitation for contributions to the special issue before the 1 September 2026 deadline.
For more information on the scope of the special issue, please refer to the Call for Papers (contributions accepted include, original research papers, reviews, reports of case studies and practical experience, opinions, and perspectives).
Manuscript can be submitted the SUM submission system. Please follow the Author Guidelines and select the special issue title when asked: “Is this submission for a special issue?”.
We would be enormously grateful if you could let us know your decision via this form .

For more information: Prof. Adrian Unc, aunc@mun.ca Vice-Chair
Alan Wild Reviews, Perspectives and Topical Collections Editor, Soil Use and Management (British Soil Science Society)

Soil Mission Manifesto

The Mission Soil Manifesto (https://mission-soil-platform.ec.europa.eu/community/mission-soil-manifesto) calls for action to respond to the urgent need to protect and improve soil health in Europe and beyond and bring together regional and local policymakers, stakeholders and citizens into a vibrant community that cares for soil health. It was launched by the EU Mission Soil on April 18, 2023, and it has been signed by the IUSS President, Prof. Victor O. Chude.

Soil Science Society of China (SSSC) and IUSS

The 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) – Soil and the Shared Future for Humanity

Date: June 7th -12th, 2026
Location: Nanjing, China

Nanjing Welcomes Global Soil Scientists for the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science

Soil Science Society of China successfully won the bid to host the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) in Brazil’s 21st WCSS. For the first time, China as a host country invites global soil scientists to explore the centennial journey of soil science.
The 23rd WCSS will be held in the International Expo Center from June 7 to 12, 2026 in Nanjing, the capital city of the most developed Jiangsu province, under the theme of “Soil and the Shared Future for Humanity”. 121 sessions in five categories have been accepted.
Deprived from the Chinese character “土” (Soil), the mascot KuiKui manifests the concept of “One World for One Earth”. The emblem on its belly represents the earth, with the inner circle featuring five typical soil colors in China, while the outer circle featuring the blue ocean.

The World Congress of Soil Science is the most authoritative and influential international conference in the field, sponsored by the International Union of Soil Sciences. It is a major event for scientific and technological professionals in soil science and related disciplines worldwide to engage in academic exchange. Held every four years, the conference covers a wide range of topics and serves as a platform for exchange and collaboration among soil scientists from around the globe.
The WCSS2026 theme, ‘Soil and the Shared Future for Mankind’, focuses on the importance of soil for our future, with a variety of arrangements including poster exhibition, young researcher forum and soil judging contest. Tours will also be organized for participants to visit typical soils in combination with unique landscapes and cultural diversification as China is a vast country with rich soil resources.
With a global population that is projected to exceed 9 billion by 2050, our current and future food security hinges on our ability to increase yields and food quality using the soils that we already have available today. We are responsible for the soils that provide us with food, water and air, and we need to take action today to ensure that we have healthy soils for a sustainable and food secure future. Our understanding of the importance is developing rapidly and WCSS2026 provides a platform for us to discover the solutions to soil issues and an opportunity to connect all who work with and have interests in soils.

Read more: Join and follow via the official website: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/
Important dates and deadlines:
Regular registration deadline: May 7, 2026
Cancellation and Refund deadline: May 7, 2026

Post-Congress Tours
Invitation to participate in the exclusive Post-Congress Scientific Tours across China — where soil science meets stunning landscapes and cultural heritage. They are arranged six unique expedition routes covering key soils and regions, from the black soils of Northeast China to the tea gardens of Jiangnan, from the capital’s green city projects to the magnificent Danxia and Karst landforms. Each tour blends field observation, soil profiling, and local culture — guided by experts and designed for deep learning beyond the congress.
Choose your scientific journey:
Tour 1: Scientific Expedition on Red Soil in South China
Tour 2: Jiangnan Tea & Rice Soil Scientific Expedition
Tour 3: Survey on Soil Environment and Green City Construction in the Capital
Tour 4: Soil and Geoscience Expedition in the Loess Plateau & Historical-Cultural Tour
Tour 5: Northeast Thick Black Soil Region Scientific Expedition
Tour 6: Northeast Thin Black Soil Region Scientific Expedition

Explore routes, costs, and details here: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/Post-Congress%20Tours/index.html

IUSS and Soil Science Society of China (SSSC)

Travel Awards for Attending World Congress of Soil Science 2026

The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) and Soil Science Society of China (SSSC) are pleased to offer travel awards to support early-career scientists who wish to participate in the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS2026) from 7-12 June 2026, in Nanjing China. This initiative aims to encourage the participation of promising graduate students and early-career researchers by providing financial assistance to help cover travel and registration expenses.
A total of 40,000 USD in funding is available, aiming for gender and geographic equity. Each selected applicant will be eligible to receive up to a maximum of 1,000 USD. The award will be disbursed as a reimbursement for actual travel costs and/or WCSS2026 registration fees incurred.
Support is only for early-career scientists who are high-quality Master or PhD students or who completed a Master or PhD degree less than 5 years ago.
Applicants must be the presenting author of a submitted oral or poster presentation abstract for WCSS2026 and must be a member of a council society (national soil science society) that is a full member of IUSS.
Applicants need to send their applications to: wcss2026@issas.ac.cn

Contact: wcss2026@issas.ac.cn

The Digital Age in the Study, Evaluation, and Teaching of Soil Science

Special session number 503003 IUSS 23rd World Congress on Soil Science

In the digital transformation era, we invite researchers and professionals to participate with us in this innovative session exploring the convergence between cutting-edge technologies and soil sciences. This pioneering session will address how digital tools revolutionize our understanding, management, and teaching of soil sciences. Participants will be able to observe the largest augmented and mixed reality applications that allow soil profiles to be visualized in real-time, facilitating on-site analysis and improving educational experience in the field. We will explore the development of mobile applications focused on soil resources, as well as the potential presents by the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced image analysis systems focused on soil sciences. This session represents a unique opportunity to establish international collaborations between soil scientists, software developers, and technology experts. Attendees will be able to share experiences on the implementation of innovative technological solutions in soil research and discuss the potential of these tools to address global challenges in soil conservation and sustainable management. In this sense, we are seeking contributions that highlight recent technological developments, successful case studies, and innovative proposals that combine soil sciences with these emerging technologies. This session will undoubtedly be a catalyst to inspire the next generations and foster the development of collaborative projects that harness the power of technology to advance our understanding of soils systems. Join this space where scientific tradition converges with digital innovation, creating new possibilities for research, education and soil management.

Contact: fernando.ayala@comunidad.unam.mx; leptosol@ciga.unam.mx

Mitigating the impact of land use and its change through conservation management
Call for Papers
Submission deadline: August 1st, 2026
Special issue as IUSS (International Union of Soil Sciences) Commission 4.3 – Soils and Land Use Change with Dr. Gary Feng.
We welcome original papers and reviews that might be presented at the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science held in Nanjing, China, on June 7-12, 2026.
Soils are vital for supporting agriculture, mitigating environmental quality, and provision of ecosystem services. Healthy, functioning soils are the keystone to global sustainability of ecosystems and land-based human activities, and for providing healthy environments for humankind.
The selected papers will mainly report the latest achievements in research focused on conservation, restoration and improvement of land use and its change through conservation managements, focused on promoting the sustainability of managed and natural ecosystems.
Keywords: soil health, land use change, soil amendment, cover crops, conservation management, soil functions, soil properties, carbon dynamics
Guest Editors:
Prof. Gary Feng
USDA-ARS
United States
Prof. Felipe A. Zúñiga Ugalde
Universidad Austral de Chile; Instituto de Bosques y Sociedad
Chile
Prof. Ying Ouyang
USDA Forest Service; Southern Research Station
United States
Prof. José Dörner
Universidad Austral de Chile; Instituto de Ingeniería Agraria y Suelos
Chile
Dr. Tingting Chang
Hohai University
China
Prof. Rainer Horn
Institut für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde; Christian-Albrecht-Universität zu Kiel
Germany
Dr. Ingrid Martínez
Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA-Chile)
Chile
Read more: https://bsssjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/14752743/call-for-papers/si-2025-001332

Northern lands at a crossroads: Agriculture and climate sustainability
Call for Papers
Submission deadline: 31 January 2027

The papers will be published for the journal Soil Use and Management.
This special issue will report on the most recent studies conducted at northern latitudes and in circumpolar regions that examine how agricultural land conversion, extended growing seasons, and the northward migration of crops driven by climate warming affect soil, biodiversity, and climate. This special issue welcomes empirical studies, reviews and perspectives with regional relevance on the following topics related to northern agriculture: biodiversity, soil health indicators (physical, chemical and biological), greenhouse gas emissions, permafrost thaw, carbon sequestration, plant-soil interactions, and indigenous knowledge and local knowledge.

Keywords: Carbon sequestration; Greenhouse gas emissions; Indigenous ecological knowledge; Land conversion; Organic amendments; Soil degradation; Soil function; Soil health; Soil restoration

Guest Editors:
Prof. Maren Oelbermann
Univesity of Waterloo
Canada
Prof. Melissa Ward Jones
University of Alaska, Fairbanks
United States
Dr. Elsa Maria Arrazola Vasquez
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
Sweden
Dr. Kayla Wakulich
Wilfrid Laurier University
Canada
Prof. Debasmita Misra
University of Alaska
Fairbanks
United State
Prof. Pengfei Li
Xian University of Science and Technology
China
Dr. Stéphanie Grand
University of Lausanne
Switzerland
Read more: Soil Use and Management Call for Papers Northern lands at a crossroads: Agriculture and climate sustainability

News from national and regional soil science societies 2026

Soil Science Society of Pakistan (SSSP)

The 21st International Congress of Soil Science (ICSS-2026) – Soil Resilience for Sustainable Development

Date: May 5th – 7th, 2026
Location: University of Poonch Rawalakot (UPR) in Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan

The theme of Congress is: “Soil Resilience for Sustainable Development”

Italian Society of Soil Science (SISS)

Roots of the Future – Soil and Plants in Global Change: Technologies, Degradation, Sustainability ROF2026

Date: September 8th – 11th, 2026
Location: DAMSLab Auditorium Piazzetta Pasolini 5b, Bologna, Italy

ROF2026 is the joint congress of the Italian Society of Agricultural Chemistry (SICA), the Italian Society of Soil Science (SISS), and the Italian Society of Pedology (SIPe) place the soil-plant system at the center of scientific, technological, and social debate. The goal is to explore multidisciplinary approaches and innovative tools to ensure the resilience, functionality, and sustainability of agroforestry ecosystems in the future that awaits us.
Deadline abstract: May 10th, 2026
Read more: ROOTS OF THE FUTURE – SOIL AND PLANTS IN GLOBAL CHANGE: TECHNOLOGIES, DEGRADATION, SUSTAINABILITY

Canadian Society of Soil Science and Canadian Society of Agronomy

2026 Joint Annual Meeting – Soils & Crops in Focus – Critical Resources from Coast to Coast to Coast

Date: June 20th – 25th, 2026
Location: University of Guelph, Canada

Soil Science Australia

2026 Soil Science Australia National Conference

Date: November 1st – 5th, 2026
Location: Boorloo, Perth, Australia

The conference will serve as a platform for a diversity of voices across science, policy, industry and community to explore our understanding of soils as the foundation of productivity, security, community and resilience.

Deadlines: Call for abstracts close April 24th, 2026

Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)

CANVAS 2026

Data: November 1st – 4th, 2026
Location: Portland, Oregon

The nexus of earth & science Four Days of Science, Community, and Discovery.
CANVAS 2026, the annual meeting of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA).
With more than 4,000 scientists expected, it is the single largest gathering at the nexus of agronomy, crop science, soil science, and environmental science, and a valuable professional opportunity you can make plans to attend this year.
Oral and poster abstract submissions are open through June 9th (early submission rate) or June 23rd (final submission): www.sciencesocieties.org/canvas/submit. Edits are accepted through Nov. 4th. Registration opens May 1st, 2026.

Participants will be:
· Professionals & Practitioners, · Researchers & Academics, · Students & Early-Career Scientists

Read more: www.sciencesocieties.org/canvas

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops 2026

International Conference on Alternatives to Reduce Soil Degradation

Date: May 19th, 2026
Location: Hybrid event, Online & In-Person. Kossuth Klub, Budapest, Hungary

This conference seeks to promote interdisciplinary partnerships and facilitate the exchange of knowledge, with the goal of better understanding the intricate complexities of soil and assessing the potential for sustainable development.
Special conference theme: The main focus of the conference will be on conservation agriculture, soil biological processes, and how to improve soil quality in practice.
Deadlines:
Oral: April 23rd, 2026; Poster: April 30th, 2026
Registration: On site: May 5th, 2026; Online: May 18th, 2026

Read more: www.arsd-conference.com

10th International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter (SOM2026)

Date: May 25th – 29th, 2026
Location: University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil.

Read more: Official website = https://eventosccarbon.com.br

100th anniversary of agricultural experimentation at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW

Date: June 12th –13th, 2026
Location: Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Poland

Important dates
The announcement of the final conference program: April 30th, 2026

Read more: https://ir.sggw.edu.pl/en/lte/

Call For Papers 3rd International Workshop “Resilient By Design: Organic Food & Farming Systems Amid CAP Volatility – Science-based Pathways For Climate, Nature, And Food”

Date: June 23rd – 25th, 2026
Location: Ustica Island (Palermo), Italy

The Workshop is jointly organized by the Italian Gruppo di Ricerca in Agricoltura Biologica (GRAB-IT) and the International Society of Organic Farming Research (ISOFAR).

IFSA2026: Farming and Agri-Food Systems dynamics: facing crises and trade-offs in transition pathways

Date: June 29th – July 03rd, 2026
Location: Montpellier, France

This symposium aims to revisit progress and debates in co-designing and promoting sustainable Agri-Food systems to face crises and support multiscale decisions. There are many trade-offs to document but also many synergies to analyse when looking at transition pathways and impacts.
Key dates:
Registration deadline (also for field visits registration): April 30th, 2026

Workshop on Innovation in Sustainable Agriculture & Food Production

Date: July 8th – 10th, 2026
Location: Minoa Palace Resort, Cahnia, Crete, Greece

Civilisation faces a huge challenge in feeding a world population estimated to reach 10 billion by 2050 a healthy diet while avoiding excessive consumption of natural resources and damage to the environment. Innovative approaches are required to agriculture and food production technology that increase yields and decrease waste, while minimising harm to the ecosystem. Recent world problems have demonstrated the importance of resilience throughout the ‘Farm to Fork’ food chain. The Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production workshop will address challenges in this area.
The workshop will be held as part of the KES International Sustainability in Energy and Buildings (SEB-26) and Sustainable Design and Manufacturing (SDM-26) conferences.

12th Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Open Science Conference & Meetings

Date: August 8th –19th, 2026
Location: Oslo, Norway

The SCAR and the Norwegian Polar Institute warmly invite you to the 12th SCAR Open Science Conference, The conference will feature an interdisciplinary programme that includes plenary lectures, parallel sessions, mini-symposia, workshops, panel discussions, posters, and social activities.
Join colleagues from around the world for a rich and varied programme, from plenary lectures and mini-symposia to parallel sessions, panels, posters, and an inspiring social programme in and around Oslo.

Read more: https://scar2026.org/

4th International Symposium on Climate-Resilient Agri-Environmental Systems (ISCRAES 2026)

Date: August 12th –14th, 2026
Location: Dublin, Ireland

Deadlines:
– Standard registration: 30 April 2026 (For inclusion in the proceedings and programme)
– Late registration fee: 31 July 2026

Read more: www.iscraes.org

International Symposium on Earthworm Ecology (ISEE13)
13th edition
Date: August 23rd-28th, 2026
Location: Wageningen, the Netherlands

This year’s theme, “From the lab to the field, from the field to the lab”, reflects the commitment to bridging the gap between experimental and real-world studies, both of which are essential to the advancement of earthworm research. ISEE13 will offer a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, with a strong focus on early-career researchers who are at the forefront of addressing global challenges impacting or affected by earthworms.

Deadlines:
Deadline for registration: June 17th, 2026

First Celebration of the International Day of Caves and Karst (IDCK), proclaimed by UNESCO

Date: September 10th – 13th, 2026
Location: Postojna, Slovenia

Following the proclamation of the International Day of Caves and Karst (IDCK) by UNESCO, this is the first official celebration.
The central date of the celebration will be 13 September 2026, with a series of scientific and outreach events planned in the days leading up to it.

We warmly invite all supporters of the International Day of Caves and Karst initiative, as well as the wider scientific, educational and policy communities, to save the date. A formal announcement, registration form and detailed programme will follow.

5th International Soil Modeling Consortium Conference (ISMC 2026) “Advances and Challenges in Tropical Soil Modeling”

Date: September 15th – 19th, 2026
Location: Rio di Janeiro, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Brazil

The conference is organized by the University of São Paulo (USP), the Geological Service of Brazil (SGB), and PUC-RioThe official language of the conference is English.
ISMC 2026 will be the first ISMC conference held in Latin America and will focus on tropical soil modeling, emphasizing its importance for food and water security, carbon cycling, biodiversity, and land-use change.

Conference topics:
– Databases in PTF development to support soil modeling
– Soil structure and properties: Measurement, spatial and temporal variability, and uncertainty assessment
– Critical zone monitoring and modeling
– Modeling processes in highly weathered tropical soils
– Taking advantage of remote sensing and big data in soil modeling
– Modeling aspects of soil health
– General Session for model-related research

Important dates:
Abstract submission deadline: May 1st, 2026
Abstract acceptance: May 25th, 2026
Notification oral/poster: August 15th, 2026
Early bird registration June: 1st, 2026

10th International Nitrogen Conference (N2026)
Sustainable Nitrogen Management for Future Generations

Date: November 2nd-6th, 2026
Location: Wageningen, the Netherlands

The 10th International Nitrogen Conference (N2026) aims to foster global collaboration under the theme “Sustainable Nitrogen Management for Future Generations.” While coordination between science and policy is essential, effectively addressing the nitrogen challenge requires the active engagement of all stakeholders, including governments, researchers, educators, industry, civil society, and the public.
Read more: https://www.initrogen.org/events/n2026—kyoto—2—6-november-2026

Soil Gases in Environmental and Geological Processes International Conference

Date: November 6th, 2026
Venue: 45 Budaörsi Road, HUN-REN Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, H-1112 Budapest, Hungary

The international conference, focusing on the role and significance of soil gases in environmental and geological systems, aims to bring together researchers, professionals, and
students working in the following fields: · H₂ and natural analogues, · CCS monitoring systems, · Radon in soil gases, · Agricultural aspects of soil gases, · Microbiological processes related to soil gases, · Soil gas studies associated with the carbon cycle, · Nitrogen and sulphur in soil gases, · Anthropogenic gases in soil
We welcome both oral and PICO presentations.
Abstract submission and early registration deadline: September 30th, 2026

Organizing Institutions
· HUN-REN CSFK Geographical Institute
· Hungarian Geological Society
· HUN-REN Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science
(EPSS)
· HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research (ATK)
· HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research (EK-EC)
· MS Energy Solutions Kft

New Books

Distinguishing Soil Horizons of Alfisols Using MIR, Vis–NIR, and XRF Spectra
By G. Gozukara, A. E. Hartemink, E. O. Young, Y. Zhang – European Journal of Soil Science, Vol. 77 Issue 3, May–June 2026, Ed. Wiley

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.70337

Influence of Organic and Inorganic Amendments on Aggregate Development in a Sodic Dispersive Soil
By Y. Fang, Z. (Han) Weng, S. Uddin, I. Tahmasbian, L. Van Zwieten, M. Farrell, M. T. Rose, G. Chen, D. Collins, R. Armstrong, E. Tavakkol – Soil Use and Management, 2026,Vol. 42 Issue 2, Ed. Wiley

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/

Structural Quality of an Ultisol Under Long-Term Different Tillage Systems and Cover Crops With Corn in Northeast Brazil
By Alceu Pedrotti, Jusimara de Andrade Santos, Luiz Diego Vidal Santos, Brisa Marina da Silva Andrade, Francisco Sandro Rodrigues Holanda, Renisson Neponuceno de Araújo Filho, Júlio Cesar Azevedo Nobrega, Richard Matos de Souza, Caciana Costa Feitosa – Soil Use and Management, 2026,Vol. 42 Issue 2, Ed. Wiley

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.70214

Opportunities

Summer school on soil health and intercropping in Florence, Italy: Applications open

Understanding how plant–soil interactions shape productivity and soil health is key to making intercropping a viable alternative to monocultures. The LEGUMINOSE Summer School “Understanding Contemporary Plant–Soil Feedback in Intercropping” offers a dedicated space to explore this topic, with a strong focus on soil health, soil microbial communities and nutrient dynamics in legume–cereal systems.
Designed for graduate students, early-career researchers and practitioners, the summer school provides a combination of lectures, hands-on training, and field visits. Participants will gain both theoretical and practical knowledge of how plant–soil feedback can be assessed and how it affects crop performance and soil fertility in intercropping systems.
Applications are now open for those interested in joining the summer school in Florence.
Practical details
• Dates: 19–21 May 2026
• Location: University of Florence, Italy

How to register
To apply, please prepare a short abstract (max. 250 words) describing your research interest or background in soil–plant systems. Send your application by email to shamina.pathan@unifi.it

Multilateral dialogue on principles and values in research & innovation cooperation
The European Commission is joining forces with the ISC to expand its multilateral dialogue on research and innovation collaboration to the global level. Between 2026 and 2029, the project will gather regional perspectives through a series of high-level workshops and consultations in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and online. Discussions will culminate in a global ministerial meeting, which will aim to adopt a declaration for international scientific and innovation collaboration and a set of practical tools and frameworks.
ISC Members, Fellows and partners will be invited to provide input as part of the consultative process: https://council.science/news/multilateral-dialogue-launch/

Opportunities from the ISC community
Call for applications: TWAS-CSIR Postgraduate Fellowship Programme aimed at foreign scholars from developing countries. Deadline: 6 May 2026.
Call for applications: Host the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) World Polymer Congress 2032. Deadline: 30 June 2026.
Call for nominations: Fellowship candidates for the Australian Academy of Science. Deadline: 31 July 2026.
Call for nominations: Stock Water Prize, awarded to an individual, institution or organization that has made substantial contribution to our understanding, use and protection of water resources. Deadline: 15 September 2026.

ECHO Soil Challenge – Soil Stories

The ECHO Soil Challenge – Soil Stories aims to raise awareness among students, teachers, educators and citizens about the value of soil as a vital resource for ecosystems, food security and climate. It promotes creativity, scientific experimentation, and science communication, while also contributing to the dissemination of the ECHO SoiLab for Teens as an educational tool for hands-on school activities.
Participation in the ECHO Soil Challenge – Soil Stories contest is open to applicants based in the following eligible countries: Italy, Poland, Spain, Scotland, Greece, Romania, Germany, Portugal, Finland.
The contest has four categories:
• Category 1: children aged 6–10 (primary school)
• Category 2: children aged 11–13 (lower secondary school)
• Category 3: young people aged 14–19 (upper secondary school)
• Category 4: ECHO Soil Ambassador
For each category, 3 winners will be selected.
For Categories 1-3, submissions must be presented by teachers, professors, or educators on behalf of children or young people aged 6–19. Projects may be developed by classes or groups, under the guidance of the submitting teacher or educator. The teacher or educator acts as the official applicant and contact person, and is responsible for submitting the project, communicating with the ECHO team, and ensuring compliance with the contest rules.
Category 4 is open to people who are involved in the ECHO project as ECHO Soil Ambassador.
Timeline
• Submission deadline: November 9th, 2026
• Announcement of winners: December 16th, 2026
• Final webinar with winners: January 15th, 2027

Communication

To IUSS Commission and Working Group Chairs: you are kindly requested to inform the Secretariat whenever there is a change within your Commission and/or Working Group officers. In this way, it will be possible to keep the IUSS Officers Mailing List regularly updated.

To IUSS Full Members: please do not forget to let the Secretariat know about your new President, Secretary, Contact Person. This will be vital in keeping the mailing list updated, so you will not miss out any communication.

Please provide the new name, surname, position and e-mail address to: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

If you are interested in promoting your product or book, event, job call in our Alert, please send an email to iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it.

L'articolo IUSS Alert 246 (april 2026) proviene da iuss.org.

IUSS Alert 245 (march 2026)

Mitia Mambella — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 08:50:48 +0000

State of the art

Highlighted IUSS publications

By Division 1

Future societal developments provide a challenge for pedology as an integrative activity within soil science

By Johan Bouma

In contrast to earlier periods, the soil science profession receives major attention from the policy arena in Europe as evidenced by recent major financial research support (e.g. EC, 2023). Writing research proposals and running research programs, sometimes with participants from many countries, is highly time consuming, also because legal requirements are increasingly imposed. In addition, scientific activities are affected by elaborate internal procedures, adopted from the business community, focused on financial and human resource management. As a result, not enough time, it seems, is left for reflection as to desirable future developments of the soil science profession in a rapidly changing world. This discussion paper has therefore the objective to contribute to a discussion about the future role of soil science in society and sketch possible future scenarios.

News from the IUSS

Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development 2025-2034 – Healthy Soils for Humanity

The new decade of soil sciences for sustainable development has begun, read the manifesto and download the logo here: https://www.iuss.org/decade-of-soil-sciences-for-sustainable-development/

The Decade aims to prioritize production, dissemination, and use of actionable scientific knowledge across all areas of soil sciences to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Divisions, Commissions, and Working Groups are encouraged to coordinate with the IUSS Research Forum in planning activities aligned with the themes of the Decade. These may include special issues, books, position papers, policy briefs, webinars, conferences, workshops, sessions at the World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS), and other relevant initiatives.

Division and Commission Officers Election – 2026 and members of the Standing Committees Election 2026

The election process is now completed, and the winners will be announced via IUSS Alert within May 31, 2026.

Presidential Election 2026

The new IUSS President will be elected during the 23 World Congress of Soil Sciences in Nanjing, China this coming June. The IUSS Secretariat will take care in due time to inform the Full Members on the election procedure.

To enquire: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

IUSS Joint Commission 1.7/3.8 “Permafrost-Affected Soils

Call for papers, Submission Deadline: Tuesday, September 1st, 2026

For more information on the scope of the special issue, please refer to the Call for Papers (contributions accepted include, original research papers, reviews, reports of case studies and practical experience, opinions, and perspectives).

Manuscript can be submitted the SUM submission system. Please follow the Author Guidelines and select the special issue title when asked: “Is this submission for a special issue?”.

We would be enormously grateful if you could let us know your decision via this form.

For more information: Prof. Adrian Unc, aunc@mun.ca Vice-Chair

Alan Wild Reviews, Perspectives and Topical Collections Editor, Soil Use and Management (British Soil Science Society)

Soil Mission Manifesto

Soil Science Society of China (SSSC) and IUSS

The 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) – Soil and the Shared Future for Humanity

Date: June 7th -12th, 2026

Location: Nanjing, China

Nanjing Welcomes Global Soil Scientists for the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science

The 23rd WCSS will be held in the International Expo Center from June 7 to 12, 2026 in Nanjing, the capital city of the most developed Jiangsu province, under the theme of “Soil and the Shared Future for Humanity”. 121 sessions in five categories have been accepted.

Deprived from the Chinese character “土” (Soil), the mascot KuiKui manifests the concept of “One World for One Earth”. The emblem on its belly represents the earth, with the inner circle featuring five typical soil colors in China, while the outer circle featuring the blue ocean.

The WCSS2026 theme, ‘Soil and the Shared Future for Mankind’, focuses on the importance of soil for our future, with a variety of arrangements including poster exhibition, young researcher forum and soil judging contest. Tours will also be organized for participants to visit typical soils in combination with unique landscapes and cultural diversification as China is a vast country with rich soil resources.

With a global population that is projected to exceed 9 billion by 2050, our current and future food security hinges on our ability to increase yields and food quality using the soils that we already have available today. We are responsible for the soils that provide us with food, water and air, and we need to take action today to ensure that we have healthy soils for a sustainable and food secure future. Our understanding of the importance is developing rapidly and WCSS2026 provides a platform for us to discover the solutions to soil issues and an opportunity to connect all who work with and have interests in soils.

Read more: Join and follow via the official website: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/

Important dates and deadlines:
Regular registration deadline: May 7, 2026
Cancellation and Refund deadline: May 7, 2026

Choose your scientific journey:
Tour 1: Scientific Expedition on Red Soil in South China
Tour 2: Jiangnan Tea & Rice Soil Scientific Expedition
Tour 3: Survey on Soil Environment and Green City Construction in the Capital
Tour 4: Soil and Geoscience Expedition in the Loess Plateau & Historical-Cultural Tour
Tour 5: Northeast Thick Black Soil Region Scientific Expedition
Tour 6: Northeast Thin Black Soil Region Scientific Expedition

Explore routes, costs, and details here: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/Post-Congress%20Tours/index.html

IUSS and Soil Science Society of China (SSSC)

Travel Awards for Attending World Congress of Soil Science 2026

A total of 40,000 USD in funding is available, aiming for gender and geographic equity. Each selected applicant will be eligible to receive up to a maximum of 1,000 USD. The award will be disbursed as a reimbursement for actual travel costs and/or WCSS2026 registration fees incurred.

Support is only for early-career scientists who are high-quality Master or PhD students or who completed a Master or PhD degree less than 5 years ago.

Applicants must be the presenting author of a submitted oral or poster presentation abstract for WCSS2026 and must be a member of a council society (national soil science society) that is a full member of IUSS.

Applicants need to send their applications to: wcss2026@issas.ac.cn

Contact: wcss2026@issas.ac.cn

The Digital Age in the Study, Evaluation, and Teaching of Soil Science

Special session number 503003 IUSS 23rd World Congress on Soil Science

Contact: fernando.ayala@comunidad.unam.mx; leptosol@ciga.unam.mx

Mitigating the impact of land use and its change through conservation management

Call for Papers

Submission deadline: August 1st, 2026

Special issue as IUSS (International Union of Soil Sciences) Commission 4.3 – Soils and Land Use Change with Dr. Gary Feng.

We welcome original papers and reviews that might be presented at the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science held in Nanjing, China, on June 7-12, 2026.

The selected papers will mainly report the latest achievements in research focused on conservation, restoration and improvement of land use and its change through conservation managements, focused on promoting the sustainability of managed and natural ecosystems.

Keywords: soil health, land use change, soil amendment, cover crops, conservation management, soil functions, soil properties, carbon dynamics

Guest Editors:

Prof. Gary Feng
USDA-ARS
United States

Prof. Felipe A. Zúñiga Ugalde
Universidad Austral de Chile; Instituto de Bosques y Sociedad
Chile

Prof. Ying Ouyang
USDA Forest Service; Southern Research Station
United States

Prof. José Dörner
Universidad Austral de Chile; Instituto de Ingeniería Agraria y Suelos
Chile

Dr. Tingting Chang
Hohai University
China

Prof. Rainer Horn
Institut für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde; Christian-Albrecht-Universität zu Kiel
Germany

Dr. Ingrid Martínez
Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA-Chile)
Chile

News from national and regional soil science societies 2026

Argentine Soil Science Association

The 30th Argentine Congress of Soil Science (CACS2026)- Challenges from South to North: Commitment between Conservation and Production

Date: April 14th –17th, 2026
Location: San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro – Patagonia – Argentina.

The Argentine Soil Science Association, together with academic and scientific institutions from the Patagonian region, is organizing the 30th Argentine Congress of Soil Science, under the theme “Challenges from South to North: Commitment between Conservation and Production,” participants are invited to reflect on Argentina’s territorial diversity and the challenges of balancing conservation with the sustainable use of natural resources, with a focus on soil.

Soil Science Society of Pakistan (SSSP)

The 21st International Congress of Soil Science (ICSS-2026) – Soil Resilience for Sustainable Development

Date: May 5th – 7th, 2026
Location: University of Poonch Rawalakot (UPR) in Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan

The theme of Congress is: “Soil Resilience for Sustainable Development”

Canadian Society of Soil Science and Canadian Society of Agronomy

2026 Joint Annual Meeting – Soils & Crops in Focus – Critical Resources from Coast to Coast to Coast

Date: June 20th – 25th, 2026
Location: University of Guelph, Canada

Soil Science Australia

2026 Soil Science Australia National Conference

Date: November 1st – 5th, 2026
Location: Boorloo, Perth, Australia

Deadlines: Call for abstracts close April 24th, 2026

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops 2026

The 4th Global Soil Biodiversity Conference (GSB 2026)

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

The 4th edition of the Global Soil Biodiversity Conference (GSB 2026) will bring together researchers, policy analysts, students, and practicing farmers to discuss soil biodiversity with the goals of informing the public, promoting this information into environmental policy, and overall creating a platform for the current and future sustainability of soils.

The European Soil Partnership

The European Soil Partnership (ESP) is part of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP), a network of seven regional partnerships established by member countries of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other governmental and non-governmental institutions. Subregional and national partnerships enable close links with stakeholders including land managers and the public. The ESP sees itself as an umbrella network for various European initiatives and actions, at the level of regions, countries, EU and its neighbours, and it advocates for their visibility and contributions in the global soil protection movement.

Date: April 23-24, 2026
Location: FAO headquarters in Rome and online

International Conference on Alternatives to Reduce Soil Degradation

Date: May 19th, 2026
Location: Hybrid event, Online & In-Person. Kossuth Klub, Budapest, Hungary

Special conference theme: The main focus of the conference will be on conservation agriculture, soil biological processes, and how to improve soil quality in practice.

Deadlines:
Oral: April 23rd, 2026; Poster: April 30th, 2026
Registration: On site: May 5th, 2026; Online: May 18th, 2026

Read more: www.arsd-conference.com

10th International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter (SOM2026)

Date: May 25th – 29th, 2026
Location: University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil.

Read more: Official website = https://eventosccarbon.com.br

100th anniversary of agricultural experimentation at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW

Date: June 12th –13th, 2026
Location: Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Poland

Important dates
Deadline for articles and abstracts submission: February 15th, 2026
The announcement of the final conference program: April 30th, 2026

Read more: https://ir.sggw.edu.pl/en/lte/

IFSA2026: Farming and Agri-Food Systems dynamics: facing crises and trade-offs in transition pathways

Date: June 29th – July 03rd, 2026
Location: Montpellier, France

Key dates:
Early bird registration deadline: March 15th, 2026
Registration deadline (also for field visits registration): April 30th, 2026

12th Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Open Science Conference & Meetings

Date: August 8th –19th, 2026
Location: Oslo, Norway

Join colleagues from around the world for a rich and varied programme, from plenary lectures and mini-symposia to parallel sessions, panels, posters, and an inspiring social programme in and around Oslo.

Read more: https://scar2026.org/

4th International Symposium on Climate-Resilient Agri-Environmental Systems (ISCRAES 2026)

Date: August 12th –14th, 2026
Location: Dublin, Ireland

Deadlines:
– Standard registration: 30 April 2026 (For inclusion in the proceedings and programme)
– Late registration fee: 31 July 2026

Read more: www.iscraes.org

International Symposium on Earthworm Ecology (ISEE13)
13th edition

Date: August 23rd-28th, 2026
Location: Wageningen, the Netherlands

Deadlines:
Deadline for early bird registration: April 15th, 2026
Deadline for registration: June 17th, 2026

First Celebration of the International Day of Caves and Karst (IDCK), proclaimed by UNESCO

Date: September 10th – 13th, 2026
Location: Postojna, Slovenia

Following the proclamation of the International Day of Caves and Karst (IDCK) by UNESCO, this is the first official celebration.

The central date of the celebration will be 13 September 2026, with a series of scientific and outreach events planned in the days leading up to it.

5th International Soil Modeling Consortium Conference (ISMC 2026) “Advances and Challenges in Tropical Soil Modeling”

Date: September 15th – 19th, 2026
Location: Rio di Janeiro, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Brazil

The conference is organized by the University of São Paulo (USP), the Geological Service of Brazil (SGB), and PUC-RioThe official language of the conference is English.

ISMC 2026 will be the first ISMC conference held in Latin America and will focus on tropical soil modeling, emphasizing its importance for food and water security, carbon cycling, biodiversity, and land-use change.

Important dates:
Abstract submission deadline: May 1st, 2026
Abstract acceptance: May 25th, 2026
Notification oral/poster: August 15th, 2026
Early bird registration June: 1st, 2026

10th International Nitrogen Conference (N2026)

Sustainable Nitrogen Management for Future Generations

Date: November 2nd-6th, 2026
Location: Wageningen, the Netherlands

New Books

Contaminants in agricultural soils: Challenges and solutions

by Professor Ravi Naidu (University of Newcastle, Australia and CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (crcCARE), Australia)

Ed.: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited, Cambridge, 2025; p. 400

ISBN 10: 1801468788 / ISBN 13: 9781801468787

Contaminants in agricultural soils: Challenges and solutions provides a comprehensive overview of the major types of contaminants in agricultural soils. It considers key issues in dealing with contaminants such as advances in detection and risk assessment. The book also reviews recent advances in bioremediation and phytoremediation techniques to manage contaminants in soils. This book reviews current research on the key types of contaminants in agricultural soils, including heavy metals, antibiotic and pesticide residues, as well as recent advances in bioremediation and phytoremediation techniques to manage these contaminants.

Measuring and assessing the biological health of soils

by Professor Jeanette Norton (Utah State University, USA), Professor Josh Schimel (University of California – Santa Barbara, USA) and Professor Zoë Lindo (University of Western Ontario, Canada)

Ed.: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited, Cambridge, 2025; p. 476

ISBN-10: ‎ 183545075X / ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1835450758

One of the most important topics in soil science is understanding the relationship between soil biodiversity and soil ecosystem function. This relies on techniques able to accurately identify different soil organisms and how they interact in the soil microbiome. Measuring and assessing the biological health of soils provides a comprehensive overview of the range of techniques used to assess microbial/faunal diversity and activity in soils and its impact on key ecological processes. The book also reviews how biological indicators can be integrated into soil health testing programmes to improve the quality of agricultural, grassland and forest soils.

Opportunities

Summer school on soil health and intercropping in Florence, Italy: Applications open

Designed for graduate students, early-career researchers and practitioners, the summer school provides a combination of lectures, hands-on training, and field visits. Participants will gain both theoretical and practical knowledge of how plant–soil feedback can be assessed and how it affects crop performance and soil fertility in intercropping systems.

Applications are now open for those interested in joining the summer school in Florence.

Practical details
• Dates: 19–21 May 2026
• Location: University of Florence, Italy
• Participation limit: 30 participants
• Registration deadline: 31 March 2026
• Fee: €300 per person (includes course materials, refreshments, lunches and one social dinner; travel and accommodation not included)

How to register

To apply, please prepare a short abstract (max. 250 words) describing your research interest or background in soil–plant systems. Send your application by email to shamina.pathan@unifi.it

Communication

Please provide the new name, surname, position and e-mail address to: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

If you are interested in promoting your product or book, event, job call in our Alert, please send an email to iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it.

L'articolo IUSS Alert 245 (march 2026) proviene da iuss.org.

IUSS Alert 244 (february 2026)

Mitia Mambella — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:21:34 +0000

State of the art

Highlighted IUSS publications

By Division 4

Soil and a Shared Future for Humanity, in Celebration of the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science
The 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (23rd WCSS), to be held on June 7–12, 2026 in Nanjing, China, marks a historic coming of this century-old scientific gathering to one of the world’s ancient agricultural civilizations. Since its inception in 1927, this will be the first time the Congress is hosted in China, a land whose agricultural resilience has been nurtured by millennia of soil stewardship. Altogether, the sessions of the 23rd WCSS portray soil science as an integrative, solution-oriented discipline, one that connects the past with the future and scientific discovery with societal transformation.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedsph.2026.01.018

The ultimate fraction – Chemical characterization of humins from forest vs grassland soils
Humin, defined as the residual fraction of soil organic matter remaining after alkaline extraction, has been recognized as the predominant and most stable form of organic matter in mineral soils for centuries. Contrary to views that propose a humin composition predominantly aromatic, alkyl or poly-alkyl in nature, this study showed that humins are highly chemodiverse, containing a wide range of organic compounds, none of them being predominant. Their degree of microbial reworking varied with vegetation type and, thus, with corresponding plant inputs.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2026.110118

Application of calibration transfer techniques between different mid-infrared spectrometers/modules to improve accuracy in estimating soil properties
Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy offers a rapid and cost-effective alternative to traditional soil property measurement. Advances in spectrometer technologies have enhanced portability and affordability, expanding their use for soil property estimation. However, developing training datasets for new spectrometers is expensive and time-consuming. Leveraging existing spectral datasets is crucial, yet variations between different spectrometers reduce prediction accuracy. This study demonstrated that existing spectral datasets can be effectively used for new spectrometers with calibration transfer, allowing real-time and field-scale soil property measurement.
https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70147

News from the IUSS

ISC Distinguished Lecture Series on Science for Sustainable Development (ISC-DLS-S4SD)

As announced during the 7th Roundtable of ISC Unions and Associations, the GeoUnions call on all Members of the International Science Council, particularly its Category 1 Members, to contribute to and support the ongoing successful ISC Distinguished Lecture Series on Science for Sustainable Development (ISC-DLS-S4SD), with the aim of making it more inclusive (Attached ISC distinguished lecture series on sciences for sustainable development).
The IUSS has already participated in such initiative (to learn more click here) which is also in line with the goals of our Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development (DSSSD) endorsed, among others, by the ISC and UNESCO; ISC Members, therefore, are invited to nominate:
• lecturers for the ISC-DLS-S4SD (see nomination form 1 below);
• one representative per an ISC Member organization to serve on the ISC-DLS-S4SD.
(Attached Nominations of lecturers and selection committee members)

Deadline: March 31st, 2026,

More information: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development 2025-2034 – Healthy Soils for Humanity
The new decade of soil sciences for sustainable development has begun, read the manifesto and download the logo here: https://www.iuss.org/decade-of-soil-sciences-for-sustainable-development/
The Decade aims to prioritize production, dissemination, and use of actionable scientific knowledge across all areas of soil sciences to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Divisions, Commissions, and Working Groups are encouraged to coordinate with the IUSS Research Forum in planning activities aligned with the themes of the Decade. These may include special issues, books, position papers, policy briefs, webinars, conferences, workshops, sessions at the World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS), and other relevant initiatives.

Division and Commission Officers Election – 2026 and members of the Standing Committees Election 2026

The process for the election of the new Divisions and Commissions Officers and Chair of the Standing Committees has officially started, the IUSS Members have been notified by the Secretary and provided with the Guidelines for the procedure, the list of the available positions and the official nomination form. The elections will be completed at the very beginning of the new year, and the names and positions will be published on the IUSS Alert.

Election Calendar and Deadlines
Closing of the voting system for your society members: March 20, 2026
Notification to the Electoral Committee and Secretariat: within April 30, 2026
Winners’ announcement: within May 31, 2026

Download the Division and Commission Chair Nomination Form
Download the Standing Committee Member Nomination Form
Download the IUSS 2026 Election Guidelines

Candidates for the position of President-elect of the IUSS
The call for the candidacy to the position of IUSS President Elect is still open, for full info and procedure click here (attached).
For any queries, please contact IUSS Secretary, Dr. Irene Fabbri, iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it or the Chair of Presidential Election, Prof. Rainer Horn rhorn@soils.uni-kiel.de

IUSS International Soil Judging Contest
Soil judging is an educational activity that develops field skills of describing and classifying soils and understanding of soil genesis. The experiential learning and skills gained are beneficial in promotion of soil science, pursuit of jobs, and in preparation for advanced studies. Soil judging originated in the United States in the late 1950’s and IUSS contests began in Korea in 2014 in association with the World Congress. There have been numerous journal articles detailing the importance of soils contests as an educational tool. The International Soil Judging Contest Working Group of IUSS was formed in 2022 to promote soil judging across the world, to develop standards used for soil judging contests, to host International Soil Judging web page, and to assist in the planning and organization of international soil judging contests. The chair is Brian Needelman of the United States and vice-chairs are John Galbraith of the Unites States and Minerva García Carmona of Spain. A main focus of the group is to assist with the IUSS contests associated with the World Congress in Nanjing, China in 2026 and in Toronto, Canada in 2030. Registration of teams is still available until January 15, 2026, through the contest web site. There are about 36 members, and most are active on one of the subcommittees developing standards based on FAO, USDA, and WRB publications. Our working group encourages countries to develop their own or multinational contests. Participation in the Working Group is encouraged by sending an email to Dr. Brian Needelman bneed@umd.edu and Dr. John Gallbraith at ttcf@vt.edu or Minerva García Carmona minerva.garciac@umh.es. An example of a recent soils contest is available at Home – European Soil Judging Contest. The Working Group encourages development of soil judging and participation in the upcoming contest in Nanjing. Please feel free to reach out to one of the officers with any questions.

IUSS Joint Commission 1.7/3.8 “Permafrost-Affected Soils

Call for papers, Submission Deadline: Tuesday, September 1st, 2026

We would like to draw your attention to a Special Issue, “Applied Pedology: Practical Solutions Across a Variety of Disciplines and Issues” in Soil Use and Management. The special Issue is framed within the IUSS initiatives of the Research Forum for the 2025-2034 Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development (DSSSD) (www.iuss.org/decade-of-soil-sciences-for-sustainable-development/). We’d like to extend an invitation for contributions to the special issue before the 1 September 2026 deadline.
For more information on the scope of the special issue, please refer to the Call for Papers (contributions accepted include, original research papers, reviews, reports of case studies and practical experience, opinions, and perspectives).
Manuscript can be submitted the SUM submission system. Please follow the Author Guidelines and select the special issue title when asked: “Is this submission for a special issue?”.
We would be enormously grateful if you could let us know your decision via this form.

For more information: Prof. Adrian Unc, aunc@mun.ca Vice-Chair
Alan Wild Reviews, Perspectives and Topical Collections Editor, Soil Use and Management (British Soil Science Society)

Soil Mission Manifesto

Soil Science Society of China (SSSC) and IUSS

The 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) – Soil and the Shared Future for Humanity

Date: June 7th -12th, 2026
Location: Nanjing, China

Nanjing Welcomes Global Soil Scientists for the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science

Read more: Join and follow via the official website: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/
Important dates and deadlines:
Early bird registration deadline: March 7, 2026
Regular registration deadline: May 7, 2026
Cancellation and Refund deadline: May 7, 2026

Explore routes, costs, and details here: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/Post-Congress%20Tours/index.html

IUSS and Soil Science Society of China (SSSC)

Travel Awards for Attending World Congress of Soil Science 2026

Contact: wcss2026@issas.ac.cn

Attendance Grant for Council Member Representatives from Low- and Middle-Income Countries of World Congress of Soil Science 2026

The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) and the Soil Science Society of China (SSSC) are pleased to announce the Attendance Grant for the World Congress of Soil Science 2026 (WCSS2026). This initiative is designed to support the representatives of IUSS Council members from low- and middle (lower-middle and upper-middle) income countries ( as classified by the World Development Indicators), enabling their participation in the Congress, which will take place from 7–12 June 2026 in Nanjing, China.
This funding aims to encourage and assist representatives of IUSS Full Member from less developed countries who are constrained by limited budgets to attend the Congress. A limited number of funding (approximately 20) will be granted. Each selected applicant will receive up to USD $3,000 to cover eligible expenses such as registration fees, flight tickets, and accommodation.
Successful applicants will be notified via email by 28 February 2026 (UTC+8). The results will also be published on the official WCSS2026 website (https://www.23wcss.org.cn/) and the IUSS website (https://www.iuss.org).
The decision of the Selection Committee is final and not subject to appeal.

Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must be nominated by an IUSS Full Member (a National Soil Science Society or a National Academy). Each society can nominate only one candidate.

Submission and Deadlines: Applications must be submitted in English to wcss2026@issas.ac.cn 24:00 (UTC+8) on 7 February 2026.

For any inquiries, please contact wcss2026@issas.ac.cn or call +86-025-86881992.

The Digital Age in the Study, Evaluation, and Teaching of Soil Science

Special session number 503003 IUSS 23rd World Congress on Soil Science

Contact: fernando.ayala@comunidad.unam.mx; leptosol@ciga.unam.mx

News from national and regional soil science societies 2026

Hungarian Soil Science Society
Polish Society of Soil Science

7th International Symposium of Soil Physics

Date: March 17th, 2026
Location: Budapest, Hungary

Organized by: HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research, Institute for Soil Sciences (Talajtani Intézet – TAKI, Budapest); Commission of Soil Physics, Polish Society of Soil Science; Lublin Branch of the Polish Soil Science Society; Hungarian Soil Science Society – Branch of Soil Physics and Soil Mineralogy; Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Division of Agricultural Sciences

Read more and the registration link: https://atk.hun-ren.hu/en/7th-international-symposium-of-soil-physics-2/

Argentine Soil Science Association

The 30th Argentine Congress of Soil Science (CACS2026)- Challenges from South to North: Commitment between Conservation and Production

Date: April 14th –17th, 2026
Location: San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro – Patagonia – Argentina.
The Argentine Soil Science Association, together with academic and scientific institutions from the Patagonian region, is organizing the 30th Argentine Congress of Soil Science, under the theme “Challenges from South to North: Commitment between Conservation and Production,” participants are invited to reflect on Argentina’s territorial diversity and the challenges of balancing conservation with the sustainable use of natural resources, with a focus on soil.

Soil Science Society of Pakistan (SSSP)

The 21st International Congress of Soil Science (ICSS-2026) – Soil Resilience for Sustainable Development

Date: May 5th – 7th, 2026
Location: University of Poonch Rawalakot (UPR) in Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan

The theme of Congress is: “Soil Resilience for Sustainable Development”

Canadian Society of Soil Science and Canadian Society of Agronomy

2026 Joint Annual Meeting – Soils & Crops in Focus – Critical Resources from Coast to Coast to Coast

Date: June 20th – 25th, 2026
Location: University of Guelph, Canada

Soil Science Australia

2026 Soil Science Australia National Conference

Date: November 1st – 5th, 2026
Location: Boorloo, Perth, Australia

Deadlines: Call for abstracts close April 24th, 2026

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops 2026

International Scientific Conference XXIX Dokuchaev Conference for Young Scientists “Soils and humanity health”

Date: March 2nd – 4th, 2026
Location: St. Petersburg, Russia

The conference is dedicated to the celebration of the 180th anniversary of the birth of V.V. Dokuchaev.

Conference format: plenary and poster sessions, and topical sections
Forms of participation: offline, online (for schoolchildren only off-line).
Forms of presentation: poster*, oral (*only for off-line participants).
Languages of conference: English, Russian.

Read more:
E-mail: dkonf2026@gmail.com
Website: http://www.dokuchaevskie.ru
The registration link can be found on the conference website in the section “Participate” http://www.dokuchaevskie.ru/participate?lang=en.

Conference on Variable Charge Soils
Date: March 4th – 6th, 2026
Location: Newcastle, Australia

The 4th Global Soil Biodiversity Conference (GSB 2026)

Date: April 12th -15th, 2026
Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

International Conference on Alternatives to Reduce Soil Degradation

Date: May 19th, 2026
Location: Hybrid event, Online & In-Person. Kossuth Klub, Budapest, Hungary

Read more: www.arsd-conference.com

10th International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter (SOM2026)

Date: May 25th – 29th, 2026
Location: University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil.

Read more: Official website = https://eventosccarbon.com.br

100th anniversary of agricultural experimentation at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW

Date: June 12th –13th, 2026
Location: Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Poland

Important dates
Deadline for articles and abstracts submission: February 15th, 2026
The announcement of the final conference program: April 30th, 2026

Read more: https://ir.sggw.edu.pl/en/lte/

IFSA2026: Farming and Agri-Food Systems dynamics: facing crises and trade-offs in transition pathways

Date: June 29th – July 03rd, 2026
Location: Montpellier, France

This symposium aims to revisit progress and debates in co-designing and promoting sustainable Agri-Food systems to face crises and support multiscale decisions. There are many trade-offs to document but also many synergies to analyse when looking at transition pathways and impacts.
Key dates:
Early bird registration deadline: March 15th, 2026
Registration deadline (also for field visits registration): April 30th, 2026

12th Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Open Science Conference & Meetings

Date: August 8th –19th, 2026
Location: Oslo, Norway

Deadline: abstract submission: February 28th, 2026.

Read more: https://scar2026.org/

4th International Symposium on Climate-Resilient Agri-Environmental Systems (ISCRAES 2026)

Date: August 12th –14th, 2026
Location: Dublin, Ireland

Deadlines:
– Submitting abstracts, Final: 31 March 2026
– Standard registration: 30 April 2026 (For inclusion in the proceedings and programme)
– Late registration fee: 31 July 2026

Read more: www.iscraes.org

International Symposium on Earthworm Ecology (ISEE13)
13th edition
Date: August 23rd-28th, 2026
Location: Wageningen, the Netherlands

Deadlines:
Decision on abstract acceptance: March 4th, 2026
Deadline for early bird registration: April 15th, 2026
Deadline for registration: June 17th, 2026

First Celebration of the International Day of Caves and Karst (IDCK), proclaimed by UNESCO

Date: September 10th – 13th, 2026
Location: Postojna, Slovenia

10th International Nitrogen Conference (N2026)
Sustainable Nitrogen Management for Future Generations

Date: November 2nd-6th, 2026
Location: Wageningen, the Netherlands

Opportunities

CESFRA – Postdoctoral Position in Agronomy and Soils Sciences (Dynamic of Organic Matter (SOM)
Postdoctoral Position in Agronomy and Soils Sciences (Dynamic of organic matter (SOM) in soils and how to improve it contains, particularly, on its stable form and establish the relationships between SOM and biological indicators for soil health under different land uses).
Area of specialisation in degraded soils, organic matter, organo-mineral soil improvers, microbial inoculation, plant cover, soil health and quality, soil health indicators, sustainable agriculture, and monitoring of field experiments.
Employer: MOHAMMED VI POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
Location: Benguerir, Morocco
Closing date: 5 Mar 2026
Read more: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/unijobs/listing/406902/cesfra-postdoctoral-position-in-agronomy-and-soils-sciences-dynamic-of-organic-matter-som-/

Communication

Please provide the new name, surname, position and e-mail address to: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

If you are interested in promoting your product or book, event, job call in our Alert, please send an email to iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it.

L'articolo IUSS Alert 244 (february 2026) proviene da iuss.org.

IUSS Alert 243 (January 2026)

Mitia Mambella — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:35:12 +0000

State of the art

Highlighted IUSS publications

By Division 3

Integrating stable isotopes and hydrogeochemical indices for vulnerability assessment of extensively irrigated Kala Oya basin, Sri Lanka
By S. Himanujahn, H.D.N. Jayaweera, E.A.N.V. Edirisinghe, B.C.L. Athapattu, Morihiro Maeda, Rim Trabelsi, K.H. Hagagg, T. Vitvar, Iñaki Vadillo-Pérez, C. Carreon-Diazconti, Zhonghe Pang, Md Arzoo Ansari, Paston Sidauruk, M.L. Lima, U. Saravana Kumar, Meththika Vithanage
Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, Volume 273, July 2025, 104596

This study, published in the Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, represents a significant advancement in environmental hydrogeology. By innovatively integrating the DRASTIC-LU model with stable isotope analysis and a novel Global Index (GI), it provides a holistic and robust framework for assessing groundwater vulnerability and irrigation suitability. The research demonstrates that groundwater in the agriculturally critical Kala Oya basin is moderately vulnerable and currently suitable for irrigation, with wet-season susceptibility linked to return flows. Crucially, the work bridges a key methodological gap by combining hydrochemical and isotopic tools, offering a powerful, transferable model for sustainable water resource management in intensively irrigated regions worldwide. The findings provide immediate, evidence-based guidance for local stakeholders while establishing a new benchmark for integrated water quality assessment.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2025.104596

Balancing yield and environmental impact: The role of split nitrogen application and fertilizer type in corn production
By Iglesias, M. P. Wyngaard, N.; Lewczuk, N.; Sainz Rozas, H. R.; Toribio, M.; Garcia F. O. Reussi Calvo N. i.
Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, Volume 392, 15 October 2025, 109756

This article, published in the high-impact journal Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, is highly recommended for its immediate relevance and comprehensive scope. It addresses the core, global agricultural challenge of optimizing nitrogen (N) management—a critical factor for both food security and environmental sustainability. The study provides actionable insights by directly comparing split N application strategies and different fertilizer types in corn production, evaluating their effects not only on yield but also on greenhouse gas emissions (specifically nitrous oxide, N₂O). This integrated approach of assessing productivity alongside environmental impact makes its findings particularly valuable for agronomists, farm advisors, and policymakers aiming to develop practical, sustainable farming practices. The research methodology and conclusions are directly applicable to improving nutrient management plans in similar cropping systems worldwide.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2025.109756

Weather stress events during growing seasons associated with large losses in final soybean yields and changes in soil carbon content and nitrogen fertility under a warming climate: a review and synthesis of 1990–2012 soybean production in a rotated field in Daisen, Japan.
By Yoneyama, T., Nishida, M., Nira, R., Nakano, S.
Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Volume 71, Issue 4 (2025)

This article is highly recommended for its critical and forward-looking synthesis of long-term field data. In an era defined by climate change, it moves beyond typical agronomic studies by directly linking increasingly frequent weather stress events to tangible losses in soybean yield and detrimental shifts in foundational soil health parameters (carbon and nitrogen). The analysis of a 22-year dataset provides exceptional empirical weight, offering a localized yet universally valuable case study on the cascading impacts of a warming climate on crop productivity and soil sustainability. Its findings are urgent and actionable for agronomists, climate adaptation researchers, and policymakers focused on future-proofing agricultural systems.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00380768.2025.2492793

MEDAL

Guy Smith Medal Award 2026 – Invitation to Propose Nominees by February 28, 2026

Dear Colleagues:
The Guy Smith Medal is awarded for outstanding contributions to the development of soil classification.

The IUSS Guy Smith Medal Award Committee is pleased to invite you to propose nominees for the forthcoming Guy Smith Medal Award:
https://www.iuss.org/awards-medals-and-prizes/guy-smith-medal/
The next award will be handed over during the Nanjing 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (https://www.23wcss.org.cn/), to be organized from June 7 to 12, 2026 by the Soil Science Society of China.

Criteria for selection:
The nominee should have the following qualifications:
1. She/he must have made a significant scientific contribution that has advanced the field of soil classification, and
2. Be a published author in the field of soil classification, and
3. Be an active member, Honorary member, or formerly active member of a national or international soil science professional society, and
4. The medal is not invested posthumously, and
5. Present officers of IUSS Commission Soil Classification cannot be nominated.
The proposal for nomination should comprise a short text, including the main steps of the scientific career of the nominee, her/his most relevant scientific publications and major contributions to the development of soil classification.

We look forward to receiving your proposals by February 28, 2026.
CVs of the nominees and a motivation letter should be sent to:
Peter Schad <peter.schad@tum.de>, with copy to Maria Gerasimova <maria.i.gerasimova@gmail.com> and to Lucia Anjos <lanjos@ufrrj.br>

Yours Sincerely,

Prof. Peter Schad
Chair of Soil Science
Technical University of Munich, Germany

Prof. Maria Gerasimova
Department of Soil Geography and Landscape Geochemistry
Faculty of Geography, Moscow Lomonosov State University
Moscow, Russia

Prof. Lúcia Helena C. Anjos
Soils Department, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ)
Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

News from the IUSS

Division and Commission Officers Election – 2026 and members of the Standing Committees Election 2026

Download the Division and Commission Chair Nomination Form
Download the Standing Committee Member Nomination Form
Download the IUSS 2026 Election Guidelines

Candidates for the position of President-elect of the IUSS
The call for the candidacy to the position of IUSS President Elect is still open, for full info and procedure click here.
For any queries, please contact IUSS Secretary, Dr. Irene Fabbri, iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it or the Chair of Presidential Election, Prof. Rainer Horn rhorn@soils.uni-kiel.de

IUSS International Soil Judging Contest

Soil judging is an educational activity that develops field skills of describing and classifying soils and understanding of soil genesis. The experiential learning and skills gained are beneficial in promotion of soil science, pursuit of jobs, and in preparation for advanced studies. Soil judging originated in the United States in the late 1950’s and IUSS contests began in Korea in 2014 in association with the World Congress. There have been numerous journal articles detailing the importance of soils contests as an educational tool. The International Soil Judging Contest Working Group of IUSS was formed in 2022 to promote soil judging across the world, to develop standards used for soil judging contests, to host International Soil Judging web page, and to assist in the planning and organization of international soil judging contests. The chair is Brian Needelman of the United States and vice-chairs are John Galbraith of the Unites States and Minerva García Carmona of Spain. A main focus of the group is to assist with the IUSS contests associated with the World Congress in Nanjing, China in 2026 and in Toronto, Canada in 2030. Registration of teams is still available until January 15, 2026, through the contest web site. There are about 36 members, and most are active on one of the subcommittees developing standards based on FAO, USDA, and WRB publications. Our working group encourages countries to develop their own or multinational contests. Participation in the Working Group is encouraged by sending an email to Dr. Brian Needelman bneed@umd.edu and Dr. John Gallbraith at ttcf@vt.edu or Minerva García Carmona minerva.garciac@umh.es. An example of a recent soils contest is available at Home – European Soil Judging Contest. The Working Group encourages development of soil judging and participation in the upcoming contest in Nanjing. Please feel free to reach out to one of the officers with any questions.

IUSS Joint Commission 1.7/3.8 “Permafrost-Affected Soils

Call for papers, Submission Deadline: Tuesday, September 1, 2026

We would like to draw your attention to a Special Issue, “Applied Pedology: Practical Solutions Across a Variety of Disciplines and Issues” in Soil Use and Management. The special Issue is framed within the IUSS initiatives of the Research Forum for the 2025-2034 Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development (DSSSD) (www.iuss.org/decade-of-soil-sciences-for-sustainable-development/). We’d like to extend an invitation for contributions to the special issue before the 1 September 2026 deadline.
For more information on the scope of the special issue, please refer to the Call for Papers (contributions accepted include, original research papers, reviews, reports of case studies and practical experience, opinions, and perspectives).
Manuscript can be submitted the SUM submission system. Please follow the Author Guidelines and select the special issue title when asked: “Is this submission for a special issue?”.
We would be enormously grateful if you could let us know your decision via this form.

For more information: Prof. Adrian Unc, aunc@mun.ca Vice-Chair
Alan Wild Reviews, Perspectives and Topical Collections Editor, Soil Use and Management (British Soil Science Society)

Soil Mission Manifesto

Soil Science Society of China (SSSC) and IUSS

The 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) – Soil and the Shared Future for Humanity

Date: 7th -12th June, 2026
Location: Nanjing, China

Nanjing Welcomes Global Soil Scientists for the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science

Read more: Join and follow via the official website: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/
Important dates and deadlines:
Abstract results notification: February 7, 2026
Early bird registration deadline: March 7, 2026
Regular registration deadline: May 7, 2026
Cancellation and Refund deadline: May 7, 2026

Explore routes, costs, and details here: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/Post-Congress%20Tours/index.html

IUSS and Soil Science Society of China (SSSC)

Travel Awards for Attending World Congress of Soil Science 2026

Contact: wcss2026@issas.ac.cn

Attendance Grant for Council Member Representatives from Low- and Middle-Income Countries of World Congress of Soil Science 2026

Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must be nominated by an IUSS Full Member (a National Soil Science Society or a National Academy). Each society can nominate only one candidate.

Submission and Deadlines: Applications must be submitted in English to wcss2026@issas.ac.cn 24:00 (UTC+8) on 7 February 2026.

For any inquiries, please contact wcss2026@issas.ac.cn or call +86-025-86881992.

The Digital Age in the Study, Evaluation, and Teaching of Soil Science

Special session number 503003 IUSS 23rd World Congress on Soil Science

Contact: fernando.ayala@comunidad.unam.mx; leptosol@ciga.unam.mx

In memorial

Dr. Pedro Antonio Sanchez

Dr. Pedro Antonio Sanchez was a renowned agricultural scientist specializing in tropical soils and a winner of the 2022 World Food Prize for his groundbreaking contributions to reducing hunger and malnutrition throughout the developing world by transforming depleted tropical soils into productive agricultural lands.
He was born in Havana, Cuba, on October 7, 1940, grew up on a farm and completed his elementary and secondary education from Havana’s Colegio de la Salle, and earned his BS in Agronomy (1962), MS in Soil Science (1964), and PhD in Soil Science (1968) degrees at Cornell University. He passed away on January 12, 2026.
As the leader of the North Carolina State University Rice Research Program of Peru in the 1970s, Dr. Sanchez helped guide Peru to dramatically improve its national food security, achieving self-sufficiency in rice production within three years, and achieving among the highest rice yields in the world. From 1971-1976, he developed a comprehensive approach to soil management which enabled 30 million hectares of the Brazilian Cerrado, to be brought into production the single largest increase in arable agricultural land in the last half-century. Dr. Pedro Sánchez brought the Green Revolution to Africa developing means to replenish crucial nutrients in exhausted soils, through the development and promotion of agroforestry.
For all of this, in recognition of his work, in addition to the World Food Prize 022, he received the International Soil Science Award from the Soil Science Society of America (1993), and the International Service in Agronomy Award from American Society of Agronomy (1993). He was also elected Chairman of the Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition Commission of the International Society of Soil Science (1994) and received decorations from the governments of Colombia and Peru.
For the Latin American Soil Science Society (SLCS), this represents not only the loss of one of its members, but also the loss of a world-renowned scientist who embodied the commitment that science should have to global food security, a commitment he particularly demonstrated towards the developing countries to which he belonged.

Prof. Koji Wada
The IUSS mourns the loss of Honorary Member Prof. Koji Wada.
Prof. Wada Koji (Sixth Subsection, Soil Science) passed away on December 16, 2025.

Prof. Anthony Young (1932 – 2025)

We honor the legacy of Professor Anthony (Tony) Young — a founder of the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and one of the world’s foremost experts on land resources — whose vision continues to guide our work today.
Professor Young was among the leading land resource specialists globally, publishing more than 150 scientific papers and 18 books, including the highly regarded and widely cited Agroforestry for Soil Management (1989) and Tropical Soils and Soil Survey (1978). Over a career spanning more than five decades, he worked in over 30 tropical countries, contributing across every facet of land resource development — from survey and evaluation to conservation, planning, and sustainable use.
For more on this remarkable scientist, thinker, and development practitioner, Professor Young’s autobiography, Semper Juvenis (Latin for “Forever Young”), tells the story of his life and his enduring impact.

News from national and regional soil science societies 2026

German Soil Science Society (DBG)
Centennial Celebration: 100 Years of the German Soil Science Society (DBG)
Date: February 24th, 2026
Location: Hanover, Germany

German Soil Science

Rendzina – Soil of the Year 2025 in Germany

Read more: https://www.dbges.de/en/soil-of-the-year and visit the Soil of the Year page and the UBA Soil of the Year page

Field International Workshop on Paleopedology “Deciphering the ancient anthropic landscape transformation in the southern Maya lowlands in Mexico”

Date: February 19th – 25th, 2026
Location: Palenque, Mexico

Conference Organizers:
– International Union of Soil Science, Division 1. Soil in Space and Time, Commission 1.6 – Paleopedology.
– International Union for Quaternary Research, INQUA Paleopedology Working Group.
– Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).
– Instituto de Ecología A.C. (INECOL).

Important dates:
February 18, 2026: Arrival of participants
February 19-25, 2026: Workshop activities
February 26, 2026: Departure of participant

Hungarian Soil Science Society
Polish Society of Soil Science

7th International Symposium of Soil Physics

Date: March 17th, 2026
Location: Budapest, Hungary

Read more and the registration link: https://atk.hun-ren.hu/en/7th-international-symposium-of-soil-physics-2/

Canadian Society of Soil Science and Canadian Society of Agronomy

2026 Joint Annual Meeting – Soils & Crops in Focus – Critical Resources from Coast to Coast to Coast

Date: June 20th – 25th, 2026
Location: University of Guelph, Canada

Joint meeting of the Canadian Society of Soil Science and the Canadian Society of Agronomy. This conference, with its theme of “Soils & Crops in Focus – Critical Resources from Coast to Coast to Coast” will address the importance of resilient and healthy food production throughout Canada. Spanning six days, this conference brings together researchers, academics, professionals, contractors, suppliers, and students for technical and scientific discussions, and to showcase the state of the art in soil and crops research.

Deadline & Submission Information: January 31st, 2026
Proposals must be submitted to CSSSCSA2026@uoguelph.ca in MS Word format. Results of a review of proposals will be emailed in early February, 2026.

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops 2026

Virtual Micromorphology Meeting (ViMi6)

Date: February 5th – 6th (Thursday and Friday), 2026, between 11:00 and 16:00 (CET).
Location: online

ViMi6 is planned and organized as a joint venture between the University of Cologne and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
ViMi6 offers students and researchers the opportunity to discuss and stay up-to-date with the latest discoveries on and around soil and sediment thin sections via live microscopy. While the focus of ViMi6 is on Archaeological Soil Micromorphology, related topics and complementary techniques are also welcome. The main goal of ViMi6 is to sustain an open international community that encourages discussions and active collaborations around our thin sections. The language of communication is English. Participation is free of charge.

Organising team: Eva Drunagel, Axel Cerón González, Nico Mancini, Astrid Röpke, Yannick Devos

Read more:
E-mail: vimi.micromorph@gmail.com
Registration link: https://s.zoom.us/m/bZEE1gPIv

Registration QR-code:

International Scientific Conference XXIX Dokuchaev Conference for Young Scientists “Soils and humanity health”

Date: March 2nd – 4th, 2026
Location: St. Petersburg, Russia

The conference is dedicated to the celebration of the 180th anniversary of the birth of V.V. Dokuchaev.

Read more:
E-mail: dkonf2026@gmail.com
Website: http://www.dokuchaevskie.ru
The registration link can be found on the conference website in the section “Participate” http://www.dokuchaevskie.ru/participate?lang=en.

Conference on Variable Charge Soils
Date: March 4th – 6th, 2026
Location: Newcastle, Australia

The 4th Global Soil Biodiversity Conference (GSB 2026)

Date: April 12th -15th, 2026
Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

The Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI) was established to promote expert knowledge on soil biodiversity and to link this into environmental policy and sustainable land management with the aim of protecting and enhancing ecosystems services. The Global Soil Biodiversity Conferences organized under the auspices of the GSBI are now considered to be the premier global conferences dealing with soil biodiversity. The 4th edition of the Global Soil Biodiversity Conference (GSB 2026) will bring together researchers, policy analysts, students, and practicing farmers to discuss soil biodiversity with the goals of informing the public, promoting this information into environmental policy, and overall creating a platform for the current and future sustainability of soils.

Key Dates:
– February 2026: Acceptance Notification
– February 16th, 2026: Regular Registration Deadline
Read more: https://globalsoilbiodiversity2026.org/

10th International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter (SOM2026)

Date: May 25th – 29th, 2026
Location: University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil.

The X International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter (SOM2026) represents a unique opportunity to bring together the world’s leading scientific authorities in the areas of soil organic matter, carbon, regenerative agriculture, sustainable livestock, forestry and ecosystem restoration.
Under the theme “The Nexus of Healthy Soils and a Sustainable Future”, SOM2026 will bring together leading scientists, students, and professionals to discuss the latest advances in soil organic matter research and its pivotal role in addressing global sustainability challenges.

Read more: Official website = https://eventosccarbon.com.br

100th anniversary of agricultural experimentation at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW

Date: June 12th –13th, 2026
Location: Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Poland

The conference will provide a platform for discussion and presentation of results in various fields, including agricultural sciences, agricultural chemistry, soil science, environmental sciences, and biological sciences, among others. The conference will focus on demonstrating the role that long-term experiments play in agricultural and environmental sciences, in society and in creating agricultural development strategies in changing climatic conditions.

Important dates
Deadline for articles and abstracts submission: February 15th, 2026
The announcement of the final conference program: April 30th, 2026

The deadline for registration, payment of conference fees and submission of abstracts has been postponed to February 15th, 2026.

Read more: https://ir.sggw.edu.pl/en/lte/

IFSA2026: Farming and Agri-Food Systems dynamics: facing crises and trade-offs in transition pathways

Date: June 29th – July 03rd, 2026
Location: Montpellier, France

This symposium aims to revisit progress and debates in co-designing and promoting sustainable Agri-Food systems to face crises and support multiscale decisions. There are many trade-offs to document but also many synergies to analyse when looking at transition pathways and impacts.
Key dates
15/02/2026 Authors are informed on short paper acceptance
15/03/2026 Early bird registration deadline
30/04/2026 Registration deadline (also for field visits registration)

12th Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Open Science Conference & Meetings

Date: August 8th –19th, 2026
Location: Oslo, Norway

Deadline for abstract submission: February 28th, 2026.

Read more: https://scar2026.org/

4th International Symposium on Climate-Resilient Agri-Environmental Systems (ISCRAES 2026)

Date: August 12th –14th, 2026
Location: Dublin, Ireland

Important Deadlines:
– Submitting abstracts, Final: 31 March 2026
– Standard registration: 30 April 2026 (For inclusion in the proceedings and programme)
– Late registration fee: 31 July 2026

Read more: www.iscraes.org

International Symposium on Earthworm Ecology (ISEE13)
13th edition
Date: August 23rd-28th, 2026
Location: Wageningen, the Netherlands

Important deadline:
Decision on abstract acceptance: March 4th, 2026
Deadline for early bird registration: April 15th, 2026
Deadline for registration: June 17th, 2026

First Celebration of the International Day of Caves and Karst (IDCK), proclaimed by UNESCO

Date: September 10th – 13th, 2026
Location: Postojna, Slovenia

Preliminary programme outline (subject to confirmation):
– September 10th – 12th, 2026: International conference in Postojna Theme: Sustainable management of caves and karst, with a focus on protection, education and research as a foundation for sustainable development, and scientific excursion to selected karst and cave sites.
– September 12th, 2026 (Saturday evening): Official IDCK celebration event in Postojna Cave (to be confirmed).
– September 13th, 2026: International Day of Caves and Karst.

Details regarding the conference programme, invited speakers, co-organisers and registration will be announced in due course.

For the Organizers: Nadja Zupan Hajna

Read more:
Further information will be available on the websites:
https://uis-speleo.org/;
https://www.caveskarstday.org/;
https://izrkp.zrc-sazu.si/en

10th International Nitrogen Conference (N2026)
Sustainable Nitrogen Management for Future Generations

Opportunities

Agricultural Chemistry Winter School “Soil-Plant-Microbiome functionality and adaptation to anthropogenic stress and climate change”- ACWS2026 –

Date: February 2nd –5th, 2026
Location: DAMSlab Auditorium, Piazzetta Pasolini 5b, Bologna, Italy

The Winter School, organized by the Italian Society of Agricultural Chemistry (SICA) and the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences at Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, is offered to doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-stage researchers.

The interconnected challenges of climate change, anthropogenic activities, and the need to sustain a growing global population are increasingly compelling the need for a comprehensive approach to the soil-plant-microbiome system, necessitating consideration from both agronomic and environmental standpoints. Notably, extreme rainfall events, which are characterized by the occurrence of landslides and flooding, are becoming increasingly prevalent. These events are interspersed with prolonged drought periods, which complicate and economically burden the process of harvesting crops. Consequently, it is imperative to prioritize the enhancement of soil resilience and resistance and the protection of the ecological value of the soil-plant system.
In this regard, the field of agricultural chemistry plays a pivotal role by facilitating the identification of management strategies for the soil-plant-microbiome system.
These strategies are to be aligned with prevailing policies that are oriented towards environmental sustainability and the promotion of a circular economy. The utilization of organic-based fertilizers, biostimulants, nanofertilizers, growth-promoting microorganisms, and biodegradable bioplastic as alternatives to conventional plastics constitutes a series of winning strategies that have the potential to maintain or enhance soil fertility and quality, as well as promote plant growth and enhance their nutritional value.

School Organizer: martina.mazzon2@unibo.it
School Administration: valeria.taraborell3@unibo.it

New Books

13th International Conference: Soils of Urban, Industrial, Traffic, Mining and Military areas (SUITMA) from a One Health Perspective (Pisa, 5-9 October 2025) – Book of Abstracts –

By Bretzel F. and Pezzarossa B. and Vannucchi F., eds., CNR Edition, Rome, Italy; 2025.

Soil is a key component of the water and nutrient cycle, and a major contributor to global carbon sequestration. Soil also provides habitats for nearly all land plants, as well as a large proportion of terrestrial fauna. Despite its global importance, it is estimated that one third of global soil is degraded. In anthropized areas, soils undergo many forms of disturbance: manipulation, compaction, and pollution which impact their quality. However, even degraded soils have the potential to alleviate environmental problems and play a vital role in supporting vegetation. Degraded soils of urban areas and other anthropogenic lands merit scientific and professional attention in order to enhance their ecosystem services and to support nature- based solutions, to tackle the urgent challenges of climate change, and for the health of all organisms and ecosystems.

ISBN: 978 88 8080 723 0

DOI: https://doi.org/10.61008/SUITMA-2025
Read more: http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it/23775/

Working towards land degradation neutrality in Tanzania
Championing sustainable beekeeping and honey production through the Sustainable Landscapes Production Framework

By FAO, Rome, Italy, 2025

The Impact Program works across three eco-regions within drylands, namely: the Miombo-Mopane landscapes of Southern Africa, the Savannas of East and West Africa, and the Great steppes of Central Asia. The 11 countries involved will be working towards the achievement of land degradation neutrality through gender responsive sustainable forest and land management best practices and green value chains.To address regional common management challenges, each country within the Impact Program will champion one specific core theme representing an evidence-based land management system selected to address drivers of land degradation and improve livelihoods. Indeed, each core theme is paired with a green value chain or income generating opportunity. Through the approach, each country will identify good practices to be upscaled and amplified from pocket intervention to wider landscapes. Traveling beyond national borders, across the region and spilling over into the wider geographical scope of the Impact Program, drylands overall will turn into a knowledge pool of best practices with resilient, productive and integrated landscapes.This factsheet is showcasing the work the DSL-IP Tanzania country project is doing for more resilient and productive dryland landscapes and livelihoods.

ZnO-loaded PVC microplastics increases soil Zn bioavailability and phytotoxicity

By: Li G., Cooledge E. C., Chadwick D. R., Jones D. L. – Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety – Volume 309, 1 January 2026, 119629 Elsevier.

Agricultural plastic film mulches are major sources of macro- and microplastic pollution in agroecosystems. While metal additives such as zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are commonly incorporated into plastics as ultraviolet (UV) protectants, their environmental fate and impacts following plastic disposal remain poorly understood. This study investigated how ZnO additives in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) films affects soil-plant-microbe interactions, with UV aging used to simulate environmental weathering. Macro- or microplastic PVC film fragments containing 0, 1, or 5% (w/w) ZnO were subjected to UV ageing before incorporation into mesocosms growing maize, with their impacts on maize productivity and soil microbial communities evaluated over a 9-week period. Soil bioavailable Zn reflected the ZnO loading of the PVC films, with microplastics releasing more Zn than macroplastics, and UV aging further increasing Zn mobilization. Zinc bioaccumulation followed the order roots >stems ≈ leaves, and root biomass was reduced by 4050% in the 5% ZnO-PVC treatment, relative to the control. Overall, we observed few effects of PVC or ZnO addition on key microbial diversity indices. In some treatments, higher ZnO concentrations reduced the abundance of key nutrient-cycling bacterial families (e.g., Nitrosomonadaceae and Xanthobacteraceae). Notably, 1% ZnO PVC films showed minimal adverse effects on the microbial community, suggesting they could potentially serve as a slow-release Zn fertilizer. Our study demonstrates that UV-enhanced weathering of ZnO-containing agricultural plastics enhances bioavailable Zn in soil, particularly at high loading rates (5% ZnO). Furthermore, the presence of high concentrations of ZnO in PVC films negatively affected plant development and soil microbial community composition. These findings highlight the need to re-evaluate the use of metal-based additives in agricultural plastics given their potential to impair soil and plant health at high concentrations.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.119629

Microplastic impacts on soil and sediment bioturbation: insights from microcosm experiments across diverse ecosystems

By Wazne M., Gilbert F., Vallier M., Lise C., Bailly S., Krause S., Simon L., Capowiez Y., Mermillod-Blondin F., Larue C.

Communication

Please provide the new name, surname, position and e-mail address to: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

If you are interested in promoting your product or book, event, job call in our Alert, please send an email to iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it.

L'articolo IUSS Alert 243 (January 2026) proviene da iuss.org.

IUSS Alert 242 (December 2025)

Mitia Mambella — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 11:41:09 +0000

State of the art

Highlighted IUSS publications

By Division 2

Estimating the microarthropod diversity in cropping systems by comparing ecological indices across Europe.
By Bigiotti G., Vitali F., Mocali S., L’Abate G., Malusà E., Kozacki D., Bertoncelj I., Ourry M., Pugliese M., Maisel H., Olimi E., Tommasini M.G., Jacomini C., D’Avino L. 2025.
Applied Soil Ecology 214, 106357

Microarthropods are important components of soil mesofauna, significantly contributing to enhance soil quality and structural properties. The evaluation of microarthropod diversity provides valuable information on soil health, owing to their contribution to specific ecosystem services of soil. To monitor mesofauna diversity, it is needed the definition and validation of structural ecological indices capable of comprehensively assessing microarthropod community diversity and functionality. In this work, several ecological indices (Hill’s number, Acari:Collembola, QBS-ar, FEMI, QBS-ab) based on microarthropod biological forms (BFs) were applied to evaluate soil mesofauna biodiversity in 17 agroecosystem sites under either organic or integrated management. Thus, a novel calculation of the QBS-ar, which considers all observed BFs, called QBS-ar_BF, was proposed and compared to the other indices. The frequency and abundance of BFs highly adapted to soil life differ between management systems (integrated < organic) and crop duration (pluriannual > annual). The indices that best discriminated the different management in cropping systems were those based on the QBS approach (QBS-ar and QBS-ar_BF). The newly developed QBS-ar_BF index highlighted a higher discrimination capacity due to its inclusion of all observed BFs, i.e. all microarthropod community spectrum information. This study confirmed the pivotal role of edaphic mesofauna in highlighting the differences between soil management and crops across Europe, opening perspectives to new monitoring frameworks to detect shifts in community structure and functional traits.

Multi-stage flood utilization framework to support ecological flow protection and groundwater recovery mechanisms.
By Zhang L., Zhang Y., Li J., Lian S., Li L., Zhang T., Feng P., Ren Y., Li Y., Weihermüller L. 2026.
Journal of Hydrology 664 part B, 134494.

The intensification of extreme rainfall events due to climate change has increased the frequency and severity of floods, exacerbating water resource management challenges. However, these flood events offer a potential resource to address water scarcity, which persists due to the uneven distribution of water resources. Current approaches to floodwater utilization (FU) often fail to integrate ecological flow protection with groundwater recharge, limiting their ability to sustainably manage water resources in water-scarce regions. Here, we present a multi-stage flood utilization framework that combines multi-stage flood limit water level scheduling and multi-stage risk coordination scheduling to optimize FU potential. A three-dimensional groundwater numerical model was applied to evaluate the effects of different strategies of FU on river infiltration during the flood season and groundwater recovery in the autumn irrigation season. Results show that the multi-stage FU framework significantly improves downstream ecological flow protection, reducing the duration of flow interruption downstream, i.e., from 57 to 0 days. Additionally, the maximum reservoir water level during the flood season decreases by 2.61 and 4.41 m, while the reservoir storage at the end of the flood season increases by 15.65 × 10⁶ and 8.95 × 10⁶ m3 for the two strategies of the multi-stage flood utilization framework, respectively. By substituting groundwater extraction with FU potential, these strategies achieved average groundwater level recoveries of 0.59 and 0.34 m in the Zhi River basin and reduced the area with groundwater level decline during the autumn irrigation season by 26.8 and 12.3 %, respectively.

MEDAL

Guy Smith Medal Award 2026 – Invitation to Propose Nominees by February 28, 2026

Dear Colleagues:
The Guy Smith Medal is awarded for outstanding contributions to the development of soil classification.

Yours Sincerely,

Prof. Peter Schad
Chair of Soil Science
Technical University of Munich, Germany

Prof. Maria Gerasimova
Department of Soil Geography and Landscape Geochemistry
Faculty of Geography, Moscow Lomonosov State University
Moscow, Russia

Prof. Lúcia Helena C. Anjos
Soils Department, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ)
Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

News from the IUSS

IUSS Scholarship for Evidence Collection on the Contribution of Soil Sciences to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) is pleased to announce a competitive scholarship of € 5,000, aimed at supporting one individual member, or group of individual members, belonging to a national soil science society that is a Full Member of the IUSS.
The scholarship will support the collection, analysis, and synthesis of evidence demonstrating how soil sciences have contributed, and are currently contributing, to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The work shall focus on the use of actionable scientific knowledge and practical solutions supporting SDG progress, highlighting the role and impact of soil science across all relevant Goals and Targets.

Eligibility Requirements: Be a member of a national soil science society that is a Full Member of the IUSS; have documented experience relevant to soil sciences, sustainability, and/or SDG-related research and possess strong analytical and scientific writing skills in English.

Submission and Deadlines: Applications must be submitted via email to the IUSS Secretariat at iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it by 15th of January 2026.
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
The selected candidate will be notified by 31st January 2026.
The assignment is expected to begin as soon as possible after the notification.

Division and Commission Officers Election – 2026 and members of the Standing Committees Election 2026

Election Calendar and Deadlines
Opening of the voting system for your society members: December 20, 2025
Closing of the voting system for your society members: March 20, 2026
Notification to the Electoral Committee and Secretariat: within April 30, 2026
Winners’ announcement: within May 31, 2026

Download the Division and Commission Chair Nomination Form
Download the Standing Committee Member Nomination Form
Download the IUSS 2026 Election Guidelines

IUSS International Soil Judging Contest

IUSS Joint Commission 1.7/3.8 “Permafrost-Affected Soils

Call for papers, Submission Deadline: Tuesday, September 1, 2026

We would like to draw your attention to a Special Issue, “Applied Pedology: Practical Solutions Across a Variety of Disciplines and Issues” in Soil Use and Management. The special Issue is framed within the IUSS initiatives of the Research Forum for the 2025-2034 Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development (DSSSD) (www.iuss.org/decade-of-soil-sciences-for-sustainable-development/). We’d like to extend an invitation for contributions to the special issue before the 1 September 2026 deadline.
For more information on the scope of the special issue, please refer to the Call for Papers (contributions accepted include, original research papers, reviews, reports of case studies and practical experience, opinions, and perspectives).
Manuscript can be submitted the SUM submission system. Please follow the Author Guidelines and select the special issue title when asked: “Is this submission for a special issue?”.
We would be enormously grateful if you could let us know your decision via this form .

For more information: Prof. Adrian Unc, aunc@mun.ca Vice-Chair
Alan Wild Reviews, Perspectives and Topical Collections Editor, Soil Use and Management (British Soil Science Society)

Soil Mission Manifesto

Soil Science Society of China (SSSC) and IUSS

The 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) – Soil and the Shared Future for Humanity

Date: 7th -12th June, 2026
Location: Nanjing, China

Nanjing Welcomes Global Soil Scientists for the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science

IUSS and Soil Science Society of China (SSSC)

Travel Awards for Attending World Congress of Soil Science 2026

All applications must be submitted in English and must include the following:
a) Application letter, in PDF format, specifying the amount of funding requested (max. 1,000 USD).
b) CV including gender, education, country of residence, publication list in PDF format, maximum two pages.
c) Abstract and its received confirmation for WCSS2026.
d) Proof of student status or copy of Master’s/PhD certificate.
e) Confirmation letter from your national soil science society verifying your membership

A dedicated evaluation committee, composed of selected members of the IUSS and SSSC Executive Committee, will review all applications. Successful applicants will be notified via email by the WCSS2026 organizing committee no later than 28 February 2026 (UTC+8).
The results will also be announced on the WCSS2026 (https://www.23wcss.org.cn/) and IUSS (https://www.iuss.org) official website. The decision of the evaluation committee will be final and no discussion on the outcome will be entered into.

Deadline: 24:00 (UTC+8) on 31 December 2025.
Contact: wcss2026@issas.ac.cn or +86-025-86881992

Attendance Grant for Council Member Representatives from Low- and Middle-Income Countries of World Congress of Soil Science 2026

Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must be nominated by an IUSS Full Member (a National Soil Science Society or a National Academy). Each society can nominate only one candidate.

Submission and Deadlines: Applications must be submitted in English to wcss2026@issas.ac.cn 24:00 (UTC+8) on 7 February 2026.

For any inquiries, please contact wcss2026@issas.ac.cn or call +86-025-86881992.

The Digital Age in the Study, Evaluation, and Teaching of Soil Science

Special session number 503003 IUSS 23rd World Congress on Soil Science

Contact: fernando.ayala@comunidad.unam.mx; leptosol@ciga.unam.mx

Mitigating the impact of land use and its change through conservation management
Call for Papers
Submission deadline: August 1st, 2026
Special issue as IUSS (International Union of Soil Sciences) Commission 4.3 – Soils and Land Use Change with Dr. Gary Feng.
We welcome original papers and reviews that might be presented at the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science held in Nanjing, China, on June 7-12, 2026.
Soils are vital for supporting agriculture, mitigating environmental quality, and provision of ecosystem services. Healthy, functioning soils are the keystone to global sustainability of ecosystems and land-based human activities, and for providing healthy environments for humankind.
The selected papers will mainly report the latest achievements in research focused on conservation, restoration and improvement of land use and its change through conservation managements, focused on promoting the sustainability of managed and natural ecosystems.
Keywords: soil health, land use change, soil amendment, cover crops, conservation management, soil functions, soil properties, carbon dynamics
Guest Editors:
Prof. Gary Feng
USDA-ARS
United States
Prof. Felipe A. Zúñiga Ugalde
Universidad Austral de Chile; Instituto de Bosques y Sociedad
Chile
Prof. Ying Ouyang
USDA Forest Service; Southern Research Station
United States
Prof. José Dörner
Universidad Austral de Chile; Instituto de Ingeniería Agraria y Suelos
Chile
Dr. Tingting Chang
Hohai University
China
Prof. Rainer Horn
Institut für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde; Christian-Albrecht-Universität zu Kiel
Germany
Dr. Ingrid Martínez
Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA-Chile)
Chile
Read more: https://bsssjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/14752743/call-for-papers/si-2025-001332

News from national and regional soil science societies 2026

German Soil Science Society (DBG)
Centennial Celebration: 100 Years of the German Soil Science Society (DBG)
Date: February 24th, 2026
Location: Hanover, Germany

On 24 February 2026, the German Soil Science Society (Deutsche Bodenkundliche Gesellschaft, DBG) marks the 100th anniversary of its founding. Established in Berlin in 1926 as a section of the International Society of Soil Science (IBG)—the predecessor of today’s International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS)—the DBG has been internationally embedded from the outset. Over the past century, it has become a key scientific society for advancing soil science in Germany, fostering international exchange, supporting early-career scientists, and strengthening the dialogue between research, policy, and society.
To commemorate this milestone, the DBG and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) jointly invite you to the anniversary ceremony on 25 February 2026 (from 13:00) at the BGR in Hannover, Germany.
The scientific programme brings together reflections on the Society’s history with perspectives on current and emerging research priorities, including:
• Continuities and turning points in 100 years of DBG history (K.H. Feger)
• Artificial intelligence and the evolution of digital soil mapping (T. Scholten)
• Soil science at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (1992–2025) (L. Montanarella)
• Milestones in research on soil organic matter (I. Kögel-Knabner)
• Current understanding of microplastics in soils and ecosystems (M. Rillig)
• Historical and geopolitical perspectives on Chernozem/Black Soils and resource conflicts (J. Arend)
• Changing approaches to outreach and soil-related science communication over time (S. Medwedski)

German Soil Science

Rendzina – Soil of the Year 2025 in Germany

For 20 years now, the “Soil of the Year” has been selected by the board “Soil of the Year”, composed of members of the German Soil Science Society (DBG), the Federal Soil Association (BVB), and the Engineering Association for Contaminated Site Management and Land Recycling (ITVA). Each year, the selected soil is officially presented on World Soil Day, December 5, during a ceremony in the capital Berlin. The initiative is also strongly supported by the German Environment Agency (UBA).
The goal of the campaign is to raise public awareness of soils as vital natural resources. Through posters, flyers, brochures, websites, and exhibitions, it aims to engage a broad audience. Over the course of the year, a variety of events—including excursions and exhibitions—are organized by institutions at both regional and local level.
Over the past two decades, the focus of the campaign has shifted from a purely taxonomic presentation of specific soil types to a broader ecological perspective. It now highlights different land use systems and their interactions with soil. In 2023, the focus was on arable soils, emphasizing the importance of healthy food production. In 2024, forest soils were selected as “Soil of the Year”, drawing attention to carbon sequestration and water-related ecosystem services.
The Soil of the Year 2025 is the Rendzina—a shallow, humus-rich soil type that forms on limestone, dolomite, or gypsum bedrock, roughly corresponding to Rendzic Leptosols according to WRB. This year’s patron is Dr. Till Backhaus, Minister for Climate Protection, Agriculture, Rural Areas, and the Environment of the German federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Accordingly, special attention is being given to Rendzinas formed on Cretaceous limestone in the Baltic Sea region.
At the official presentation in Berlin, Dr. Backhaus highlighted that Rendzinas are more than just productive land for agriculture or forestry. They also serve as “habitats, geology you can touch, and a valuable part of our natural and cultural heritage.”
To explore these aspects further, a multi-day expert excursion will take place at the end of May, including a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Jasmund beech forest with its iconic chalk cliffs on the island of Rügen. The tour is being organized by the State Office for Environment, Nature Conservation and Geology of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania together with the German and Danish Soil Science Societies. On the Danish island of Møn, the participants will also have the opportunity of cross-border comparisons of Rendzina sites.

Read more: https://www.dbges.de/en/soil-of-the-year and visit the Soil of the Year page and the UBA Soil of the Year page

Field International Workshop on Paleopedology “Deciphering the ancient anthropic landscape transformation in the southern Maya lowlands in Mexico”

Date: February 19th – 25th, 2026
Location: Palenque, Mexico

The objective of the workshop is to show different landscapes occupied by the ancient Mayas, from the northern alluvial plain of the Usumacinta River, where people mainly developed small and rural towns, to the highlands at Sierra de Chiapas, where monumental and well-organized cities were constructed. The workshop will consist of two-day conferences and five days of field excursions. During the first two days of the workshop, oral and poster presentations will be conducted.
The scientific topics include:
– Soil memory: a key guide for understanding past environmental and human impacts.
– Micromorphology of key pedogenetic processes. Linking microscopic observations and analytical data for differentiating anthropic and natural soil processes.
– Classification of soils in archaeological sites.
– Pedogenesis of anthropogenic soils and ecosystems.
– Novel methods and techniques and quantitative approaches in paleosol studies.

Important dates:
February 18, 2026: Arrival of participants
February 19-25, 2026: Workshop activities
February 26, 2026: Departure of participant

Canadian Society of Soil Science and Canadian Society of Agronomy

2026 Joint Annual Meeting – Soils & Crops in Focus – Critical Resources from Coast to Coast to Coast

Date: June 20th – 25th, 2026
Location: University of Guelph, Canada

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops 2026

Conference on Variable Charge Soils
Date: March 4th – 6th, 2026
Location: Newcastle, Australia

This specialized conference will focus on the unique properties of variable charge soils, which play a critical role in nutrient dynamics, contaminant interactions, and sustainable agriculture, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. The event will highlight new advances in soil chemistry, management strategies, and their implications for food security and environmental protection. This conference is organized noting that we rarely take into consideration the differences in surface chemical properties of soils when designing management strategies- be these for fertility management or contaminants.

The 4th Global Soil Biodiversity Conference (GSB 2026)

Date: April 12th -15th, 2026
Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Full list of oral presentation and poster session themes for abstract submission:
1. Soil Biodiversity Under Threat
2. Soil Biodiversity as Nature-Based Solutions
3. Soil Biodiversity Science: From Theory to Practice
4. Innovations in Soil Biodiversity Research
5. Patterns in Soil Biodiversity: Space and Time
6. Soil Biodiversity Across Systems and Taxa
7. From Research to Action: Policy, Health & Society

Key Dates:
– January 30th, 2026: Late Breaking Poster Abstract Submission Deadline
– February, 2026: Acceptance Notification
– February 16th, 2026: Regular Registration Deadline
Read more: https://globalsoilbiodiversity2026.org/

10th International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter (SOM2026)

Date: May 25th – 29th, 2026
Location: University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil.

Read more: Official website = https://eventosccarbon.com.br

100 th anniversary of agricultural experimentation at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW

Date: June 12th –13th, 2026
Location: Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Poland

Conference topics
– The impact of long-term agricultural practices on the environment
– Soil quality characteristics, biodiversity, and plant yield in various agricultural, tillage, and fertilization systems
– The importance of fertilization in shaping plant yields
– Novel methods for increasing fertilization efficiency
– Transformations of fertilizers in various soil conditions
– The use of wastes as fertilizers
– Quantitative and qualitative changes in soil organic matter under diverse soil use conditions
– Application of precision farming tools in on-farm experiments
– The importance of permanent meadows and pastures in feed production in various farming systems
– Modern statistical methods in agricultural experimentation

Important dates
Deadline for registration: January 15th, 2026
Deadline for conference fee payment: January 30th, 2026
Deadline for articles and abstracts submission: February 15th, 2026
The announcement of the final conference program: April 30th, 2026

Full papers can be published in the Soil Science Annual (IF 2024: 1.0) journal. Articles should be prepared according to the Guide for authors available at https://www.soilsa.com/Guide-for-authors,1881.html
The papers will undergo a standard editorial and review procedure applied in the journal.

Read more: https://ir.sggw.edu.pl/en/lte/

IFSA2026: Farming and Agri-Food Systems dynamics: facing crises and trade-offs in transition pathways

Date: June 29th – July 03rd, 2026
Location: Montpellier, France

As pressures from climate change, biodiversity loss, market uncertainty, and rising global food demand escalate, there is a growing need to consider how agricultural systems can be enhanced and reconfigured to withstand external shocks while advancing ecological, social, and economic sustainability. Responding to current crises calls for structured approaches that guide farmers, stakeholders, advisors, researchers, consumers and policymakers toward systemic solutions that address these overlapping challenges.
Various initiatives incite stakeholders and policy makers to innovate and develop multi-scale and multi-domain adaptation strategies for the agri-food systems. This implies to improve farmland environmental performance using sustainable practices, to reduce their CO2 emissions, and to protect the means of subsistence of farm households as well as natural resources, in particular water and soil, from the effects of climate change.
This symposium aims to revisit progress and debates in co-designing and promoting sustainable Agri-Food systems to face crises and support multiscale decisions. There are many trade-offs to document but also many synergies to analyse when looking at transition pathways and impacts.
Key dates
15/02/2026 Authors are informed on short paper acceptance
15/03/2026 Early bird registration deadline
30/04/2026 Registration deadline (also for field visits registration)

12th SCAR Open Science Conference & Meetings

Date: August 10th –14th, 2026
Location: Oslo, Norway

The 12th SCAR Open Science Conference will be held in Oslo, Norway, from 10-14 August 2026, hosted by the Norwegian Polar Institute. The conference will feature an interdisciplinary programme that includes plenary lectures, parallel sessions, mini-symposia, workshops, panel discussions, posters, and social activities.

e-mail: osc@scar.org
Read more: OSC 2026 – Expression of interest

4th International Symposium on Climate-Resilient Agri-Environmental Systems (ISCRAES 2026)

Date: August 12th –14th, 2026
Location: Dublin, Ireland

The main theme of the ISCRAES 2026 is “Land Health Nexus: Cultivating Climate Resilience and Sustainable Agri-Environments”, leading to achieving the primary objective of agro-environmental sustainability by tackling the current major environmental, climate, and societal challenges facing the world.
Minimising potential impacts represents a big challenge for the agri-food sector, given the need to significantly enhance food production. To meet the dual challenge of enhancing food production whilst minimising the environmental impact in line with the EU Climate Action and UN-SDGs, cooperationwith stakeholders from both the public and private sectors is required.
This conference will provide a platform to discuss the scientific and technical aspects of the range of cross-cutting issues associated with the environmental impact of agriculture, including public perception, regulatory and socio-economic factors.
With 18 multidisciplinary scientific sessions covering cutting-edge research and solutions, ISCRAES 2026 will bring together global experts, innovators, and policymakers to address today’s most pressing environmental, climate, and societal challenges, all with the shared vision of agri-environmental sustainability.

Important Deadlines:
– Submitting abstracts, Final: 31 March 2026
– Early bird registration: 31 January 2026
– Standard registration: 30 April 2026 (For inclusion in the proceedings and programme)
– Late registration fee: 31 July 2026

Read more: www.iscraes.org

International Symposium on Earthworm Ecology (ISEE13)
13th edition
Date: August 23rd-28th, 2026
Location: Wageningen, the Netherlands

Important deadline:
Opening registration: December 1, 2025
Deadline abstract submission: January 4th, 2026
Decision on abstract acceptance: March 4th, 2026
Deadline for early bird registration: April 15th, 2026
Deadline for registration: June 17th, 2026

10th International Nitrogen Conference (N2026)
Sustainable Nitrogen Management for Future Generations

Date: November 2nd-6th, 2026
Location: Wageningen, the Netherlands
The 10th International Nitrogen Conference (N2026) aims to foster global collaboration under the theme “Sustainable Nitrogen Management for Future Generations.” While coordination between science and policy is essential, effectively addressing the nitrogen challenge requires the active engagement of all stakeholders, including governments, researchers, educators, industry, civil society, and the public.
We warmly welcome participants from around the world –across disciplines, sectors, and regions –who share a commitment to building a sustainable future. This conference will serve as an inclusive platform for sharing knowledge, aligning actions, and co-creating the Kyoto Declaration, a collective roadmap toward sustainable nitrogen management.
Read more: https://www.initrogen.org/events/n2026—kyoto—2—6-november-2026

Opportunities

6th Course on Statistical Methodology for Agricultural Sciences «Dario Sacco» – Italian Society of Agronomy LINEAR AND GENERALIZED LINEAR MODELS

Date: January 26th – 30th, 2026
Location: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali of the Università degli Studi di Milano (Aula Gamma Lab.) via Celoria 18, Milan, Italy

The course is organized by the Italian Society of Agronomy (SIA). The course will include both practical and theoretical lessons every day from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM.
The course includes both theoretical and practical components, with various applications in the agronomic sector. The software used will be R, available at https://cran.r-project.org/ for all operating systems. Participants are expected to have R installed on their computers, along with the packages that will be specified after registration. As prerequisites, participants should have basic knowledge of R and statistics (fundamental elements of descriptive and inferential statistics).
Read more: https://siagr.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/SIA_flyer_statistica_milano-1_ok_ok.pdf

Agricultural Chemistry Winter School “Soil-Plant-Microbiome functionality and adaptation to anthropogenic stress and climate change”- ACWS2026 –

Date: February 2nd –5th, 2026
Location: DAMSlab Auditorium, Piazzetta Pasolini 5b, Bologna, Italy

School Organizer: martina.mazzon2@unibo.it
School Administration: valeria.taraborell3@unibo.it

New Books

Pathways towards a just transition in agrifood systems
Policy Brief

By FAO, Rome, Italy; 2025

Despite their critical role in climate action, agrifood systems have not been integrated into just transition policy debates under the UNFCCC, and are rarely included in national just transition plans. But these gaps could be overcome at COP30 if Parties recognise the critical importance of resilient, inclusive agrifood systems transformation for achieving a just transition in their deliberations. This policy brief makes the case for placing agrifood systems transformation at the heart of just transition debates and policy making. It proposes an evidence-based framework for pursuing a just transition in agrifood systems that is aligned with the change pathways of the Paris Agreement 2 that can guide national policy making and offers key policy recommendations for Parties and observers at COP30.

Keywords: agrifood systems, climate change mitigation, climate resilience, rural communities, food security, transformation, sustainable development

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4060/cd7550en
Read more: https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/bede5b09-d960-41a3-9a44-7fe2f60c62d6

Holistic strategies for sustainable buildings and their impacts on soil and environmental health

By Jain, H., Dhupper, R. J Build Rehabil 11, 10 (2026).

In order to combat climate change and environmental deterioration, it is now more important than ever to use sustainable building approaches that take into account ecological factors in addition to energy efficiency. In the context of net-zero emissions in building design and management, this study evaluates how soil and environmental health are integrated. The study looks at ways to improve soil performance, lower carbon footprints, and foster ecological resilience because it acknowledges how important built environments are in affecting ecosystem services. To assess the effectiveness of sustainable building systems in various contexts, a mixed-methods approach is used, which includes case studies, surveys, and simulations. The results show how the combination of water conservation, waste reduction, green building materials, and renewable energy integration can improve soil quality, increase carbon sequestration, and reduce environmental contaminants. In addition, the study highlights potential and obstacles for applying these tactics in a range of socioeconomic and geographic circumstances. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN and the One Health concept, this study offers practical advice to policymakers, engineers, and architects on how to promote sustainable urbanisation while maintaining the integrity of the soil and environment.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41024-025-00688-4

Soil proprieties and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) responses to sewage sludge agricultural amendment: Environmental and health risks assessment

By Abdelmajid Achkir, Abdelhakim Aouragh, Mohammed El Mahi, El Mostapha Lotfi, Maâmar Yagoubi, Abdelaziz Smouni, Taruvinga Badza, Mohammed EL Bouch, Moulay Lahcen Ouahidi, Tawfik EL Moussaoui. Environmental Pollution and Management, Volume 3, December 2026, Pages 11-23

The aims of this research are to assess the impact of the application of sewage sludge as an agricultural amendment on the soil properties and growth of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in semi-arid climatic conditions in Morocco. This research also assessed the potential uptake of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, Zn) by tomato grown in a clay-loam textured soil amended with different sludge-soil ratios (0 %, 10 %, 30 %, 70 %, and 100 %). Significant improvements (p < 0.05) in soil parameters were observed in all treatments. Heavy metal concentrations were significantly higher in the roots than in the aerial parts of the tomato, with the stems showing intermediate values. Heavy metal uptake was analyzed in fruits, leaves, stems and roots. A key observation of this study was that cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) – both metals known for their solubility and mobility – were not detected in fruit at any level of treatment, unlike in other parts of the plant. Transfer factor (TF) analysis revealed the following patterns: Cr > Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni in roots and Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb in fruits, indicating a low risk of heavy metal transfer to edible parts. The risk of soil contamination was assessed using geo-accumulation indices, contamination factor (CF), pollutant load index (PLI) and potential ecological risk (PER). These indices confirm the safety of sewage sludge application, as the results of the pollutant load index and potential ecological risk indicate low to moderate risks of heavy metal contamination.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epm.2025.09.004

Communication

Please provide the new name, surname, position and e-mail address to: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

If you are interested in promoting your product or book, event, job call in our Alert, please send an email to iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it.

L'articolo IUSS Alert 242 (December 2025) proviene da iuss.org.

IUSS Alert 241 (November 2025)

Mitia Mambella — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 14:28:35 +0000

State of the art

Highlighted IUSS publications

By Division 1

The Evolution of (Digital) Pedology – drawing from the past, adapting to the future
By Alex McBratney, Sandra J. Evangelista, Julio C. Pachón Maldonado, Quentin Styc, Nicolas Francos, Amin Sharififar, José Padarian
Geoderma – Volume 463, November 2025, 117588

Pedology, the study of soil formation and evolution in space and time, has evolved significantly over the past century, with major advancements in understanding soil formation, classification, and management. This evolution has been shaped by a variety of approaches, including soil profile analysis, soil genesis studies, and the development of soil classification systems. Recent technological innovations, such as digital soil mapping, proximal soil sensing, and mobile applications, have revolutionised the field, allowing for more efficient and comprehensive data collection, mapping, and analysis. However, several challenges remain, including the need for improved numerical classification systems, more accurate process-based soil-landscape models, and better understanding of human impacts on soil evolution. The future of soil science promises further advancements through machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, robotic measurement, and mega-computation, potentially enabling real-time, global soil monitoring. At the same time, concerns about the over-reliance on digital tools, the integration of AI, and the need for continued fieldwork persist. As human activity increasingly influences soil processes, a shift toward a more soil-centric approach to environmental sustainability is crucial. This paper highlights the ongoing evolution of pedology and the importance of integrating new technologies, interdisciplinary collaboration, and global advocacy for soil security in the anthropocene.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117588

MEDAL

VLADIMIR FRIDLAND SOIL GEOGRAPHY MEDAL

The Vladimir Markovich Fridland Medal was introduced by IUSS Commission 1.2. – Soil Geography to commemorate Prof. Vladimir M. Fridland for his distinguished contribution to soil geography. This IUSS medal is awarded for outstanding and sustained contribution in the discipline of geography and cartography of soils.
Professor Vladimir M. Fridland is well known among soil scientists and geographers in the world for his contribution to several spheres in soil genesis, geography and soil mapping, part of which is his theory of soil cover pattern.
The awardees must demonstrate an outstanding and sustained performance in the discipline of geography and cartography of soils. All areas of soil geography including research, teaching and its application to environmental, agricultural and technogenic problems are considered relevant. The medal is not invested posthumously.
PERIODICITY OF NOMINATION: the Vladimir M. Fridland Soi Geography Medal is currently awarded every four years and presented at the World Congress of Soil Science of the IUSS.
The nominees may be proposed by institutions, societies, commissions and working groups of the IUSS, and individuals. Members of the Award committee are not eligible to make nominations or second nominations.
The proposal for nomination must be submitted to the Award committee chair, and should include:
• Statement of key achievements and career highlights of the nominee (1 page)
• Curriculum vitae detailing career history and publication record of the nominee
• Name of proposer and seconder for the nominee
• Any other relevant information in support of the nominee
• Full address and contact details of the nominee
NOMINATION PROCEDURE: the call for the nominations is publicized during the year before the date of the award, via the Commission Business Meetings and/or IUSS Alerts. The selection committee for the Fridland Gold Medal award is composed of the representative of the medal sponsor (Dokuchaev Soil Science Society) plus the Chair (the Chair of this Committee) and past Chair of IUSS Commission 1.2. Soil Geography In 2025/2026 the deadline for nominations is 07.12.2025. The packages of documents should be sent to the e-mail sergey.gory@gmail.com.

Guy Smith Medal Award 2026 – Invitation to Propose Nominees by February 28, 2026

Dear Colleagues:
The Guy Smith Medal is awarded for outstanding contributions to the development of soil classification.

Yours Sincerely,

Prof. Peter Schad
Chair of Soil Science
Technical University of Munich, Germany

Prof. Maria Gerasimova
Department of Soil Geography and Landscape Geochemistry
Faculty of Geography, Moscow Lomonosov State University
Moscow, Russia

Prof. Lúcia Helena C. Anjos
Soils Department, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ)
Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Prof. Dr. Wulf Amelung receives Philippe Duchaufour Medal 2025
At this year’s General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), Prof. Dr. Wulf Amelung, a long-standing member of the German Soil Science Society (DBG) and former DBG Vice President, has been awarded the prestigious Philippe Duchaufour Medal, the highest award of EGU in Soil System Science, in recognition of his outstanding scientific contributions to the field.
Wulf Amelung is head of the group General Soil Science and Soil Ecology at the University of Bonn and of the unit Agrosphere of the Institute of Bio- and Geosciences at the Forschungszentrum Jülich. His research focuses on nutrient cycles, soil functions, and innovative analytical approaches in soil ecology.

News from the IUSS

Soil monitoring: Parliament adopts new EU law with better support for farmers

According to the new law, member states will have to monitor and assess soil health across their territories using common soil descriptors – characterizing the physical, chemical, and biological aspect of soil health for each soil type – and an EU methodology for sampling points. To make it simpler for member states, they will be free to build on national soil monitoring campaigns or other equivalent methodologies. The Commission will support member states by reinforcing its current EU soil sampling programme: LUCAS Soils. It will also offer tailor-made financial and technical support.
To reflect different levels of soil degradation and local conditions, national governments will set non-binding, sustainable targets for each soil descriptor, in line with the overall objective of improving soil health.

Division and Commission Officers Election – 2026 and members of the Standing Committees Election 2026

The process for the election of the new Divisions and Commissions Officers and Chair of the Standing Committees, has officially started, the IUSS Members have been notified by the Secretary and provided with the Guidelines for the procedure, the list of the available positions and the official nomination form. The elections will be completed at the very beginning of the new year, and the names and positions will be published on the IUSS Alert.

Download the Division and Commission Chair Nomination Form
Download the Standing Committee Member Nomination Form
Download the IUSS 2026 Election Guidelines

World Soil Day (WSD) 2025
Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities

In celebration of World Soil Day (WSD) 2025, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), its Global Soil Partnership (GSP), the European Union through its EU Mission, “A Soil Deal for Europe” and the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) are launching the “Tiny soil detectives” contest.
This contest invites young people to explore the hidden world beneath their feet. Urban soils may seem invisible, but they cool our streets, soak up rainwater, grow food, and sustain life: even in the tiniest cracks. Through fun, hands-on experiments, kids will become “urban soil detectives,” observing, testing and documenting their discoveries to uncover how soil shapes life in their neighbourhoods.

More information and submission deadline: https://www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership/resources/highlights/detail/en/c/1743033/

World Soil Day celebration
“Healthy soils for healthy cities”

Date: Friday, 5 December 2025 (10:00 – 11:30 CET)

Hybrid format (online and in Sala Spadolini (tbc), Ministry of Culture of Italy, Rome)

Healthy soils are essential for life and are celebrated each year on World Soil Day (5 December). The 2025 theme, “Healthy soils for healthy cities”, highlights the crucial role of urban soils and the threats posed by soil sealing, pollution, and rapid urbanization. As cities grow, protecting and restoring soils is key to supporting food production, water filtration, carbon storage, cooling, and biodiversity. Solutions such as de-sealing, green roofs, urban agriculture, composting, and sustainable planning can strengthen climate action and public well-being. World Soil Day 2025 calls on all stakeholders to rethink cities through the lens of soil health to build resilient, inclusive, and greener urban spaces.

On December 5th, CREA will host the official FAO inauguration of World Soil Day in the prestigious setting of the Palazzo del Collegio Romano in Rome, seat of the Ministry of Culture.

Afterward, a national-level celebratory event will take place. Thanks to the participation of researchers, companies, and public administrators engaged in thematic roundtables, the event will explore the interactions between soil, human activities, and the environment, going through challenges and suggesting evidence-based solutions and good practices. The focus will be on urban environment, waste, land remediation, field and crop management, and textile fibres, with a keen eye on sustainability and circular economy.
The event is organized in collaboration with IUSS and IUSS Secretariat, together with ReSoil Fundation.

Soil Mission Manifesto

Soil Science Society of China (SSSC) and IUSS

The 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) – Soil and the Shared Future for Humanity

Date: 7th -12th June, 2026
Location: Nanjing, China

Nanjing Welcomes Global Soil Scientists for the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science

Read more: Join and follow via the official website: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/
Important dates and deadlines:
Abstract submission deadline: December 23, 2025
Abstract results notification: February 7, 2026
Early bird registration deadline: March 7, 2026
Regular registration deadline: May 7, 2026
Cancellation and Refund deadline: May 7, 2026

IUSS and Soil Science Society of China (SSSC)

Travel Awards for Attending World Congress of Soil Science 2026

Deadline: 24:00 (UTC+8) on 31 December 2025.
Contact: wcss2026@issas.ac.cn or +86-025-86881992

The Digital Age in the Study, Evaluation, and Teaching of Soil Science

Special session number 503003 IUSS 23rd World Congress on Soil Science

Contact : fernando.ayala@comunidad.unam.mx; leptosol@ciga.unam.mx

News from national and regional soil science societies 2025

British Society of Soil Science (BSSS)

Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future – Annual Conference and Early Careers Conference BSSS

Date:
Biennial Early Careers Conference: December 1st –2nd, 2025
Annual Conference: December 3rd -5th, 2025
Location: Manchester, England

Call for Abstracts – British Society of Soil Science Annual Conference
The British Society of Soil Science is currently accepting oral and poster abstracts for both their Annual Conference and Early Careers Conference in December. The abstract review panel is accepting abstracts in one of five topics linked to the conference theme, Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future:
1. Soils for People [Covering all aspects of Soil Health, Soil Functions, Indicators, Metrics, Ecosystem Service Delivery, Soil Biodiversity, and Sustainable Soils in Different Land Uses].
2. Soils for Climate [Covering aspects such as Net Zero, Carbon Sequestration, Peatlands, Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fluxes].
3. Soils for Water [Covering aspects such as Nutrient and Water management, Soil Erosion, and Nutrient and Water Use Efficiency].
4. Advances for Soils [Covering aspects such as Sensors and Instrumentation, New techniques, AI and data, Modelling, and Decision support tools].
5. Soils for Life [Soil, social sciences and culture, Interdisciplinary work, Stakeholder engagement, Participatory research and citizen science, and Art and culture].

German Soil Science

Rendzina – Soil of the Year 2025 in Germany

Read more: https://www.dbges.de/en/soil-of-the-year and visit the Soil of the Year page and the UBA Soil of the Year page

British Society of Soil Science
Early Careers’ Conference 2025
Date: 1–2 December, 2025
Location: King’s House Conference Centre, Manchester
Theme: Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future
This dedicated event is free to attend for BSSS Early Career members and brings together emerging voices from academia, industry, and policy in a dynamic and inclusive space. Over the course of two packed days, delegates will explore the theme “Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future” through a rich programme of oral and poster presentations, interactive workshops, and networking activities, all designed to highlight the latest research, innovations, and career development pathways in soil science.
Full details on abstract themes and submission guidelines can be found on the BSSS website.
Read more: https://members.soils.org.uk/widget/event-6210932?sk=cnxQtp/MQEse2UJPdSbMw2I/eJrP3lfywhtQ/+H5e4iKdfGDFGZCsHorG1ytHtqF

Annual Conference “Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future”
Date: 3–5 December, 2025
Location: King’s House Conference Centre, Manchester
Dynamic, multi-disciplinary events will bring together researchers, practitioners, and policy makers across the built environment, agriculture, and natural sciences to explore the vital role of soils in supporting a sustainable future.
The overarching theme, Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future, will guide three days of presentations, discussions, and networking opportunities. With global challenges such as climate change, food security, and biodiversity loss becoming increasingly urgent, the conference offers a timely platform to showcase cutting-edge research and debate key strategies for strengthening soil resilience.
Read more: https://members.soils.org.uk/event-6210965

Italian Society of Soil Science

44th SISS National Congress
Soil Research to Support Policy Implementation

Date: December 11th-12th, 2025
Location: Department of Agriculture, University of Naples Federico II – Chinese Room – Piazza Carlo di Borbone 1, Portici, Naples, Italy.

Despite the implementation of European, national, and regional policies aimed at sustainability in the agricultural and environmental sectors, and significant progress in research on soil and agricultural and forestry ecosystems, we are unfortunately still witnessing ongoing and worrying soil degradation.
This situation raises fundamental questions about the effectiveness of current strategies. Therefore, a thorough reflection on the gap between acquired scientific knowledge and its actual application in the field is urgently needed. We must ask ourselves to what extent and how our research actually influences policies for the protection and sustainable management of soil. This conference aims to be a forum for multidisciplinary debate, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and environmental policymakers to explore how academic research can translate into a tangible impact on soil management in real-world contexts.

The Conference will be held over two days:
• First day will include a technical excursion to contaminated and reclaimed sites in the province of Naples, during which two reclamation and recovery projects for contaminated agricultural and industrial areas will be presented, along with a round table discussion entitled “The Impact of Research on Soil Management: Illusion or Reality?”
• Second day will feature two scientific sessions entitled “Innovative Approaches to Soil Study at the Scale of Processes and Properties to Support Policy Implementation” and “Innovative Approaches and the Geospatial Dimension of Soil to Support Policy Implementation.”

Read more: https://convegnosiss2025.it/

News from national and regional soil science societies 2026

Field International Workshop on Paleopedology “Deciphering the ancient anthropic landscape transformation in the southern Maya lowlands in Mexico”

Date: February 19th – 25th, 2026
Location: Palenque, Mexico

Important dates:
February 18, 2026: Arrival of participants
February 19-25, 2026: Workshop activities
February 26, 2026: Departure of participant

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops 2026

Conference on Variable Charge Soils
Date: March 4th – 6th, 2026
Location: Newcastle, Australia

The 4th Global Soil Biodiversity Conference (GSB 2026)

Date: April 12th -15th, 2026
Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

The Global Soil Biodiversity Conferences organized under the auspices of the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI) are now considered to be the premier global conference dealing with soil biodiversity. The 4th edition of the GSB 2026 will bring together researchers, policy analysts, students, and practicing farmers to discuss soil biodiversity with the goals of informing the public, promoting this information into environmental policy, and overall creating a platform for the current and future sustainability of soils.

10th International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter (SOM2026)

Date: May 25th –29th, 2026
Location: University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil.

The X International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter (SOM2026) represents a unique opportunity to bring together the world’s leading scientific authorities in the areas of soil organic matter, carbon, regenerative agriculture, sustainable livestock, forestry and ecosystem restoration.
Under the theme “The Nexus of Healthy Soils and a Sustainable Future”, SOM2026 will bring together leading scientists, students, and professionals to discuss the latest advances in soil organic matter research and its pivotal role in addressing global sustainability challenges.

Read more: Official website = https://eventosccarbon.com.br

IFSA2026: Farming and Agri-Food Systems dynamics: facing crises and trade-offs in transition pathways

Date: June 29th – July 03rd, 2026
Location: Montpellier, France

12th SCAR Open Science Conference & Meetings

Date: August 10th –14th, 2026
Location: Oslo, Norway
e-mail: osc@scar.org
Read more: OSC 2026 – Expression of interest

International Symposium on Earthworm Ecology (ISEE13)
13th edition
Date: August 23rd-28th, 2026
Location: Wageningen, the Netherlands

Important deadline:
Opening registration: December 1, 2025
Deadline abstract submission: January 4, 2026
Decision on abstract acceptance: March 4, 2026
Deadline for early bird registration: April 15, 2026
Deadline for registration: June 17, 2026

10th International Nitrogen Conference (N2026)
Sustainable Nitrogen Management for Future Generations

Opportunities

6th Course on Statistical Methodology for Agricultural Sciences «Dario Sacco» – Italian Society of Agronomy LINEAR AND GENERALIZED LINEAR MODELS

Date: January 26th – 30th, 2026
Location: Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali of the Università degli Studi di Milano (Aula Gamma Lab.) via Celoria 18, Milan, Italy

The course is organized by the Italian Society of Agronomy (SIA). The course will include both practical and theoretical lessons every day from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM.
The course includes both theoretical and practical components, with various applications in the agronomic sector. The software used will be R, available at https ://cran.r-project.org/ for all operating systems. Participants are expected to have R installed on their computers, along with the packages that will be specified after registration. As prerequisites, participants should have basic knowledge of R and statistics (fundamental elements of descriptive and inferential statistics).
Read more: https://siagr.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/SIA_flyer_statistica_milano-1_ok_ok.pdf

Agricultural Chemistry Winter School “Soil-Plant-Microbiome functionality and adaptation to anthropogenic stress and climate change”- ACWS2026 –

Date: February 2nd –5th, 2026
Location: DAMSlab Auditorium, Piazzetta Pasolini 5b, Bologna, Italy

Main information:
Submission deadline: 12 December 2025 (23:59 CET)
Participation Fee: 80€
The Winter School is limited to 50 participants: preferences will be given to doctoral students conducting research related to the theme of the school.

Application requirements
• Abstract (Word), prepared with the downloadable Abstract Template.
➝ File name: SURNAME_ACWS2026
• Application Form, fully completed.
• Doctoral students only: a supervisor’s statement confirming doctoral status.

School Organizer: martina.mazzon2@unibo.it
School Administration: valeria.taraborell3@unibo.it

New Books

Enhancing resilience and productivity of drought-prone cropping systems through conservation agricultural practices.

By M. D. A. M. Perera, W. R. A. T. P. Wijesundara, D. M. S. B. Dissanayaka, S. H. N. P. De Silva. – Plant Soil (November 2025), Springer.
Agricultural intensification, driven by the need to meet rising food demand, has often relied on conventional practices such as intensive tillage, monocropping, and residue removal. These practices have led to significant negative impacts, including reduced soil fertility, loss of biodiversity, soil degradation, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Achieving sustainable food production for a growing global population requires innovative strategies that enhance productivity while minimizing environmental harm. Conservation agriculture (CA) has emerged as a promising solution to address these challenges. It also improves the resilience of cropping systems, particularly under moisture-limited conditions. This review synthesizes recent advances in CA that have been shown to enhance soil structure, increase organic carbon content, improve water retention, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support biodiversity in agroecosystems.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-08038-6

Promoting plant yield and quality improvement in saline alkali land by using biomass organic fertilizer and reducing chemical fertilizer measures.

By Zhao, J., Zhang, Q. – BMC Plant Biol 25, 1525 (2025).

The agricultural development of saline alkali land has always been an important direction for improving land use efficiency and food production. The study aims to explore the effects of biomass organic fertilizer and reducing the use of chemical fertilizers on watermelons in saline alkali land, providing a scientific basis for the sustainable development of saline alkali agriculture.
The study selects a mixed application of biomass organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer with different proportions, and compares the growth, yield, and quality of watermelon in saline alkali soil.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-07586-4

Soil Microbiome for Sustainable Agriculture

By Govind Kumar Kanuriya, Subhash Chand, Aziz Mujtaba Aezum, Muzaffar Ahmad Malik, Kawaljeet Kaur – Ed. Satish Serial Publishing House

As global food demand climbs amid climate challenges and ecosystem stress, the solution may lie unseen—within the living fabric of soil. This essential volume exposes how leveraging microbial communities—bacteria, fungi, archaea and their allies—can revolutionize farming, heal soils, and support a resilient food system. Why Microbes Matter? Natural nutrient cycling: Soil microbes break down organic matter, converting it into plant-available nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This cuts reliance on synthetic fertilizers. Disease suppression & plant health: Beneficial microbes outcompete harmful pathogens and act as natural biocontrol agents, boosting plant immunity and reducing pesticide use. Soil structure & water resilience: Microbial activity binds soil particles into aggregates, enhancing aeration, water retention, and erosion control—critical in drought-prone regions. Stress tolerance: Endophytes like Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas help plants withstand drought, salinity, and heat—reinforcing crop resilience as climate extremes intensify Carbon sequestration & climate mitigation: Soil microbes participate in carbon fixation and storage, supporting eco-friendly farming while resisting greenhouse gas emissions. Innovations & Practices Biofertilizers and inoculants: Targeted microbial products, such as rhizobia, mycorrhizae, Trichoderma, and Bacillus—boost yields (10–40%), increase nutrient efficiency, suppress diseases, and reduce dependency on chemicals Microbiome-optimized crops: Cutting-edge research, like identifying mutations that enhance root–microbe partnerships in wheat, promises new non-GM crops designed for nutrient efficiency. Regenerative farming: Practices like cover cropping, crop rotation, reduced tillage, intercropping, and organic amendments foster diverse microbial communities and healthier soils. Start-ups & global impact: Companies like Loam Bio are developing fungal inoculants that double soil carbon storage and water retention, enabling farmers to tap into carbon credit markets and drive sustainable change.

ISBN: 978935387520

Communications

Please provide the new name, surname, position and e-mail address to: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

If you are interested in promoting your product or book, event, job call in our Alert, please send an email to iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it.

L'articolo IUSS Alert 241 (November 2025) proviene da iuss.org.

IUSS Alert 240 (October 2025)

Mitia Mambella — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:44:53 +0000

State of the art

Highlighted IUSS publications

By Division 4
Where Are We With Gender Parity in Academia and Professional Societies? A Multinational Look at Women in Soil Science
Soil science as a discipline has been slow to address gender equity issues. In fact, gender equity in soil science has gained increasing attention only since the late 2010s. To date, women are still underrepresented, particularly in higher level positions and awards. This study concludes that, while progress has been made on several fronts, there is still much work to be done to achieve gender equity in soil science academia and professional societies. It is recommended that soil science societies collect, analyse and compare data on gender in the discipline so that progress can be evidenced, tracked and encouraged.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.70039

Evolution of soil organic matter pools during Martian regolith terraforming, with a focus on organo-Fe (oxyhydr)oxide interactions
Converting inert regolith simulants into biologically active, nutrient-rich substrates is feasible. This has direct implications for both terrestrial applications in degraded or engineered soils and extraterrestrial scenarios, where in situ resource utilization and long-term soil functionality are essential. Thus, the optimization of compost composition will be crucial for designing sustainable agroecosystems for space exploration. Ultimately, this study underscores the potential of organic amendments and leguminous crops to transform inert Martian regolith into biologically functional soils, offering critical insights for in situ resource utilization in space agriculture.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.122362

Time and climate roles in driving soil carbon distribution and stability in particulate and mineral-associated organic matter pools
Time and climate play a different role in soil organic carbon (SOC) distribution between the pools and on their relative stability. Soil age drives mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) stability in drier and warmer conditions, whereas a wetter and cooler climate determines a higher SOC accumulation both in the MAOM and in the particulate organic matter pools, although these greater carbon stocks are negatively correlated with their stability. This implies that the elevated stocks accumulated in wetter and cooler conditions may be highly sensitive to ongoing climate change scenarios regardless of the fractions considered.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178511

By Division 4.3 Special issue “Mitigating the impact of land use and its change through conservation management” in Soil Use and Management”

Soils are vital for supporting agriculture, mitigating environmental quality, and provision of ecosystem services. Healthy, functioning soils are the keystone to global sustainability of ecosystems and land-based human activities, and for providing healthy environments for humankind. Land use change has affected almost one third of the global land area, a trend accelerating in the last few decades. Intensive and extractive approaches to soil management led to soil degradation, evidenced as increased soil erosion, soil acidification, salinization, desertification and soil and ecosystem pollution. All these induce a decline in soil functions, destroy biodiversity and increase vulnerability to natural disasters. Soil and water conservation management can mitigate negative impacts and even improve soil health through conservation management practices.
The selected papers will mainly report the latest achievements in research focused on conservation, restoration and improvement of land use and its change through conservation managements, focused on promoting the sustainability of managed and natural ecosystems.
This special issue was initiated by IUSS (International Union of Soil Sciences) Commission 4.3 – Soils and Land Use Change. We welcome original papers and reviews that might be presented at the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science held in Nanjing, China, on June 7-12, 2026.

Guest Editors:
• Prof. Gary Feng
USDA-ARS, United States
• Prof. Felipe A. Zúñiga Ugalde
Universidad Austral de Chile; Instituto de Bosques y Sociedad, Chile
• Prof. Ying Ouyang
USDA Forest Service; Southern Research Station, United States
• Prof. José Dörner
Universidad Austral de Chile; Instituto de Ingeniería Agraria y Suelos, Chile
• Dr. Tingting Chang
Hohai University, China
• Prof. Rainer Horn
Institut für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde; Christian-Albrecht-Universität zu Kiel, Germany
• Dr. Ingrid Martínez
Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA-Chile), Chile

Submission deadline: Saturday, 1 August 2026

MEDAL

VLADIMIR FRIDLAND SOIL GEOGRAPHY MEDAL

Guy Smith Medal Award 2026 – Invitation to Propose Nominees by February 28, 2026

Dear Colleagues:
The Guy Smith Medal is awarded for outstanding contributions to the development of soil classification.

Yours Sincerely,

Prof. Peter Schad
Chair of Soil Science
Technical University of Munich, Germany

Prof. Maria Gerasimova
Department of Soil Geography and Landscape Geochemistry
Faculty of Geography, Moscow Lomonosov State University
Moscow, Russia

Prof. Lúcia Helena C. Anjos
Soils Department, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ)
Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

News from the IUSS

Soil monitoring: Parliament adopts new EU law with better support for farmers

Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development 2025-2034 – Healthy Soils for Humanity
The new decade of soil sciences for sustainable development has begun, read the manifesto and download the logo here: https://www.iuss.org/decade-of-soil-sciences-for-sustainable-development/
The Decade aims to prioritize the production, dissemination, and use of actionable scientific knowledge across all areas of soil sciences to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Divisions, Commissions, and Working Groups are encouraged to coordinate with the IUSS Research Forum in planning activities aligned with the themes of the Decade. These may include special issues, books, position papers, policy briefs, webinars, conferences, workshops, sessions at the World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS), and other relevant initiatives.

2025 IUSS World Soil of the Year

The “Gleysol – Hydromorphic soil supporting forest growth in the steppe region from the Carpathian Basin”, has been named the World Soil of the Year 2025. This soil was proposed by the Hungarian Soil Science Society. It highlights the significance of these unique soils that have a large global coverage, occurring in nearly all climates.
The represented World Soil of the Year soil profile is located at the Püspökladány Experimental Station and Arboretum University of Sopron Forest Research Institute (SOE-ERTI). The soil is part of a unique cultural landscape dominated by grasslands and salt effected pastures in the Hungarian Plain. It is located within the Hortobágy National Park, which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (Man and the Biosphere Program – MAB) and recognized UNESCO World heritage site.
Gleysols are soils that are affected in various areas in the world by land use and management and by the indirect and direct effects of climate change. Salinization of groundwater, decreasing groundwater levels and alternation of sediment influx are common.
The election of the ‘Gleysol – hydromorphic soil from the steppe region in the Carpathian Basin’ as the World Soil of the Year 2025, comes amid growing global concerns about soil health and environmental change. Protecting and sustainably managing these hydromorphic soils is essential for mitigating floods, preserving water quality, and ensuring sustainable forest ecosystems in steppe terrains.
Various activities are planned throughout the year to celebrate this achievement, including educational programs, community workshops, and conservation initiatives aimed at promoting awareness of Gleysols’ ecological significance.

For more information on the World Soil of the Year – the Gleysol from the Carpathian Plain: https://www.iuss.org/world-soil-of-the-year/

World Soil of the Year 2026 – Deadline Submission
In recognition of the success of many national programs, the IUSS WSY one has been implemented to enhance soil literacy across different countries and on a global scale. The aim is to draw up a registry of soil heritages, to acknowledge the natural and cultural value of soils, and to open doors for soil science to integrate with environmental protection activities and projects.
The deadline for the nomination of the World Soil of the Year 2026 is November 30, 2025. For more information: https://www.iuss.org/world-soil-of-the-year/

Division and Commission Officers Election – 2026 and members of the Standing Committees Election 2026

The process for the election, of the new Divisions and Commissions Officers and Chair of the Standing Committees, has officially started, the IUSS Members have been notified by the Secretary and provided with the Guidelines for the procedure, the list of the available positions and the official nomination form. The elections will be completed at the very beginning of the new year, and the names and positions will be published on the IUSS Alert.
The nominations for the Standing Committees members must be forwarded to the Secretary (iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it) within October 31 November 15, 2025.
They will be then evaluated by the Executive Committee within November 30, 2025 and then voted by the National Societies.

Election Calendar and Deadlines
Standing Committees candidacies: New deadline ~~October 31~~ November 15, 2025
Executive Committee evaluation of the candidacies for the Standing Committees: November 30, 2025
Electoral Committee scrutiny of the candidates: November 30, 2025
Opening of the voting system for your society members: December 20, 2025
Closing of the voting system for your society members: March 20, 2026
Notification to the Electoral Committee and Secretariat: within April 30, 2026
Winners’ announcement: within May 31, 2026

Download the Division and Commission Chair Nomination Form
Download the Standing Committee Member Nomination Form
Download the IUSS 2026 Election Guidelines

World Soil Day (WSD) 2025
Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities

More information and submission deadline: https://www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership/resources/highlights/detail/en/c/1743033/

Soil in 1 minute: Join the World Soil Day 2025 video contest

In celebration of World Soil Day (WSD) 2025, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), its Global Soil Partnership (GSP), the European Union through its EU Mission, “A Soil Deal for Europe” and the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) are launching the “Soil in 1 minute” video contest.
This contest invites scientists, designers, communicators, educators, and creative individuals to create short, engaging explainer videos (maximum one minute) aimed at children aged 8–15. Participants are asked to use simple language, drawings, models, or themselves to show why healthy urban soils are key for healthy cities.

More information and submission deadline: https://www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership/resources/highlights/detail/en/c/1743036/

Soil Mission Manifesto

Soil Science Society of China (SSSC) and IUSS

The 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) – Soil and the Shared Future for Humanity

Date: 7th -12th June, 2026
Location: Nanjing, China

Nanjing Welcomes Global Soil Scientists for the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science

Read more: Join and follow via the official website: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/
Important dates and deadlines:
Abstract submission deadline: November 7, 2025
Abstract results notification: February 7, 2026
Early bird registration deadline: March 7, 2026
Regular registration deadline: May 7, 2026
Cancellation and Refund deadline: May 7, 2026

IUSS and Soil Science Society of China (SSSC)

Travel Awards for Attending World Congress of Soil Science 2026

The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) and Soil Science Society of China (SSSC) are pleased to offer travel awards to support early-career scientists who wish to participate in the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS2026) from 7-12 June 2026, in Nanjing China. This initiative aims to encourage the participation of promising graduate students and early-career researchers by providing financial assistance to help cover travel and registration expenses.
A total of $40,000 USD in funding is available, aiming for gender and geographic equity. Each selected applicant will be eligible to receive up to a maximum of $1,000 USD. The award will be disbursed as a reimbursement for actual travel costs and/or WCSS2026 registration fees incurred.
Support is only for early-career scientists who are high-quality Master or PhD students or who have completed a Master or PhD degree less than 5 years ago.
Applicants must be the presenting author of a submitted oral or poster presentation abstract for WCSS2026 and must be a member of a council society (national soil science society) that is a full member of IUSS.
Applicants need to send their applications to: wcss2026@issas.ac.cn

All applications must be submitted in English and must include the following:
a) Application letter, in PDF format, specifying the amount of funding requested (max. $1,000 USD).
b) CV including gender, education, country of residence, publication list in PDF format, maximum two pages.
c) Abstract and its received confirmation for WCSS2026.
d) Proof of student status or copy of Master’s/PhD certificate.
e) Confirmation letter from your national soil science society verifying your membership

A dedicated evaluation committee, composed of selected members of the IUSS and SSSC Executive Committee, will review all applications. Successful applicants will be notified via email by the WCSS2026 organizing committee no later than 28 February 2026 (UTC+8).
The results will also be announced on the WCSS2026 (https://www.23wcss.org.cn/) and IUSS (https://www.iuss.org) official website. The decision of the evaluation committee would be final and no discussion on the outcome will be entered into.

Deadline: 24:00 (UTC+8) on 31 December 2025.
Contact: wcss2026@issas.ac.cn or +86-025-86881992

23rd WCSS
1. YECS Session: Soils across generations

Bridging young and senior scientists for a shared soil future is the YECS flagship activity at the WCSS2026 and aims to bring generations of soil scientists to collaborate, share, and inspire. We invite you to consider participating in this session and helping us to disseminate it. This session particularly focuses on the collaborative efforts and experiences of young and senior scientists in teaching, disseminating, and conducting research on and around soils.

A survey has been developed to connect early with those interested, and below you will find a poster and flyer.

Connect early form: https://forms.gle/mGEn8nkZnPwoHmbx8
Congress website: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/
Session description: https://tinyurl.com/2uun4d9b

Deadline for submissions is November 7.

2. Global trends on historic agricultural terraces
Agricultural terraces have shaped diverse ways of life in mountain systems for centuries, molding the landscape and providing services that sustain communities.
At the upcoming WCSS2026 in Nanjing, this session will explore the role of terrace soils as key elements in mountain agriculture. Looking forward to meeting colleagues who study terraces from the perspectives of soils, archaeology, history, geography, cultural heritage, and beyond.

Congress website: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/
Session description: https://tinyurl.com/ds7mmr8w
Deadline for submissions is November 7.

Accelerating equity in Soil Sciences to strengthen the IUSS
SESSION 404001 IUSS 23rd World Congress on Soil Science

The lack of female scientists, especially in positions of responsibility, not only limits the contributions of 50% of human talent to research, innovation, and public policymaking, but also causes gender biases in many studies that can lead to erroneous knowledge or discriminatory developments, and inefficient public policies. We invite you to raise our voices with constructive proposals to promote equity and inclusion in soil sciences and be part of the change.

Our National Scientific Soil Science Societies & Universities must advance by accelerating equity in soil science to strengthen itself, and you are invited to collaborate to achieve it.

Deadline for submissions is November 7

Session description: DEI Session_WCSS 2026
Congress website: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/
Link to submit your abstract: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/submission/index.html

The Digital Age in the Study, Evaluation, and Teaching of Soil Science

Special session number 503003 IUSS 23rd World Congress on Soil Science

In the digital transformation era, we invite researchers and professionals to participate with us in this innovative session exploring the convergence between cutting-edge technologies and soil sciences. This pioneering session will address how digital tools revolutionize our understanding, management, and teaching of soil sciences. Participants will be able to observe the largest augmented and mixed reality applications that allow soil profiles to be visualized in real-time, facilitating on-site analysis and improving the educational experience in the field. We will explore the development of mobile applications focused on soil resources, as well as the potential presents by the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced image analysis systems focused on soil sciences. This session represents a unique opportunity to establish international collaborations between soil scientists, software developers, and technology experts. Attendees will be able to share experiences on the implementation of innovative technological solutions in soil research and discuss the potential of these tools to address global challenges in soil conservation and sustainable management. In this sense, we are seeking contributions that highlight recent technological developments, successful case studies, and innovative proposals that combine soil sciences with these emerging technologies. This session will undoubtedly be a catalyst to inspire the next generations and foster the development of collaborative projects that harness the power of technology to advance our understanding of soils systems. Join this space where scientific tradition converges with digital innovation, creating new possibilities for research, education and soil management.

Contact: fernando.ayala@comunidad.unam.mx; leptosol@ciga.unam.mx

News from national and regional soil science societies 2025

British Society of Soil Science (BSSS)

Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future – Annual Conference and Early Careers Conference BSSS

Date:
Biennial Early Careers Conference: December 1st –2nd, 2025
Annual Conference: December 3rd -5th, 2025
Location: Manchester, England

Call for Abstracts – British Society of Soil Science Annual Conference
The British Society of Soil Science is currently accepting oral and poster abstracts for both their Annual Conference and Early Careers Conference in December. The abstract review panel is accepting abstracts in one of five topics linked to the conference theme, Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future:
1. Soils for People [Covering all aspects of Soil Health, Soil Functions, Indicators, Metrics, Ecosystem Service Delivery, Soil Biodiversity, and Sustainable Soils in Different Land Uses].
2. Soils for Climate [Covering aspects such as Net Zero, Carbon Sequestration, Peatlands, Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fluxes].
3. Soils for Water [Covering aspects such as Nutrient and Water management, Soil Erosion, and Nutrient and Water Use Efficiency].
4. Advances for Soils [Covering aspects such as Sensors and Instrumentation, New techniques, AI and data, Modelling, and Decision support tools].
5. Soils for Life [Soil, social sciences and culture, Interdisciplinary work, Stakeholder engagement, Participatory research and citizen science, and Art and culture].

German Soil Science

Rendzina – Soil of the Year 2025 in Germany

Read more: https://www.dbges.de/en/soil-of-the-year and visit the Soil of the Year page and the UBA Soil of the Year page

British Society of Soil Science
Early Careers’ Conference 2025
Date: 1–2 December, 2025
Location: King’s House Conference Centre, Manchester
Theme: Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future
This dedicated event is free to attend for BSSS Early Career members and brings together emerging voices from academia, industry, and policy in a dynamic and inclusive space. Over the course of two packed days, delegates will explore the theme “Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future” through a rich programme of oral and poster presentations, interactive workshops, and networking activities, all designed to highlight the latest research, innovations, and career development pathways in soil science.
Oral abstract deadline: Sunday 31 August 2025
Poster abstract deadline: Friday 24 October 2025
Full details on abstract themes and submission guidelines can be found on the BSSS website.
Read more: https://members.soils.org.uk/widget/event-6210932?sk=cnxQtp/MQEse2UJPdSbMw2I/eJrP3lfywhtQ/+H5e4iKdfGDFGZCsHorG1ytHtqF

Annual Conference “Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future”
Date: 3–5 December, 2025
Location: King’s House Conference Centre, Manchester
Dynamic, multi-disciplinary events will bring together researchers, practitioners, and policy makers across the built environment, agriculture, and natural sciences to explore the vital role of soils in supporting a sustainable future.
The overarching theme, Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future, will guide three days of presentations, discussions, and networking opportunities. With global challenges such as climate change, food security, and biodiversity loss becoming increasingly urgent, the conference offers a timely platform to showcase cutting-edge research and debate key strategies for strengthening soil resilience.
Researchers are encouraged to submit oral abstracts by Sunday 31 August, while poster submissions will remain open until Friday 24 October. Full details on submission guidelines and thematic focus are available on the BSSS website.
Read more: https://members.soils.org.uk/event-6210965

Italian Society of Soil Science

44th SISS National Congress
Soil Research to Support Policy Implementation

Date: December 11th-12th, 2025
Location: Department of Agriculture, University of Naples Federico II – Chinese Room – Piazza Carlo di Borbone 1, Portici, Naples, Italy.

Read more: https://convegnosiss2025.it/

News from national and regional soil science societies
2026

Field International Workshop on Paleopedology “Deciphering the ancient anthropic landscape transformation in the southern Maya lowlands in Mexico”

Date: February 19th – 25th, 2026
Location: Palenque, Mexico

Important dates:
February 18, 2026: Arrival of participants
February 19-25, 2026: Workshop activities
February 26, 2026: Departure of participant

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops
2025

10th edition FESP (Fire Effects on Soil Properties)
Date: November 25th -28th, 2025
Location: UFRO, Pucón Campus, Chile

Organized by the Universidad de la Frontera and La Universidad de los Lagos.
The conference website will be available very soon with all the information.

Read more: For now more information you can write to: fesp10@ufrontera.cl

International Conference on Microplastics in the Environment
Date: November 27th -28th, 2025
Location: Newcastle, Australia

This event will bring together leading researchers, regulators, and industry to address the pressing issue of microplastics—examining their sources, transport mechanisms, impacts on soil and water systems, and strategies for mitigation. The conference will serve as a forum to share the latest research, explore innovative technologies, and strengthen collaborations that support sustainable management of this growing global concern.

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops
2026

Conference on Variable Charge Soils
Date: March 4th – 6th, 2026
Location: Newcastle, Australia

This specialised conference will focus on the unique properties of variable charge soils, which play a critical role in nutrient dynamics, contaminant interactions, and sustainable agriculture, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. The event will highlight new advances in soil chemistry, management strategies, and their implications for food security and environmental protection. This conference is organised noting that we rarely take into consideration the differences in surface chemical properties of soils when designing management strategies- be these for fertility management or contaminants.

The 4th Global Soil Biodiversity Conference (GSB 2026)

Date: April 12th -15th, 2026
Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

The Global Soil Biodiversity Conferences organized under the auspices of the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI) are now considered to be the premier global conferences dealing with soil biodiversity. The 4th edition of the GSB 2026 will bring together researchers, policy analysts, students, and practicing farmers to discuss soil biodiversity with the goals of informing the public, promoting this information into environmental policy, and overall creating a platform for the current and future sustainability of soils.
Read more: https://globalsoilbiodiversity2026.org/

IFSA2026: Farming and Agri-Food Systems dynamics: facing crises and trade-offs in transition pathways

Date: June 29th – July 03rd, 2026
Location: Montpellier, France

As pressures from climate change, biodiversity loss, market uncertainty, and rising global food demand escalate, there is a growing need to consider how agricultural systems can be enhanced and reconfigured to withstand external shocks while advancing ecological, social, and economic sustainability. Responding to current crises calls for structured approaches that guide farmers, stakeholders, advisors, researchers, consumers and policymakers toward systemic solutions that address these overlapping challenges.
Various initiatives incite stakeholders and policy makers to innovate and develop multi-scale and multi-domain adaptation strategies for the agri-food systems. This implies to improve farmland environmental performance using sustainable practices, to reduce their CO2 emissions, and to protect the means of subsistence of farm households as well as natural resources, in particular water and soil, from the effects of climate change.
This symposium aims to revisit progress and debates in co-designing and promoting sustainable Agri-Food systems to face crises and support multiscale decisions. There are many trade-offs to document but also many synergies to analyse when looking at transition pathways and impacts.
Key dates
30/11/2025 Authors receive feedback for short paper revision or rejection
31/12/2025 Authors will have to re-submit the short paper revised version
15/02/2026 Authors are informed on short paper acceptance
15/03/2026 Early bird registration deadline
30/04/2026 Registration deadline (also for field visits registration)
Read More: https://ifsa2026.sciencesconf.org/resource/page/id/3

12th SCAR Open Science Conference & Meetings

Date: August 10th –14th, 2026
Location: Oslo, Norway
Deadline for submitting: 31st August 2025
e-mail: osc@scar.org
Read more: OSC 2026 – Expression of interest

International Symposium on Earthworm Ecology (ISEE13) 13th edition in Wageningen, the Netherlands

Date: August 23rd-28th, 2026
Location: Wageningen, the Netherlands

This year’s theme, “From the lab to the field, from the field to the lab,” reflects the commitment to bridging the gap between experimental and real-world studies, both of which are essential to the advancement of earthworm research. ISEE13 will offer a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, with a strong focus on early-career researchers who are at the forefront of addressing global challenges impacting or affected by earthworms.

The 10th International Nitrogen Conference (N2026)
Sustainable Nitrogen Management for Future Generations

Opportunities

– Introduction to Agricultural Land Classification (TBC) – 12-13 November

Agricultural Chemistry Winter School “Soil-Plant-Microbiome functionality and adaptation to anthropogenic stress and climate change”- ACWS2026 –

Date: February 2nd –5th, 2026
Location: DAMSlab Auditorium, Piazzetta Pasolini 5b, Bologna, Italy

Main informations:
Enrollment opens: 1 October 2025
Submission deadline: 12 December 2025 (23:59 CET)
Participation Fee: 80€
The Winter School is limited to 50 participants: preference will be given to doctoral students conducting research related to the theme of the school.

School Organizer: martina.mazzon2@unibo.it
School Administration: valeria.taraborell3@unibo.it

New Books

Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025

By FAO 2025, Rome.

FAO completed its first assessment of the world’s forest resources in 1948. Since then, the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) has evolved into a comprehensive evaluation of forest resources and their condition, management and uses, covering all the thematic elements of sustainable forest management. This, the latest of these assessments, examines the status of, and trends in, forest resources over the period 1990–2025, drawing on the efforts of hundreds of experts worldwide. The results of FRA 2025 are available in several formats, including this report, an interactive story on key findings and an online database at https://fra-data.fao.org.

ISBN: 978-92-5-140082-1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4060/cd6709en

13th International Conference: Soils of Urban, Industrial, Traffic, Mining and Military areas (SUITMA) from a One Health Perspective (Pisa, 5-9 October 2025) CNR Book of Abstracts

Editors: Francesca Bretzel, Beatrice Pezzarossa, Francesca Vannucchi Cnr, Istituto di ricerca sugli ecosistemi terrestri, Cnr Ed., 2025

This volume presents contributions from the 13th edition of SUITMA (Soils of Urban, Industrial, Traffic, Mining, and Military Areas), a conference dedicated to soil, a fundamental element of the water and nutrient cycle, a major contributor to global carbon sequestration, and a vital habitat for nearly all terrestrial plants and a large portion of fauna. Despite its global importance, it is estimated that one-third of the planet’s soils are degraded. In anthropized areas, soils are subject to numerous forms of disturbance, such as manipulation, compaction, and pollution, which compromise their quality. For this reason, a growing number of studies are focusing on improving urban soils and creating artificial soils on sites where soils have been completely removed or sealed. Improving soil biochemical fertility, carbon sequestration, and soil biodiversity is essential to address the urgent challenges of climate change and to ensure the health of all organisms and ecosystems.

ISBN: 978 88 8080 723 0
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61008/SUITMA-2025

Pedology in the USA
Life and Works of C. C. Nikiforoff (1886–1979)

By Alfred E. Hartemink, Springer Biographies, published October 2025.

Constantin Nikiforoff was educated by premier Russian soil scientists but fled after the 1917 revolution. A refugee with no formal credentials or documentation, he arrived in the USA in 1921. He was hired in 1927 and started surveying and studying soils across the country. He was erudite, critical, and wrote several influential papers. In some ways, he was ahead of his time; in others, his ideas were later proven incorrect. Yet, in all respects, he was a distinctive researcher whose work left a lasting mark on the field of American soil science. This richly illustrated book explores the life and works of Constantin Nikiforoff against the backdrop of soil science advancements during the first half of the twentieth century.

• Biography of the Russian American pedologist Constantin Nikiforoff
• Chronicles his life, works, and influence on American soil science
• Richly illustrated with a collection of unique photos
• A fascinating read for anyone interested in the history of science

Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-032-00331-7

eBook ISBN: 978-3-032-00332-4

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-00332-4

Communications

Please provide the new name, surname, position and e-mail address to: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

If you are interested in promoting your product or book, event, job call in our Alert, please send an email to iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it.

L'articolo IUSS Alert 240 (October 2025) proviene da iuss.org.

IUSS Alert 239 (September 2025)

Francesco Ambrosini — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 07:59:39 +0000

State of the art

Highlighted IUSS publications

By Division 3

Cell wall polysaccharides contributed significantly to the difference of cadmium accumulation in two rice varieties

By Changzhao CHEN, Jieya SUN, Jing YAN, Chen TU, Jiu HUANG, Jin CHEN, Xianjiao GUAN, Lu ZHENG, Junwei MA, Yongming LUO, Renfang SHEN, Xiaofang ZHU, Pedosphere, 2025

The researchers employed a multidisciplinary approach, combining physiological, biochemical, and spectroscopic techniques, to demonstrate that the superior cadmium retention in the roots of low-Cd-accumulating varieties is largely attributed to the architecture of their root cell walls. Specifically, the higher abundance and altered composition of hemicellulose—a major polysaccharide component—acts as a primary barrier, effectively binding Cd ions and restricting their translocation to the edible grains. This work shifts the paradigm from a sole focus on membrane transporters and chelators to highlighting the cell wall as an active and decisive player in heavy metal homeostasis. These findings not only advance our fundamental understanding of plant-metal interactions but also open up innovative avenues for genetic engineering and molecular breeding. By targeting the biosynthesis and modification of cell wall polysaccharides, we can develop novel crop varieties that ensure food safety without compromising yield, a critical step toward sustainable agriculture in heavy-metal-contaminated regions.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedsph.2025.06.005

Universal models for comprehensive prediction of soil quality responses to complex amendments in acidic soil

By Pengshun Wang, Prakash Lakshmanan, Qichao Zhu, Siwen Zhang, Donghao Xu, Shuihan Yuan, Fusuo Zhang, Geoderma, Volume 461, 2025, 117495

The article addresses one of the most challenging tasks in sustainable agriculture: accurately forecasting how acidic soils will respond to various amendment strategies. By developing universal models, this work moves beyond traditional case-specific studies and offers a powerful, generalizable tool to predict multi-faceted soil quality changes. This approach has tremendous potential to help farmers and land managers select the most effective combinations of amendments—such as biochar, lime, organic matter, or minerals—to optimize soil health, productivity, and sustainability. The implications are global, especially for regions struggling with soil acidity and degradation. This research not only advances our theoretical understanding of soil amendment interactions but also provides a practical decision-support system for climate-smart agriculture.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117495

MEDAL

VLADIMIR FRIDLAND SOIL GEOGRAPHY MEDAL

Professor Vladimir M. Fridland is well known among soil scientists and geographers in the world for his contribution to several spheres in soil genesis, geography and soil mapping, part of which is his theory of soil cover pattern.

The awardees must demonstrate an outstanding and sustained performance in the discipline of geography and cartography of soils. All areas of soil geography including research, teaching and its application to environmental, agricultural and technogenic problems are considered relevant. The medal is not invested posthumously.

PERIODICITY OF NOMINATION: the Vladimir M. Fridland Soi Geography Medal is currently awarded every four years and presented at the World Congress of Soil Science of the IUSS.

The nominees may be proposed by institutions, societies, commissions and working groups of the IUSS, and individuals. Members of the Award committee are not eligible to make nominations or second nominations.

The proposal for nomination must be submitted to the Award committee chair, and should include:

Statement of key achievements and career highlights of the nominee (1 page)
Curriculum vitae detailing career history and publication record of the nominee
Name of proposer and seconder for the nominee
Any other relevant information in support of the nominee
Full address and contact details of the nominee

NOMINATION PROCEDURE: the call for the nominations is publicized during the year before the date of the award, via the Commission Business Meetings and/or IUSS Alerts. The selection committee for the Fridland Gold Medal award is composed of the representative of the medal sponsor (Dokuchaev Soil Science Society) plus the Chair (the Chair of this Committee) and past Chair of IUSS Commission 1.2. Soil Geography In 2025/2026 the deadline for nominations is 07.12.2025. The packages of documents should be sent to the e-mail sergey.gory@gmail.com.

Guy Smith Medal Award 2026 – Invitation to Propose Nominees by February 28, 2026

Dear Colleagues:

The Guy Smith Medal is awarded for outstanding contributions to the development of soil classification.

The IUSS Guy Smith Medal Award Committee is pleased to invite you to propose nominees for the forthcoming Guy Smith Medal Award:

https://www.iuss.org/awards-medals-and-prizes/guy-smith-medal/

The next award will be handed over during the Nanjing 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (https://www.23wcss.org.cn/), to be organized from June 7 to 12, 2026 by the Soil Science Society of China.

Criteria for selection:

The nominee should have the following qualifications:

She/he must have made a significant scientific contribution that has advanced the field of soil classification, and
Be a published author in the field of soil classification, and
Be an active member, Honorary member, or formerly active member of a national or international soil science professional society, and
The medal is not invested posthumously, and
Present officers of IUSS Commission Soil Classification cannot be nominated.

The proposal for nomination should comprise a short text, including the main steps of the scientific career of the nominee, her/his most relevant scientific publications and major contributions to the development of soil classification.

We look forward to receiving your proposals by February 28, 2026.

CVs of the nominees and a motivation letter should be sent to:

Peter Schad <peter.schad@tum.de>, with copy to Maria Gerasimova <maria.i.gerasimova@gmail.com> and to Lucia Anjos <lanjos@ufrrj.br>

Yours Sincerely,

Prof. Peter Schad

Chair of Soil Science

Technical University of Munich, Germany

Prof. Maria Gerasimova

Department of Soil Geography and Landscape Geochemistry

Faculty of Geography, Moscow Lomonosov State University

Moscow, Russia

Prof. Lúcia Helena C. Anjos

Soils Department, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ)

Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

News from the IUSS

Accelerating equity in Soil Sciences to strengthen the IUSS SESSION 404001 IUSS 23rd World Congress on Soil Science
The lack of female scientists, especially in positions of responsibility, not only limits the contributions of 50% of human talent to research, innovation, and public policymaking, but also causes gender biases in many studies that can lead to erroneous knowledge or discriminatory developments, and inefficient public policies. We invite you to raise our voices with constructive proposals to promote equity and inclusion in soil sciences and be part of the change.
Our National Scientific Soil Science Societies & Universities must advance by accelerating equity in soil science to strengthen itself, and you are invited to collaborate to achieve it.
Deadline for submissions is November 7
Session description: DEI SESSION-WCSS-2026
Congress website: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/
Link to submit your abstract: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/submission/index.html

Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development 2025-2034

The new decade of soil sciences for sustainable development has begun, read the manifesto and download the logo here: https://www.iuss.org/decade-of-soil-sciences-for-sustainable-development/

2025 IUSS World Soil of the Year

The represented World Soil of the Year soil profile is located at the Püspökladány Experimental Station and Arboretum University of Sopron Forest Research Institute (SOE-ERTI). The soil is part of a unique cultural landscape dominated by grasslands and salt effected pastures in the Hungarian Plain. It is located within the Hortobágy National Park, which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (Man and the Biosphere Program – MAB) and recognized UNESCO World heritage site.

Gleysols are soils that are affected in various areas in the world by land use and management and by the indirect and direct effects of climate change. Salinization of groundwater, decreasing groundwater levels and alternation of sediment influx are common.

The election of the ‘Gleysol – hydromorphic soil from the steppe region in the Carpathian Basin’ as the World Soil of the Year 2025, comes amid growing global concerns about soil health and environmental change. Protecting and sustainably managing these hydromorphic soils is essential for mitigating floods, preserving water quality, and ensuring sustainable forest ecosystems in steppe terrains.

Various activities are planned throughout the year to celebrate this achievement, including educational programs, community workshops, and conservation initiatives aimed at promoting awareness of Gleysols’ ecological significance.

For more information on the World Soil of the Year – the Gleysol from the Carpathian Plain: https://www.iuss.org/world-soil-of-the-year/

World Soil of the Year 2026 – Deadline Submission

In recognition of the success of many national programs, the IUSS WSY one has been implemented to enhance soil literacy across different countries and on a global scale. The aim is to draw up a registry of soil heritages, to acknowledge the natural and cultural value of soils, and to open doors for soil science to integrate with environmental protection activities and projects.

The deadline for the nomination of the World Soil of the Year 2026 is November 30, 2025. For more information: https://www.iuss.org/world-soil-of-the-year/

Division and Commission Officers Election – 2026 and

members of the Standing Committees Election 2026

The nominations for the Standing Committees members must be forwarded to the Secretary (iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it) within October 31 November 15, 2025.

They will be then evaluated by the Executive Committee within November 30, 2025 and then voted by the National Societies.

Election Calendar and Deadlines

Nomination of the candidates by the National Societies: outcomes to be sent to the Divisional Committee within New deadline September 30 October 15, 2025

Divisional Committees scrutiny of the candidates: October 31, 2025

Standing Committees candidacies: New deadline October 31 November 15, 2025

Executive Committee evaluation of the candidacies for the Standing Committees: November 30, 2025

Electoral Committee scrutiny of the candidates: November 30, 2025

Opening of the voting system for your society members: December 20, 2025

Closing of the voting system for your society members: March 20, 2026

Notification to the Electoral Committee and Secretariat: within April 30, 2026

Winners’ announcement: within May 31, 2026

Download the Division and Commission Chair Nomination Form

Download the Standing Committee Member Nomination Form

Download the IUSS 2026 Election Guidelines

World Soil Day (WSD) 2025

Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities

This contest invites young people to explore the hidden world beneath their feet. Urban soils may seem invisible, but they cool our streets, soak up rainwater, grow food, and sustain life: even in the tiniest cracks. Through fun, hands-on experiments, kids will become “urban soil detectives,” observing, testing and documenting their discoveries to uncover how soil shapes life in their neighbourhoods.

more information and submission deadline: World Soil Day contest: Tiny soil detectives on a mission! | Global Soil Partnership | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Soil in 1 minute: Join the World Soil Day 2025 video contest

This contest invites scientists, designers, communicators, educators, and creative individuals to create short, engaging explainer videos (maximum one minute) aimed at children aged 8–15. Participants are asked to use simple language, drawings, models, or themselves to show why healthy urban soils are key for healthy cities.

more information and submission deadline: Soil in 1 minute: Join the World Soil Day 2025 video contest | Global Soil Partnership | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Soil Mission Manifesto

IUSS Commission 3.3 – Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition

2025 Webinar Series

Advances in soil fertility and crop nutrition status, cases from different regions of the world

This webinar would provide an update on the status and recent advances on nutrient management across three regions of the world: China, India/South Asia, and North America. Speakers are outstanding scientists who are willing to share their knowledge and expertise with an open audience.

Date: Wednesday October22
Hours: 8-10AM Atlanta/New York; 10AM-noon Argentina/Brazil; 1-3PM Ghana; 3-5PM Madrid/Rome; 5:30-7:30PM New Delhi; 8-10PM Beijing
Duration: 2 hours.
Webinar will be carried out through North Carolina State University system.
Open to public, Zoom link: hHps://ncsu.zoom.us/s/91075699717 (Passcode 421235)
Webinar will be recorded and made available at IUSS website.
Advertised through IUSS and any other media (national associations, others)

Contact:

Fernando O. Garcia and Luke Gatiboni

Chairs Commission 3.3 Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition – IUSS

fgarcia1957@gmail.com

Luke_GaAboni@ncsu.edu

Soil Science Society of China (SSSC) and IUSS

The 23rd World Congress of Soil Science – Soil and the Shared Future for Humanity

Date: 7^th -12^th June, 2026

Location: Nanjing, China

Nanjing Welcomes Global Soil Scientists for the 23^rd World Congress of Soil Science

Soil Science Society of China successfully won the bid to host the 23^rd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) in Brazil’s 21^st WCSS. For the first time, China as a host country invites global soil scientists to explore the centennial journey of soil science.

The 23^rd WCSS will be held in the International Expo Center from June 7 to 12, 2026 in Nanjing, the capital city of the most developed Jiangsu province, under the theme of “Soil and the Shared Future for Humanity”. 121 sessions in five categories have been accepted.

Read more: Join and follow via the official website: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/

Important dates and deadlines:

Abstract submission deadline: November 7, 2025

Abstract results notification: February 7, 2026

Early bird registration deadline: March 7, 2026

Regular registration deadline: May 7, 2026

Cancellation and Refund deadline: May 7, 2026

23rd WCSS

YECS Session: Soils across generations

Bridging young and senior scientists for a shared soil future is the YECS flagship activity at the WCSS2026 and aims to bring generations of soil scientists to collaborate, share, and inspire. We invite you to consider participating in this session and helping us to disseminate it. This session particularly focuses on the collaborative efforts and experiences of young and senior scientists in teaching, disseminating, and conducting research on and around soils.

A survey has been developed to connect early with those interested, and below you will find a poster and flyer.

Connect early form: https://forms.gle/mGEn8nkZnPwoHmbx8
Congress website: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/
Session description: https://tinyurl.com/2uun4d9b

Deadline for submissions is November 7.

Global trends on historic agricultural terraces

Agricultural terraces have shaped diverse ways of life in mountain systems for centuries, molding the landscape and providing services that sustain communities.
At the upcoming WCSS2026 in Nanjing, this session will explore the role of terrace soils as key elements in mountain agriculture. Looking forward to meeting colleagues who study terraces from the perspectives of soils, archaeology, history, geography, cultural heritage, and beyond.

Congress website: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/
Session description: https://tinyurl.com/ds7mmr8w

Deadline for submissions is November 7.

News from national and regional soil science societies 2025

British Society of Soil Science (BSSS)

Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future – Annual Conference and Early Careers Conference BSSS

Date:

Biennial Early Careers Conference: December 1^st –2^nd, 2025

Annual Conference: December 3^rd -5^th, 2025

Location: Manchester, England

Call for Abstracts – British Society of Soil Science Annual Conference

The British Society of Soil Science is currently accepting oral and poster abstracts for both their Annual Conference and Early Careers Conference in December. The abstract review panel is accepting abstracts in one of five topics linked to the conference theme, Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future:

Soils for People [Covering all aspects of Soil Health, Soil Functions, Indicators, Metrics, Ecosystem Service Delivery, Soil Biodiversity, and Sustainable Soils in Different Land Uses].
Soils for Climate [Covering aspects such as Net Zero, Carbon Sequestration, Peatlands, Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fluxes].
Soils for Water [Covering aspects such as Nutrient and Water management, Soil Erosion, and Nutrient and Water Use Efficiency].
Advances for Soils [Covering aspects such as Sensors and Instrumentation, New techniques, AI and data, Modelling, and Decision support tools].
Soils for Life [Soil, social sciences and culture, Interdisciplinary work, Stakeholder engagement, Participatory research and citizen science, and Art and culture].

German Soil Science

Rendzina – Soil of the Year 2025 in Germany

The goal of the campaign is to raise public awareness of soils as vital natural resources. Through posters, flyers, brochures, websites, and exhibitions, it aims to engage a broad audience. Over the course of the year, a variety of events—including excursions and exhibitions—are organized by institutions at both regional and local level.

Over the past two decades, the focus of the campaign has shifted from a purely taxonomic presentation of specific soil types to a broader ecological perspective. It now highlights different land use systems and their interactions with soil. In 2023, the focus was on arable soils, emphasizing the importance of healthy food production. In 2024, forest soils were selected as “Soil of the Year”, drawing attention to carbon sequestration and water-related ecosystem services.

The Soil of the Year 2025 is the Rendzina—a shallow, humus-rich soil type that forms on limestone, dolomite, or gypsum bedrock, roughly corresponding to Rendzic Leptosols according to WRB. This year’s patron is Dr. Till Backhaus, Minister for Climate Protection, Agriculture, Rural Areas, and the Environment of the German federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Accordingly, special attention is being given to Rendzinas formed on Cretaceous limestone in the Baltic Sea region.

At the official presentation in Berlin, Dr. Backhaus highlighted that Rendzinas are more than just productive land for agriculture or forestry. They also serve as “habitats, geology you can touch, and a valuable part of our natural and cultural heritage.”

To explore these aspects further, a multi-day expert excursion will take place at the end of May, including a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Jasmund beech forest with its iconic chalk cliffs on the island of Rügen. The tour is being organized by the State Office for Environment, Nature Conservation and Geology of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania together with the German and Danish Soil Science Societies. On the Danish island of Møn, the participants will also have the opportunity of cross-border comparisons of Rendzina sites.

Read more: https://www.dbges.de/en/soil-of-the-year and visit the Soil of the Year page and the UBA Soil of the Year page

German Soil Science

Prof. Dr. Wulf Amelung receives Philippe Duchaufour Medal 2025

At this year’s General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), Prof. Dr. Wulf Amelung, a long-standing member of the German Soil Science Society (DBG) and former DBG Vice President, has been awarded the prestigious Philippe Duchaufour Medal, the highest award of EGU in Soil System Science, in recognition of his outstanding scientific contributions to the field.

Wulf Amelung is head of the group General Soil Science and Soil Ecology at the University of Bonn and of the unit Agrosphere of the Institute of Bio- and Geosciences at the Forschungszentrum Jülich. His research focuses on nutrient cycles, soil functions, and innovative analytical approaches in soil ecology.

Serbian Society of Soil Science

The Soil Re-Union: Science for Healthy Soils

4^th International and 16^th National Congress of the Serbian Society of Soil Science

Date: October 20^th – 23^rd, 2025

Location: Vrdnik, Fruške Terme, Serbia

The Congress will feature:

Inspiring keynotes, panel discussions, and project-to-project networking,
A special platform for showcasing ongoing projects,
A vibrant EXPO area for institutions and initiatives aligned with soil science,

And a rich cultural and social program reflecting the spirit of Fruška Gora.

Call for Abstracts

The Book of Abstracts of peer-reviewed contributions will be published, assigned a library number, and indexed.

Participants who are interested in publishing a full paper will have the opportunity to submit their manuscripts for publication in the peer-reviewed journal Soil and Plant of the Serbian Soil Science Society after the Congress.

Additionally, an e-edition of the Compendium of presentations and e-posters from the Congress will be available for participants who wish to include their work in PDF format.

The Journal “Zemljište i Biljka – Soil and Plant – Почва и Растение” is the official three lingual (Serbian-English-Russian) journal of the Soil Science Society of Serbia (SDPZ) published since 1952. Since 2014, both printed and electronic versions of the journal have been published twice a year. ISSN 0514-6658; eISSN 2560-4279

Read more: https://sdpz.rs/congress/

Venue: www.frusketerme.com

SUITMA13 International Conference

Date: October 5^th– 9^th, 2025

Location: Pisa, Italy

The conference will focus on “SUITMA from a One Health Perspective”. Soil is a key component of the water and nutrient cycle, and a major contributor to global carbon sequestration. Soil also provides habitats for nearly all land plants, as well as a large proportion of terrestrial fauna. Despite its global importance, it is estimated that one third of global soil is degraded. In anthropized areas, soils undergo many forms of disturbance: manipulation, compaction, and pollution which impact their quality. However, even degraded soils have the potential to alleviate environmental problems and play a vital role in supporting vegetation. Degraded soils of urban areas and other anthropogenic lands merit scientific and professional attention in order to enhance their ecosystem services and to support nature- based solutions, to tackle the urgent challenges of climate change, and for the health of all organisms and ecosystems.

https://www.suitma13.it/#content

British Society of Soil Science

Early Careers’ Conference 2025
Date: 1–2 December, 2025

Location: King’s House Conference Centre, Manchester

Theme: Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future

This dedicated event is free to attend for BSSS Early Career members and brings together emerging voices from academia, industry, and policy in a dynamic and inclusive space. Over the course of two packed days, delegates will explore the theme “Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future” through a rich programme of oral and poster presentations, interactive workshops, and networking activities, all designed to highlight the latest research, innovations, and career development pathways in soil science.

Oral abstract deadline: Sunday 31 August 2025
Poster abstract deadline: Friday 24 October 2025
Full details on abstract themes and submission guidelines can be found on the BSSS website.

Annual Conference “Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future”
Date: 3–5 December, 2025

Location: King’s House Conference Centre, Manchester

Dynamic, multi-disciplinary events will bring together researchers, practitioners, and policy makers across the built environment, agriculture, and natural sciences to explore the vital role of soils in supporting a sustainable future.

The overarching theme, Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future, will guide three days of presentations, discussions, and networking opportunities. With global challenges such as climate change, food security, and biodiversity loss becoming increasingly urgent, the conference offers a timely platform to showcase cutting-edge research and debate key strategies for strengthening soil resilience.

Researchers are encouraged to submit oral abstracts by Sunday 31 August, while poster submissions will remain open until Friday 24 October. Full details on submission guidelines and thematic focus are available on the BSSS website.

Italian Society of Soil Science

44^thSISS National Congress

Soil Research to Support Policy Implementation

Date: December 11^th-12^th, 2025

Location: Department of Agriculture, University of Naples Federico II – Chinese Room – Piazza Carlo di Borbone 1, Portici, Naples, Italy.

The first day will include a technical excursion to contaminated and rehabilitated sites in the province of Naples, during which two rehabilitative and recovery projects for contaminated agricultural and industrial areas will be presented, along with a round table discussion entitled “The Impact of Research on Soil Management: Illusion or Reality?” The second day will feature two scientific sessions entitled “Innovative Approaches to Soil Studies at the Scale of Processes and Properties” and “Soil: Innovative Approaches and the Geospatial Dimension in Policy Implementation.”

Deadline for abstract submissions extended to October 10^th, 2025

News from national and regional soil science societies

2026

Field International Workshop on Paleopedology “Deciphering the ancient anthropic landscape transformation in the southern Maya lowlands in Mexico”

Date: February 19^th – 25^th, 2026

Location: Palenque, Mexico

The scientific topics include:

– Soil memory: a key guide for understanding past environmental and human impacts.

– Micromorphology of key pedogenetic processes. Linking microscopic observations and analytical data for differentiating anthropic and natural soil processes.

– Classification of soils in archaeological sites.

– Pedogenesis of anthropogenic soils and ecosystems.

– Novel methods and techniques and quantitative approaches in paleosol studies.

Conference Organizers:

International Union of Soil Science, Division 1. Soil in Space and Time, Commission 1.6 – Paleopedology.
International Union for Quaternary Research, INQUA Paleopedology Working Group.
Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).
Instituto de Ecología A.C. (INECOL).

Important dates:

October 31, 2025: Deadline for submission of registration form and abstract February 18, 2026: Arrival of participants

February 19-25, 2026: Workshop activities

February 26, 2026: Departure of participant

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops

2025

Part III of the EUSO Stakeholders Forum – “Soil challenges and solutions in the Mediterranean”

Date: October, 9^th 2025

Location: Rome, Italy and online

The EUSO Stakeholders Forum is an annual event aiming to actively engage and exchange with the soil community, from policy makers and scientists to local actors, civil society representatives and citizens.

To reflect the increasing policy focus on the Mediterranean, the third part of the EUSO Stakeholder Forum 2025 will focus on challenges and solutions for soils in the Mediterranean area. The forum will be a hybrid workshop, in collaboration with the FAO. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on recent research to better quantify soil degradation and innovative solutions that focus on sustainability, resilience, and adapting to climate and landscape challenges.

The forum will be part of a two-day event on Soils of the Mediterranean. The first day (8 October) will focus on the preparation of the Soil Atlas of the Mediterranean. The EUSO Stakeholders forum will take place on the second day (9 October)

Register here: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/32c02779-ce69-33d0-1325-345448fb4e50

For further information: arwyn.jones@ec.europa.eu or calogero.schillaci@ec.europa.eu

World Food Forum (WFF)

Date: October 10^th –17^th 2025

Location: FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy, and online

This year’s event marks a milestone: FAO’s 80th anniversary, commemorated through a week of global dialogue, knowledge exchange and solution-driven collaboration, all guided by the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future” and FAO’s four betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.

Read more: https://www.world-food-forum.org/

Second International Forum on Agroecosystem Living Labs

Date: October 15^th – 17^th, 2025

Location: Bordeaux, France

The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) are once again collaborating to organize this event, which will take place in Bordeaux, France, from October 15 to 17, 2025.

The Forum will feature panel discussions and parallel scientific sessions aimed at establishing leading practices, sharing case study insights, and addressing the challenges faced by the international agroecosystem living lab community. It will also include networking events and field visits, designed to foster dialogue and provide an inspiring space for collaboration and action.

10^thedition FESP (Fire Effects on Soil Properties)

Date: November 25^th -28^th, 2025

Location: UFRO, Pucón Campus, Chile

Organized by the Universidad de la Frontera and La Universidad de los Lagos.
The conference website will be available very soon with all the information.

Read more: For now more information you can write to: fesp10@ufrontera.cl

International Conference on Microplastics in the Environment

Date: November 27^th -28^th, 2025

Location: Newcastle, Australia

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops

2026

Conference on Variable Charge Soils

Date: March 4^th – 6^th, 2026

Location: Newcastle, Australia

The 4^th Global Soil Biodiversity Conference (GSB 2026)

Date: April 12^th -15^th, 2026

Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

The Global Soil Biodiversity Conferences organized under the auspices of the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI) are now considered to be the premier global conferences dealing with soil biodiversity. The 4^th edition of the GSB 2026 will bring together researchers, policy analysts, students, and practicing farmers to discuss soil biodiversity with the goals of informing the public, promoting this information into environmental policy, and overall creating a platform for the current and future sustainability of soils.

IFSA2026: Farming and Agri-Food Systems dynamics: facing crises and trade-offs in transition pathways

Date: June 29^th – July 03^rd, 2026

Location: Montpellier, France

Key dates

30/11/2025 Authors receive feedback for short paper revision or rejection
31/12/2025 Authors will have to re-submit the short paper revised version
15/02/2026 Authors are informed on short paper acceptance

15/03/2026 Early bird registration deadline

30/04/2026 Registration deadline (also for field visits registration)

12th SCAR Open Science Conference & Meetings

The 12^th SCAR Open Science Conference will be held in Oslo, Norway, from 10-14 August 2026, hosted by the Norwegian Polar Institute. The conference will feature an interdisciplinary programme that includes plenary lectures, parallel sessions, mini-symposia, workshops, panel discussions, posters, and social activities.

Date: August 10^th –14^th, 2026

Location: Oslo, Norway

Deadline for submitting: 31^st August 2025

e-mail: osc@scar.org

International Symposium on Earthworm Ecology (ISEE13) 13^th edition in Wageningen, the Netherlands

Date: August 23^rd-28^th, 2026

Location: Wageningen, the Netherlands

Important deadline:

Opening registration: December 1, 2025

Deadline abstract submission: January 4, 2026

Decision on abstract acceptance: March 4, 2026

Deadline for early bird registration: April 15, 2026

Deadline for registration: June 17, 2026

The 10th International Nitrogen Conference (N2026)

Sustainable Nitrogen Management for Future Generations

Date: November 2^nd-6^th, 2026

Location: Wageningen, the Netherlands

The 10^th International Nitrogen Conference (N2026) aims to foster global collaboration under the theme “Sustainable Nitrogen Management for Future Generations.” While coordination between science and policy is essential, effectively addressing the nitrogen challenge requires the active engagement of all stakeholders, including governments, researchers, educators, industry, civil society, and the public.

We warmly welcome participants from around the world –across disciplines, sectors, and regions –who share a commitment to building a sustainable future. This conference will serve as an inclusive platform for sharing knowledge, aligning actions, and co-creating the Kyoto Declaration, a collective roadmap toward sustainable nitrogen management.

Opportunities

16^th cycle of the School of Biodiversity and Bioindication (BIOBIO 2025)

Date: October 10^th, 2025 – 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Location: CREA – Via di Lanciola 12/A, 50125, Florence

Soil Health and Biodiversity: Understanding to Learn to Preserve

Organizing Committee: Division II SISS

Division II of the Italian Society of Soil Science invites secondary school students to participate in interactive workshops, practical demonstrations, and meetings with university professors and researchers to learn about and explore soil and its vast biodiversity.

For information: laura.giagnoni@unibs.it

sara.delduca@crea.gov.it

Soil Training

The British Society of Soil Science (BSSS), recognising the importance of quality and availability of education and training for soil science as a profession, organises the following training courses:
– Soils and Catchment Management (Lancaster) – 13-14 October

– Practical Introduction to Soils in Great Britain (Bedfordshire) – 29-30 October

– Introduction to Agricultural Land Classification (TBC) – 12-13 November

Agricultural Chemistry Winter School “Soil-Plant-Microbiome functionality and adaptation to anthropogenic stress and climate change”

Date: February 2^nd –5^th, 2026

Location: DAMSlab Auditorium, Piazzetta Pasolini 5b, Bologna, Italy

First announcement for the Agricultural Chemistry Winter School “Soil-Plant-Microbiome functionality and adaptation to anthropogenic stress and climate change”, organized by the Italian Society of Agricultural Chemistry (SICA) and the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences at Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna.

Registration will open on October 1 and close on December 12, 2025.

Additional information can be found here: https://site.unibo.it/acws-2026/en

New Books

Aestimum

AA., Vol. 86-2025, Firenze University Press, www.fupress.com

The volume 86 of Aestimum offers studies on urban, territorial, and environmental valuation. Contributions include a multi-criteria analysis of progress toward the SDGs in Spain, research on the application of interpretable machine learning to the rental market in Germany, and the valuation of cultural ecosystem services in forest areas in the Marche region. The issue also features in-depth analyses on the effects of armed conflict on environmental resilience in Ukraine and the impact of negative environmental externalities on property values in the Land of Fires.

DOI: 10.36253/aestim

ISSN (print): 1592-6117 | ISSN (online): 1724-2118 |

Read more and download: https://oaj.fupress.net/index.php/ceset/issue/view/925/459

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025

Addressing high food price inflation for food security and nutrition

FAO; IFAD; UNICEF; WFP; WHO, 2025, pages 234, Publisher: FAO; IFAD; UNICEF; WFP; WHO.

While some progress and recovery have been made in recent years, the world is still above pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels and far from eradicating hunger and food insecurity by 2030 (SDG Target 2.1). Similarly, despite some progress in the global nutrition targets, the world is not on track to achieve SDG Target 2.2. Among other factors, persistent food price inflation has slowed this momentum. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025 highlights how elevated inflation in many countries has undermined purchasing power and, especially among low-income populations, access to healthy diets. The report documents how high food price inflation is associated with increases in food insecurity and child malnutrition. Vulnerable groups, including low-income households, women, and rural communities, can be particularly affected by food price inflation, risking setbacks in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. In response to these challenges and to prevent future price shocks, the report examines policy measures adopted by countries, and outlines what is necessary going forwards. It stresses the importance of coherent implementation of fiscal and monetary policies to stabilize markets, promote open and resilient trade, and protect vulnerable populations. Additionally, it calls for better data systems and sustained investment in resilient agrifood systems to build long-term food security and nutrition. These coordinated actions are vital to reignite progress towards ending hunger and malnutrition by 2030.

ISBN: 978-92-5-139937-8

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4060/cd6008en

Read more: https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/ea9cebff-306c-49b7-8865-2aef3bfd25e2

Communications

Please provide the new name, surname, position and e-mail address to: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

If you are interested in promoting your product or book, event, job call in our Alert, please send an email to iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it.

IUSS Alerts are e-mailed to more than 3,000 individual subscribers and 80 national soil science societies globally. Please forward the IUSS Alerts to your friends and colleagues. Send information for IUSS Alerts to iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it.

If you wish to unsubscribe, please send an email to iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it.

Facebook: IUSS-International Union of Soil Science https://www.facebook.com/unionsoilsciences

LinkedIn: IUSS-International Union of Soil Sciences @LinkedIn.com

X: International Union of Soil Sciences @IUSS_ORG

YouTube: @iusschannel822

IUSS Secretariat of International Union of Soil Sciences

c/o CREA – Council for Agricultural Research and Economics

www.crea.gov.it

Via della Navicella 4, 00184 Rome

e-mail: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

L'articolo IUSS Alert 239 (September 2025) proviene da iuss.org.

IUSS Alert 238 (August 2025)

Mitia Mambella — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 13:30:05 +0000

State of the art

Highlighted IUSS publications

By Division 2

Fungal-mediated soil aggregation as a mechanism for carbon stabilization

By De Goede, S.P.C., Hannula, S.E., Jansen, B., Morriën, E. 2025. ISME Journal 19, wraf074.

The occlusion of soil organic carbon into soil aggregates is a key mechanism to temporarily protect it from decomposition by soil organisms. Filamentous fungi are recognized for their positive role in the formation and stabilization of aggregates. In this review, the authors recollected the current knowledge of the contribution of fungi to soil aggregation and set a new research agenda to quantify fungal-mediated aggregation across different climates and soils. Three main knowledge gaps were highlighted: 1) the lack of quantitative data and mechanistic understanding of aggregate turnover under field conditions; 2) the lack of data on the biochemical and biological mechanisms by which filamentous fungi influence soil aggregation; 3) uncharacterized contribution of soil fungi across environments. Adopting a trait-based approach to increase the level of mechanistic understanding between fungal diversity and soil structure seems promising, but will need additional experiments in which fungal diversity is manipulated by either removal through sieving or dilution, or addition through using synthetic communities of cultured fungi.
https://doi.org/10.1093/ismejo/wraf074

Case study on agroecosystem management: Seasonal soil microbiome and maize yield response to an innovative NPK mineral fertilizer enriched with beneficial bacterial strains

By Mącik, M., Gryta, A., Panek, J., Sas-Paszt, L., Frąc, M. 2025. Applied Soil Ecology 210, 106084.
The ongoing degradation of arable soils poses a serious challenge to modern agriculture. The authors explored the potential of innovative microbiologically enriched NPK fertilizer (called biofertilizer) to stimulate the activity and diversity of soil microbial communities in two degraded soils, Brunic Arenosol (BA) and Abruptic Luvisol (AL), under maize cultivation. The two year field experiments included the following treatments: 1. standard, optimal dose of mineral fertilizer without microbial enrichment (PC/PK) designed to meet the nutritional requirements of maize and serving as the control treatment; 2. optimal dose amended with beneficial bacterial strains (PA100/PW100); 3. a dose containing 40 % less NPK fertilizer but enriched with microorganisms (PA60/PW60). The application of biofertilizer stimulated the activity of key enzymes involved in C, N and P biotransformations in the soil, modified the metabolic profile of soil microorganisms and changed the genetic diversity of bacteria, archaea and fungi. The obtained results showed that microbiologically enriched NPK fertilizer exhibits multifarious actions and has a potential to improve soil microbiome quality and diversity, as well as influencing yield of maize production.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106084

MEDAL

The Dan Yaalon Young Scientist medal

Submit you nomination for the Dan Yaalon Young Scientist Medal within September 7, 2025.
For more information on the criteria and procedure visit
https://www.iuss.org/awards-medals-and-prizes/the-dan-yaalon-young-scientist-medal/

VLADIMIR FRIDLAND SOIL GEOGRAPHY MEDAL

Distinguished Service Medal 2025

The Honourable Robert Black, Senator of the Parliament of Canada, was awarded the 2025 IUSS Distinguished Service Medal, during the 2025 Soils For Our Future Joint Conference, held during July 20th to 25th, in Winnipeg, Canada. Senator Black was nominated by the Canadian Society of Soil Science (csss.ca) in recognition of his efforts to bring public and government attention to the importance of soil health and its study, and of his leadership in the creation and publishing of the Critical Ground report (sencanada.ca/content/sen/committee/441/AGFO/reports/2024-06-06_CriticalGround_e.pdf). Richard J. Heck, Chair of IUSS Division 1 and President of the Canadian Society of Soil Science, presented the award on behalf of IUSS President Victor O. Chude. The award citation reads “for dedication and outstanding contribution to the promotion and development of legislation and public policies for the recognition, protection, conservation and enhancement of soils across Canada”. The ‘2025 Soils For Our Future Joint Conference’ Joint Conference of the IUSS Division 1 Soils in Space & Time, the Global Soil Security community, and the Canadian Society of Soil Science, was hosted by the Manitoba Society of Soil Science and the Soil Conservation Council of Canada.

Guy Smith Medal Award 2026 – Invitation to Propose Nominees by February 28, 2026

Dear Colleagues:
The Guy Smith Medal is awarded for outstanding contributions to the development of soil classification.

We look forward to receiving your proposals by February 28, 2026.
CVs of the nominees and a motivation letter should be sent to:
Peter Schad <peter.schad@tum.de>, with copy to Maria Gerasimova and to Lucia Anjos <lanjos@ufrrj.br>

Yours Sincerely,

Prof. Peter Schad
Chair of Soil Science
Technical University of Munich, Germany

Prof. Maria Gerasimova
Department of Soil Geography and Landscape Geochemistry
Faculty of Geography, Moscow Lomonosov State University
Moscow, Russia

Prof. Lúcia Helena C. Anjos
Soils Department, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ)
Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

News from the IUSS

Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development 2025-2034
The new decade of soil sciences for sustainable development has begun, read the manifesto and download the logo here: https://www.iuss.org/decade-of-soil-sciences-for-sustainable-development/

2025 IUSS World Soil of the Year

For more information on the World Soil of the Year – the Gleysol from the Carpathian Plain: https://www.iuss.org/world-soil-of-the-year/

Stimulus Fund

The Stimulus Fund call is out now and will end September 15.
For more information: https://www.iuss.org/stimulus-fund/
Submit your proposal: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

Division and Commission Officers Election – 2026 and Chair of the Standing Committees Election 2026

The process for the election, of the new Divisions and Commissions Officers and Chair of the Standing Committees, has officially started, the IUSS Members have been notified by the Secretary and provided with the Guidelines for the procedure, the list of the available positions and the official nomination form. The elections will be completed at the very beginning of the new year, and the names and positions will be published on the IUSS Alert.
The nominations for the Standing Committees members must be forwarded to the Secretary (iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it) within October 31, 2025.
They will be then evaluated by the Executive Committee within November 30, 2025 and then voted by the National Societies.

Election Calendar and Deadlines
Nomination of the candidates by the National Societies: outcomes to be sent to the Divisional Committee within September 30, 2025
Divisional Committees scrutiny of the candidates: October 31, 2025
Standing Committees candidacies: October 31, 2025
Executive Committee evaluation of the candidacies for the Standing Committees: November 30, 2025
Electoral Committee scrutiny of the candidates: November 30, 2025
Opening of the voting system for your society members: December 20, 2025
Closing of the voting system for your society members: March 20, 2026
Notification to the Electoral Committee and Secretariat: within April 30, 2026
Winners’ announcement: within May 31, 2026

Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development (DSSSD)

The Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development officially started in January 2025, our efforts are now supported by many important partners, such as the Global Soil Partnership at FAO, the International Science Council, the European Society for Soil Conservation, the 4×100 Initiative, and the Coalition for Soil Health. In this sight, the IUSS is in the process of joining efforts with UNESCO and bring forward its efforts towards soils and sustainable development together and within UNESCO fold.
https://www.un-sciences-decade.org/en

Soil Mission Manifesto

International Science Council Members application

The IUSS, a member of the ISC, has endorsed the ISC request for the application of 21 potential new members, and look forward to new collaborations and shared knowledge.

Soil Science Society of China (SSSC) and IUSS

The 23rd World Congress of Soil Science – Soil and the Shared Future for Humanity

Date: 7th -12th June, 2026
Location: Nanjing, China

Nanjing Welcomes Global Soil Scientists for the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science

WCSS2026 Sessions
1. YECS Session: Soils across generations

A survey has been developed to connect early with those interested, and below you will find a poster and flyer.

Connect early form: https://forms.gle/mGEn8nkZnPwoHmbx8
Congress website: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/
Session description: https://tinyurl.com/2uun4d9b

Deadline for submissions is November 7.

Congress website: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/
Session description: https://tinyurl.com/ds7mmr8w
Deadline for submissions is November 7.

News from national and regional soil science societies 2025

Czech Society of Soil Science (CSSS)
“Pedologické dny 2025” conference (on the topic of Anthropogenically influenced soils)
Date: September 17th -19th, 2025
Location: Most, Czech Republic
Conference of the Czech Society of Soil Science and Societas Pedologica Slovaca organized, with the support of the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, and Research Institute for Soil and Water Conservation.
The topic of the conference is anthropogenic impacts on the soil environment, which can cause both positive and negative changes in soil properties and can affect soil quality and health or its ability to provide ecosystem services. Due to the location of the conference in an area that has long been significantly impacted by open-pit mining of brown coal and its combustion, the first two thematic areas are more specifically focused on the issues of the impacts of mining on the landscape and soil, as well as on the specifics of newly forming soils in reclaimed landfill areas. However, contributions from any part of the broad spectrum of impacts of human activity on agricultural and forest soils are welcome.
Read more: https://pedologie.czu.cz/akce/dny2025_eng.html

British Society of Soil Science (BSSS)

Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future – Annual Conference and Early Careers Conference BSSS

Date:
Biennial Early Careers Conference: December 1st –2nd, 2025
Annual Conference: December 3rd -5th, 2025
Location: Manchester, England

Call for Abstracts – British Society of Soil Science Annual Conference
The British Society of Soil Science is currently accepting oral and poster abstracts for both their Annual Conference and Early Careers Conference in December. The abstract review panel is accepting abstracts in one of five topics linked to the conference theme, Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future:
1. Soils for People [Covering all aspects of Soil Health, Soil Functions, Indicators, Metrics, Ecosystem Service Delivery, Soil Biodiversity, and Sustainable Soils in Different Land Uses].
2. Soils for Climate [Covering aspects such as Net Zero, Carbon Sequestration, Peatlands, Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fluxes].
3. Soils for Water [Covering aspects such as Nutrient and Water management, Soil Erosion, and Nutrient and Water Use Efficiency].
4. Advances for Soils [Covering aspects such as Sensors and Instrumentation, New techniques, AI and data, Modelling, and Decision support tools].
5. Soils for Life [Soil, social sciences and culture, Interdisciplinary work, Stakeholder engagement, Participatory research and citizen science, and Art and culture].

European Confederation of Soil Science Societies
VII INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE ECSSS
VII EUROSOIL 2025 & X Congreso Ibérico de la Ciencia del Suelo

Date: September 8th – 12th, 2025
Location: Seville, Spain

EUROSOIL is the official meeting of the European Confederation of Soil Science Societies (ECSSS). It is held every four years and is one of Europe’s most important Soil Sciences events. It provides an excellent opportunity for knowledge transfer among the Soil Sciences community. Over 2000 participants are expected to attend the event and present their findings through oral and poster presentations encompassing all scientific aspects of Soil Science. The event will also feature workshops, and an exhibition of products and services aimed at raising awareness in society, facilitating the exchange of ideas and information, and creating business opportunities offering a platform for researchers, scholars and professionals to exchange knowledge, insights, and innovations. Additionally, during this edition of EUROSOIL, the Iberian Congress of Soil Sciences (CICS) will also be held along with the 1st European Soil Judging Contest in Alicante, one week before the event in Seville.

Registration:
https://www.eurosoil2025.eu/eurosoil2025/call-abstracts/guidelines

Abstracts Submission:
https://www.eurosoil2025.eu/eurosoil2025/registration/registration-fees

e-mail: eurosoil@viajeseci.es

German Soil Science

Rendzina – Soil of the Year 2025 in Germany

Read more: https://www.dbges.de/en/soil-of-the-year and visit the Soil of the Year page and the UBA Soil of the Year page

German Soil Science
Prof. Dr. Wulf Amelung receives Philippe Duchaufour Medal 2025
At this year’s General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), Prof. Dr. Wulf Amelung, a long-standing member of the German Soil Science Society (DBG) and former DBG Vice President, has been awarded the prestigious Philippe Duchaufour Medal, the highest award of EGU in Soil System Science, in recognition of his outstanding scientific contributions to the field.
Wulf Amelung is head of the group General Soil Science and Soil Ecology at the University of Bonn and of the unit Agrosphere of the Institute of Bio- and Geosciences at the Forschungszentrum Jülich. His research focuses on nutrient cycles, soil functions, and innovative analytical approaches in soil ecology.

German Soil Science

DBG 2025 – Annual Meeting of the German Association of Soil Science in Tubingen

Date: September 13th – 18th, 2025
Location: University of Tübingen, Germany

Under the central theme #HealthySoilsClimateProtection, the event offers a platform for interdisciplinary exchange on current topics in soil science. Held every two years, this conference is one of the most important soil science events in the German-speaking world, regularly attracting 600-800 participants. It includes keynote lectures, thematic sessions, commission meetings, and one- to two-day field excursions, providing space for discussion of new findings, methods, and challenges.
The conference program covers the full spectrum of soil science – including soil physics and hydrology, soil chemistry, biology and ecology, soil fertility and plant nutrition, soil genesis, taxonomy and information, soil protection and technology, soil mineralogy and soils in education and society. In more than 50 sessions, the DBG commissions and working groups will address urgent questions such as “How is climate change affecting our soils?”, “What role does soil biodiversity play in ecosystem services?” and “What innovative methods are available for recording, modeling, and assessing soil processes?”
The program will be complemented by a wide range of field excursions across the South-German Cuesta Landscape, from the Black Forest to the Swabian Alb and beyond. In addition, laboratory work and field measurement techniques will be demonstrated.
The DBG Conference is a well-established platform for exchange among researchers, practitioners, and early-career scientists. With its long research tradition and diverse academic environment, the University of Tübingen offers the perfect setting for the 2025 conference. Everyone interested is warmly invited to attend.

Soil Science Australia
Symposium for the Use of Organic Soil Amendments (SUOSA)
Date: September 16th – 18th, 2025
Location: Coolangatta QLD

Call for abstracts open now Photo M. Hampton The Symposium for the Use of Organic Soil Amendments (SUOSA) will take place on the Southern Gold Coast from 16 to 18 September 2025, bringing together experts from agriculture, environmental sciences, economics, and policy to discuss the benefits, challenges, and future directions for the use of organic soil amendments in agricultural and horticultural production systems. This multi-disciplinary event will explore the agronomic, environmental, societal, regulatory and policy dimensions of using both solid and liquid organic amendments, which include raw or processed animal manures, agricultural residues, food and fibre processing residues, and urban organic residues, and where processing can include composting, pyrolysing, drying, digesting, insect farming, pelletising, granulating, value adding, etc. Discussions will address nutrient management, soil health, carbon sequestration, circular economy, regulatory frameworks, and farmer benefits and adoption. With contributions from leading researchers, government policymakers, industry experts, and producers, SUOSA 2025 aims to foster collaboration and inform real-world strategies for sustainable soil management and farming systems.
Read more: https://www.crown-compost.com.au/

Serbian Society of Soil Science

The Soil Re-Union: Science for Healthy Soils
4th International and 16th National Congress of the Serbian Society of Soil Science

Date: October 20th – 23rd, 2025
Location: Vrdnik, Fruške Terme, Serbia

The Congress will bring together scientists, institutions, and stakeholders from the Western Balkans, Europe, Eurasia, and beyond, uniting disciplines, geographical regions, and generations around the mission of soil regeneration and sustainable land management. The Congress will provide a great opportunity for discussions and presentations on the latest advancements in soil science.
The Congress will feature:
– Inspiring keynotes, panel discussions, and project-to-project networking,
– A special platform for showcasing ongoing projects,
– A vibrant EXPO area for institutions and initiatives aligned with soil science,
And a rich cultural and social program reflecting the spirit of Fruška Gora.

Call for Abstracts
The Book of Abstracts of peer-reviewed contributions will be published, assigned a library number, and indexed.
Participants who are interested in publishing a full paper will have the opportunity to submit their manuscripts for publication in the peer-reviewed journal Soil and Plant of the Serbian Soil Science Society after the Congress.
Additionally, an e-edition of the Compendium of presentations and e-posters from the Congress will be available for participants who wish to include their work in PDF format.
The Journal “Zemljište i Biljka – Soil and Plant – Почва и Растение” is the official three lingual (Serbian-English-Russian) journal of the Soil Science Society of Serbia (SDPZ) published since 1952. Since 2014, both printed and electronic versions of the journal have been published twice a year. ISSN 0514-6658; eISSN 2560-4279

Important dates: Notification of abstract acceptance: within one month after submission.
The mid registration payment deadline: by August 15th, 2025
Abstract submission deadline: September 1st, 2025
Final Congress program: by mid-September 2025
Read more: https://sdpz.rs/congress/
Venue: www.frusketerme.com

Austrian Soil Science Society

International Symposium 2025
Molecular modelling in soil science – achievements and perspectives
Centre Européen de Calcul Atomique et Moléculaire (CECAM-AT)

Date: September 24th-26th, 2025
Location: BOKU University, Vienna, Austria

It is undeniable the major role of soils in ecosystem functions at very different spatial and temporal scales (local and global) from microscopic to macroscopic phenomena. In view of the great demand for information regarding best practices for soil use and management, as well as remediation, new methods traditionally used in other areas have come into play to provide a better understanding of important soil processes and functions. With the arrival of powerful and more efficient computers, molecular modeling has become an important tool, offering insights into scales unattainable experimentally, being able to simulate complex molecular systems. The application of such methods in soil science has proven success to understand the interactions within soil at microscopic level, key to determine the fate of pollutants.
This symposium represents an opportunity to bring together scientists of high prestige in different areas of molecular modeling applied to soil science to discuss the state-of-the-art, promote meaningful discussions and contrast in-depth points of view to determine future perspectives and challenges regarding molecular modeling applied to soil science. Furthermore, the symposium presents an opportunity to foster cooperation and dissemination of knowledge on methods for the simulation of representative soil models, according to today’s needs as well as the prediction of physicochemical properties.

SUITMA13 International Conference

Date: October 5th – 9th, 2025
Location: Pisa, Italy

The Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET) of the National Research Council (CNR), on behalf of the International Union of Soil Science (IUSS), is pleased to invite colleagues from all around the world to participate in the SUITMA (Soils of Urban, Industrial, Traffic, Mining and Military Areas) 13th international conference, which will be held in Pisa, Italy, from the 5 -9 October 2025, at the CNR (Italian National Research Council) in Pisa.
The conference will focus on “SUITMA from a One Health Perspective”. Soil is a key component of the water and nutrient cycle, and a major contributor to global carbon sequestration. Soil also provides habitats for nearly all land plants, as well as a large proportion of terrestrial fauna. Despite its global importance, it is estimated that one third of global soil is degraded. In anthropized areas, soils undergo many forms of disturbance: manipulation, compaction, and pollution which impact their quality. However, even degraded soils have the potential to alleviate environmental problems and play a vital role in supporting vegetation. Degraded soils of urban areas and other anthropogenic lands merit scientific and professional attention in order to enhance their ecosystem services and to support nature- based solutions, to tackle the urgent challenges of climate change, and for the health of all organisms and ecosystems.

British Society of Soil Science
Early Careers’ Conference 2025
Date: 1–2 December, 2025
Location: King’s House Conference Centre, Manchester
Theme: Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future
This dedicated event is free to attend for BSSS Early Career members and brings together emerging voices from academia, industry, and policy in a dynamic and inclusive space. Over the course of two packed days, delegates will explore the theme “Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future” through a rich programme of oral and poster presentations, interactive workshops, and networking activities, all designed to highlight the latest research, innovations, and career development pathways in soil science.
Oral abstract deadline: Sunday 31 August 2025
Poster abstract deadline: Friday 24 October 2025
Full details on abstract themes and submission guidelines can be found on the BSSS website.
Read more: https://members.soils.org.uk/widget/event-6210932?sk=cnxQtp/MQEse2UJPdSbMw2I/eJrP3lfywhtQ/+H5e4iKdfGDFGZCsHorG1ytHtqF

Annual Conference “Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future”
Date: 3–5 December, 2025
Location: King’s House Conference Centre, Manchester
Dynamic, multi-disciplinary events will bring together researchers, practitioners, and policy makers across the built environment, agriculture, and natural sciences to explore the vital role of soils in supporting a sustainable future.
The overarching theme, Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future, will guide three days of presentations, discussions, and networking opportunities. With global challenges such as climate change, food security, and biodiversity loss becoming increasingly urgent, the conference offers a timely platform to showcase cutting-edge research and debate key strategies for strengthening soil resilience.
Researchers are encouraged to submit oral abstracts by Sunday 31 August, while poster submissions will remain open until Friday 24 October. Full details on submission guidelines and thematic focus are available on the BSSS website.
Read more: https://members.soils.org.uk/event-6210965

News from national and regional soil science societies
2026

Field International Workshop on Paleopedology “Deciphering the ancient anthropic landscape transformation in the southern Maya lowlands in Mexico”

Date: February 19th – 25th, 2026
Location: Palenque, Mexico

Contributors are invited to submit their papers electronically, to solleiro@geologia.unam.mx. The abstracts must be received by September 15, 2025, at the latest.
The workshop is limited to 30 participants. If you are willing to participate, we ask that you register in advance.
The cost of the workshop is 1200 USD. This price includes:
Conference and field excursions. Double room accommodation at the hotels in the different places of the excursion. Refreshments during the conference. All breakfasts and lunches during the field excursion. Transportation to the sites. In Budsilhá, dinners are also included (February 22-23). In other places, dinner is not included in the price.

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops
2025

The 10th International Acid Sulfate Soils Conference
Date: Conference – September 15th-17th, 2025
Excursion – September 18th-20th, 2025
Location: Luleå, Sweden

We are delighted to invite you to the 10th edition of the International Acid Sulfate Soils Conference (IASSC), celebrating over three decades of groundbreaking research and collaboration in the field of acid sulfate soils. As the leading interdisciplinary platform for acid sulfate soil research, management, and policy development, the IASSC brings together researchers, industry professionals, environmental managers, and policymakers from around the world to share knowledge and advance the field. Over the course of three days, the conference will feature a rich program of oral and poster presentations, highlighting the latest research and cutting-edge advancements in the field. In addition to the main conference sessions, we are excited to offer pre- and post-conference excursions that will explore the unique landscapes and environmental challenges of northern Sweden and Finland. These excursions will provide valuable insights into the practical applications of acid sulfate soil management in the region, offering a unique opportunity to engage with local experts and experience the environment firsthand.

For any inquiries, feel free to reach out to our conference team.
Conference-related questions: sarah.conrad@ltu.se
Excursion-related questions: anton.boman@gtk.fi
Read more: https://event.trippus.net/Home/Index/AEAKgINaZaTdCFzBKUcmTlLR9EZJnOe_7IMVKbLfLB10EZD5nrx0n7RnIkUT7ob0MOVWwsr29RiG/AEAKgIPmAO63b8dcXtm99Oas7FVacW0oEMV8IpPQ2FskOAqru2UClkW25UR7fvWVVZjQPoPNU3_j/eng

The 6th WASWAC World Conference. Resilient Landscapes: Innovations and Traditions in Climate-Adaptive Soil and Water Conservation (RISE-SWC)

Date: September 15th-17th, 2025
Location: Rabat, Morocco

World Association for Soil and Water Conservation (WASWAC), in collaboration with the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), organizes the 6th WASWAC World Conference. The conference will provide an exchange platform for soil and water resources conservation on a global scale, fostering collaboration among scientists, experts, policymakers, and practitioners from around the world. The conference aims to propose actionable solutions that can strengthen global efforts to combat climate change impacts on soil and water systems, support sustainable development, and promote technological and scientific advancements in these critical fields.

Deadlines:
Last date of abstract submission: May 30th, 2025
Intimation of acceptance of abstracts: June 30th, 2025

Biosystems Engineering for the Green Transition

AIIA (Italian Association of Agricultural Engineering) 2025 International Conference

Date: September 21st-24th, 2025
Location: University of Reggio Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Italy

The Conference will bring together experts and researchers to discuss the crucial role of biosystems engineering in promoting a sustainable ecological transition. The conference will address a wide range of key topics, including agricultural hydraulics and watershed protection, cutting-edge agricultural and forestry machinery and mechanization, agricultural and forestry land-use planning, and rural buildings. Innovative topics such as advanced monitoring systems, precision agriculture, agricultural waste valorization, and the application of big data and machine learning will be explored.
Key dates
– Publication of Book of Abstract: 30 June 2025
– Preliminary program: 15 July 2025
– Full paper submission: 15 September 2025

World Food Forum (WFF)

Date: October 10th –17th 2025
Location: FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy, and online

The World Food Forum (WFF) flagship event is a global platform that drives action to transform agrifood systems through the power of youth, science and innovation, and investment. Bringing together all stakeholders, it serves as a dynamic space for turning ideas into actions, scaling solutions and forging synergistic partnerships. By uniting diverse voices and fostering cross-sectoral and intergenerational collaboration, it accelerates progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, driving action at global, regional and local levels.
This year’s event marks a milestone: FAO’s 80th anniversary, commemorated through a week of global dialogue, knowledge exchange and solution-driven collaboration, all guided by the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future” and FAO’s four betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.
Organized around three pillars, Global Youth Action, Science and Innovation Forum, and the Hand-in-Hand Initiative Investment Forum, the 2025 WFF flagship event serves as a vibrant platform for bold ideas and inclusive partnerships. The programme spans high-level dialogues, consultations, innovation labs, interactive pitching events, hackathons, matchmaking meetings, exhibitions and cultural showcases that spotlight the many ways people everywhere are shaping a better food future.
The week will also feature additional high-profile events, including the annual World Food Day and the official inauguration of the Food and Agriculture Museum and Network (MuNe), a vibrant, interactive space designed to bridge global food technologies and cultures by showcasing the traditions and innovations that shape agrifood systems. This will be complemented by the FAO Global Exhibition: From Seeds to Foods, as well as special sessions as part of the annual edition of the Rome Water Dialogue, a nomadic Indigenous Peoples’ territory at FAO’s 80th anniversary, and the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Ministerial Dialogue. Whether you are looking to learn about this year’s theme, share your knowledge and ideas with others, celebrate innovation or build meaningful connections this global forum is your platform to engage, collaborate and take meaningful action.
Read more: https://www.world-food-forum.org/

Second International Forum on Agroecosystem Living Labs
Date: October 15th – 17th, 2025
Location: Bordeaux, France

It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the Second International Forum on Agroecosystem Living Labs, building on the success of the first Forum held in Montreal in 2023. That event brought together the international community of agroecosystem living labs to reflect on research, implementation, and practical lessons learned from applying this approach around the world.
The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) are once again collaborating to organize this event, which will take place in Bordeaux, France, from October 15 to 17, 2025.
The Forum will feature panel discussions and parallel scientific sessions aimed at establishing leading practices, sharing case study insights, and addressing the challenges faced by the international agroecosystem living lab community. It will also include networking events and field visits, designed to foster dialogue and provide an inspiring space for collaboration and action.
Read more: https://www.inrae.fr/en/events/2025-international-forum-agroecosystem-living-labs

10th edition FESP (Fire Effects on Soil Properties)
Date: November 25th -28th, 2025
Location: UFRO, Pucón Campus, Chile

Organized by the Universidad de la Frontera and La Universidad de los Lagos.
The conference website will be available very soon with all the information.

Read more: For now more information you can write to: fesp10@ufrontera.cl

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops
2026

The 4th Global Soil Biodiversity Conference (GSB 2026)

Date: April 12th -15th, 2026
Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

The Global Soil Biodiversity Conferences organized under the auspices of the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI) are now considered to be the premier global conferences dealing with soil biodiversity. The 4th edition of the GSB 2026 will bring together researchers, policy analysts, students, and practicing farmers to discuss soil biodiversity with the goals of informing the public, promoting this information into environmental policy, and overall creating a platform for the current and future sustainability of soils.

IFSA2026: Farming and Agri-Food Systems dynamics: facing crises and trade-offs in transition pathways

Date: June 29th – July 03rd, 2026
Location: Montpellier, France

As pressures from climate change, biodiversity loss, market uncertainty, and rising global food demand escalate, there is a growing need to consider how agricultural systems can be enhanced and reconfigured to withstand external shocks while advancing ecological, social, and economic sustainability. Responding to current crises calls for structured approaches that guide farmers, stakeholders, advisors, researchers, consumers and policymakers toward systemic solutions that address these overlapping challenges.
Various initiatives incite stakeholders and policy makers to innovate and develop multi-scale and multi-domain adaptation strategies for the agri-food systems. This implies to improve farmland environmental performance using sustainable practices, to reduce their CO2 emissions, and to protect the means of subsistence of farm households as well as natural resources, in particular water and soil, from the effects of climate change.
This symposium aims to revisit progress and debates in co-designing and promoting sustainable Agri-Food systems to face crises and support multiscale decisions. There are many trade-offs to document but also many synergies to analyse when looking at transition pathways and impacts.
Key dates
30/09/2025 Deadline for short paper (approx. 6 pages) & special sessions submission
30/11/2025 Authors receive feedback for short paper revision or rejection
31/12/2025 Authors will have to re-submit the short paper revised version
15/02/2026 Authors are informed on short paper acceptance
15/03/2026 Early bird registration deadline
30/04/2026 Registration deadline (also for field visits registration)
Read More: https://ifsa2026.sciencesconf.org/resource/page/id/3

12th SCAR Open Science Conference & Meetings

Date: August 10th –14th , 2026
Location: Oslo, Norway
Deadline for submitting: 31st August 2025
e-mail: osc@scar.org
Read more: OSC 2026 – Expression of interest

International Symposium on Earthworm Ecology (ISEE13) 13th edition in Wageningen, the Netherlands

Date: August 23rd-28th, 2026
Location: Wageningen, the Netherlands

Important deadline:
Opening abstract submission: September 15, 2025
Opening registration: December 1, 2025
Deadline abstract submission: January 4, 2026
Decision on abstract acceptance: March 4, 2026
Deadline for early bird registration: April 15, 2026
Deadline for registration: June 17, 2026

Opportunities

Grounding Carbon Farming course

Date: 13th – 19th September 2025
Location : Dampierre-en-Bray, Normandy, France

Organised by: WIMEK graduate school in collaboration with Soil biology and Environmental policy groups (Wageningen University).

Duration: 5 full days during a week on site on a farm in Normandy, France. Arrival night of the 13th, departure in the morning on the 19th.
As the climate changes, the environment degrades, biodiversity declines and the world population increases, agricultural ecosystems are increasingly looked at, both as culprit and saviours. Agroecosystems and their soils are indeed key to support a multitude of ecosystem services, but their degradation worldwide jeopardises this ability.
Carbon farming is proposed as a solution. One approach – soil carbon sequestration – to solve the climate crisis and revert environmental degradation caused by agriculture while feeding a growing world population.

Soil Training
The British Society of Soil Science (BSSS), recognising the importance of quality and availability of education and training for soil science as a profession, organises the following training courses:
– Introduction to Soil Classification – 16-17 September
– Soils and Catchment Management (Lancaster) – 13-14 October
– Practical Introduction to Soils in Great Britain (Bedfordshire) – 29-30 October
– Introduction to Agricultural Land Classification (TBC) – 12-13 November

New Books

European Agricultural Policy – History and Analysis

Franco Sotte, Gianluca Brunori Editors, Springer 2025
This book presents the European Common Agricultural Policy by tracing its crucial stages from its conception to the present days. It reconstructs the negotiating processes that have taken place at the political and institutional level over the years. At the same time, the book brings together the results of analyses made by agricultural policy scholars to propose solutions, and to evaluate the policies adopted and the results they produced. The book takes on a twofold objective: to understand how many of today’s problems have roots whose branches extend back in time, and to draw, from the lessons of history, useful insights for endowing the European Union with an ambitious agricultural and rural development policy, suited to the challenges ahead.
ISBN 978-3-031-83312-0
ISBN 978-3-031-83313-7 (eBook)
Read more: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-83313-7

The Third Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

FAO, 2025, pages 374, Rome

Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) are the essence of sustainable agrifood systems. They encompass the genetic diversity in both improved and farmers’ varieties, as well as in crop wild relatives, wild food plants and breeding materials. The third report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture presents a comprehensive assessment of the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA, as well as the human and institutional capacities to support these efforts. Based on information from 128 countries and four regional and 13 international research centres and the contribution from over 1 600 experts, it presents an overview of progress since 2012, as well as current needs and challenges in the future management of PGRFA. The report provides a sound basis for recalibrating relevant polices and strategies, including the rolling Global Plan of Action for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

ISBN: 978-92-5-139675-9

Communications

Please provide the new name, surname, position and e-mail address to: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

If you are interested in promoting your product or book, event, job call in our Alert, please send an email to iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it.

L'articolo IUSS Alert 238 (August 2025) proviene da iuss.org.

IUSS Alert 237 (July 2025)

Mitia Mambella — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 05:36:29 +0000

State of the art

Highlighted IUSS publications

By Division 1

Natural and human-related variability and transformation of Chernozems on a global and regional scale

In recognition of the inaugural IUSS World Soil of the Year, the “Chernozem of the Balti Steppe of Moldova”, proclaimed during the 2024 IUSS Centennial Celebration and Congress, a special issue of Geoderma Regional was co-edited by Cezary Kabala (Chair, World Reference Base Working Group), Richard J. Heck (Chair, IUSS Division 1) and Stephan Mantel (Chair, IUSS World Soil of the Year Working Group). This special issue, containing nine articles, is entitled “Natural and human-related variability and transformation of Chernozems on a global and regional scale”.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/special-issue/10DN2FD3R02

MEDAL

The Dan Yaalon Young Scientist medal

VLADIMIR FRIDLAND SOIL GEOGRAPHY MEDAL

Distinguished Service Medal 2025

The Honourable Robert Black, Senator of the Parliament of Canada, was awarded the 2025 IUSS Distinguished Service Medal, during the 2025 Soils For Our Future Joint Conference, held during July 20th to 25th, in Winnipeg, Canada. Senator Black was nominated by the Canadian Society of Soil Science (csss.ca) in recognition of his efforts to bring public and government attention to the importance of soil health and its study, and of his leadership in the creation and publishing of the Critical Ground report (sencanada.ca/content/sen/committee/441/AGFO/reports/2024-06-06_CriticalGround_e.pdf). Richard J. Heck, Chair of IUSS Division 1 and President of the Canadian Society of Soil Science, presented the award on behalf of IUSS President Victor O. Chude. The award citation read “for dedication and outstanding contribution to the promotion and development of legislation and public policies for the recognition, protection, conservation and enhancement of soils across Canada”. The ‘2025 Soils For Our Future Joint Conference’ Joint Conference of the IUSS Division 1 Soils in Space & Time, the Global Soil Security community, and the Canadian Society of Soil Science, was hosted by the Manitoba Society of Soil Science and the Soil Conservation Council of Canada.

News from the IUSS

2025 IUSS World Soil of the Year

The “Gleysol – Hydromorphic soil supporting forest growth in the steppe region from the Carpathian Basin”, has been officially named the World Soil of the Year 2025. This soil was proposed by the Hungarian Soil Science Society. It highlights the significance of these unique soils that have a large global coverage, occurring in nearly all climates.
The represented World Soil of the Year soil profile is located on Püspökladány Experimental Station and Arboretum University of Sopron Forest Research Institute (SOE-ERTI). The soil is part of a unique cultural landscape dominated by grasslands and salt effected pastures in the Hungarian Plain. It is located within the Hortobágy National Park, which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (Man and the Biosphere Program – MAB) and recognized UNESCO World heritage site.
Gleysols are soils that are affected in various areas in the world by land use and management and the indirect and direct effects of climate change. Salinization of groundwater, decreasing groundwater levels and alternation of sediment influx are common.
The election of the ‘Gleysol – hydromorphic soil from the steppe region in the Carpathian Basin’ as the World Soil of the Year 2025, comes amid growing global concerns about soil health and environmental change. Protecting and sustainably managing these hydromorphic soils is essential for mitigating floods, preserving water quality, and ensuring sustainable forest ecosystems in steppe terrains.
Various activities are planned throughout the year to celebrate this achievement, including educational programs, community workshops, and conservation initiatives aimed at promoting awareness of Gleysols’ ecological significance.

More information on the World Soil of the Year – the Gleysol from the Carpatian Plain can found here:
https://www.iuss.org/world-soil-of-the-year/

World Soil of the Year elections
In recognition of the success of various national programs, the IUSS WSY program has been implemented to enhance soil literacy across numerous countries and on a global scale. It is expected that this will aid in compiling a registry of soil heritage, to recognize the inherent natural and cultural values of soils, thereby helping to open doors for soil science to integrate with environmental protection activities and projects.

Stimulus Fund

The Stimulus Fund call is out now and will end September 15.
For more information: https://www.iuss.org/stimulus-fund/
Submit your proposal: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

Division and Commission Officers Election – 2026

The process for the election of the new Divisions and Commissions Officers has officially started, the IUSS Members have been notified by the Secretary and provided with the Guidelines for the procedure, the list of the available positions and the official nomination form. The election will be completed at the very beginning of the new year, and the names and positions of the new officers will be published on the IUSS Alert.

Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development (DSSSD)

Soil Mission Manifesto

The Mission Soil Manifesto (https://mission-soil-platform.ec.europa.eu/community/mission-soil-manifesto) calls for action to respond to the urgent need to protect and improve soil health in Europe and beyond and bring together regional and local policymakers, stakeholders and citizens into a vibrant community that cares for soil health. it was launched by the EU Mission Soil on April 18, 2023, and it has been signed by the IUSS President, Prof. Victor O. Chude.

International Science Council Members application

The IUSS, a member of the ISC, has endorsed the ISC request for the application of 21 potential new members, and look forward to new collaborations and shared knowledge.

Soil Science Society of China (SSSC) and IUSS
The 23rd World Congress of Soil Science – Soil and the Shared Future for Humanity

Date: 7th -12th June, 2026
Location: Nanjing, China

Nanjing Welcomes Global Soil Scientists for the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science

News from national and regional soil science societies 2025

Czech Society of Soil Science (CSSS)
“Pedologické dny 2025” conference (on the topic of Anthropogenically influenced soils)
Date: September 17th -19th, 2025
Location: Most, Czech Republic
Conference of the Czech Society of Soil Science and Societas pedologica slovaca organized, with the support of the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, and Research Institute for Soil and Water Conservation.
The topic of the conference is anthropogenic impacts on the soil environment, which can cause both positive and negative changes in soil properties and can affect soil quality and health or its ability to provide ecosystem services. Due to the location of the conference in an area that has long been significantly impacted by open-pit mining of brown coal and its combustion, the first two thematic areas are more specifically focused on the issues of the impacts of mining on the landscape and soil, as well as on the specifics of newly forming soils in reclaimed landfill areas. However, contributions from any part of the broad spectrum of impacts of human activity on agricultural and forest soils are welcome.
Read more: https://pedologie.czu.cz/akce/dny2025_eng.html

British Society of Soil Science (BSSS)

Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future – Annual Conference and Early Careers Conference BSSS

Date:
Biennial Early Careers Conference: December 1st –2nd, 2025
Annual Conference: December 3rd -5th, 2025
Location: Manchester, England

Call for Abstracts – British Society of Soil Science Annual Conference
The British Society of Soil Science is currently accepting oral and poster abstracts for both their Annual Conference and Early Careers Conference in December. The abstract review panel is accepting abstracts in one of five topics linked to the conference theme, Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future:
1. Soils for People [Covering all aspects of Soil Health, Soil Functions, Indicators, Metrics, Ecosystem Service Delivery, Soil Biodiversity, and Sustainable Soils in Different Land Uses].
2. Soils for Climate [Covering aspects such as Net Zero, Carbon Sequestration, Peatlands, Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fluxes].
3. Soils for Water [Covering aspects such as Nutrient and Water management, Soil Erosion, and Nutrient and Water Use Efficiency].
4. Advances for Soils [Covering aspects such as Sensors and Instrumentation, New techniques, AI and data, Modelling, and Decision support tools].
5. Soils for Life [Soil, social sciences and culture, Interdisciplinary work, Stakeholder engagement, Participatory research and citizen science, and Art and culture].

Canadian Society of Soil Science

Soils For Our Future – A Gathering of Global to Local Perspectives

Date: July 20th-25th, 2025
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

The SOILS FOR OUR FUTURE 2025 brings together three conference events: 5th Global Soil Security Conference, Canadian Society of Soil Science Annual Meeting, and International Union of Soil Sciences Division 1 – Soils in Space and Time Meeting. Hosted by the Soil Conservation Council of Canada and the Manitoba Soil Science Society. With over 700 researchers, industry members, leaders of farmer organizations, graduate students and other attendees, SOILS FOR OUR FUTURE 2025 provides a global perspective to today’s research to sustain our future. Spanning five days, the conference provides attendees of the events to meet in plenary/technical sessions with their individual organizations and for all to come together in keynote sessions, tradeshows, posters, workshops and field tours.
The Organizing Committee of the Soils For Our Future (SFOF) 2025 International Joint Meeting of the Canadian Society of Soil Science (CSSS), the International Union of Soil Sciences – Division 1 – Soils in Space and Time (IUSS Div 1), and the 5th Global Soil Security (GSS) Conference, hosted by the Soil Conservation Council of Canada (SCCC) and the Manitoba Soil Science Society (MSSS), announces that Early Registration is now open.
Further information can be obtained from the website (soilsforourfuture.ca) or by email (soils2025@mbsoils.ca )

SISS – Società Italiana della Scienza del Suolo

International “Antonio Berlese” Summer School (ABSS) Soil Fauna: Applied Ecology and Systematics – First edition

Date: September 1st-5th, 2025
Location: experimental farm Fagna in Scarperia e San Piero (Florence), Italy

Key Info (Attached ABS fourth Circular)
Duration: 5 days
Lessons: 17 hours
Practical activities: 14 hours
Guided Study: 17 hours
Target: Undergraduate, Master and PhD students, Researchers and Professionals
Available places: 24 (12 free tent places)
ECTS: 3

Course Objectives:
– Explore soil biodiversity and ecology of soil fauna
– Study taxonomy and conservation practices
– Gain practical experience in sampling, extraction, identification and elaboration
– Collaborate with international experts

More information:
abs_school@scienzadelsuolo.org
lorenzo.davino@crea.gov.it
carlo.jacomini@isprambiente.it

European Confederation of Soil Science Societies

VII INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE ECSSS
VII EUROSOIL 2025 & X Congreso Ibérico de la Ciencia del Suelo

Date: September 8th – 12th, 2025
Location: Seville, Spain

Registration:
https://www.eurosoil2025.eu/eurosoil2025/call-abstracts/guidelines

Abstracts Submission:
https://www.eurosoil2025.eu/eurosoil2025/registration/registration-fees

e-mail: eurosoil@viajeseci.es

German Soil Science

Rendzina – Soil of the Year 2025 in Germany

Read more: https://www.dbges.de/en/soil-of-the-year and visit the Soil of the Year page and the UBA Soil of the Year page

German Soil Science

DBG 2025 – Annual Meeting of the German Association of Soil Science in Tubingen

Date: September 13th – 18th, 2025
Location: University of Tübingen, Germany

Soil Science Australia
Symposium for the Use of Organic Soil Amendments (SUOSA)
Date: September 16th – 18th, 2025
Location: Coolangatta QLD

Serbian Society of Soil Science

The Soil Re-Union: Science for Healthy Soils
4th International and 16th National Congress of the Serbian Society of Soil Science

Date: October 20th – 23rd, 2025
Location: Vrdnik, Fruške Terme, Serbia

Austrian Soil Science Society

International Symposium 2025
Molecular modelling in soil science – achievements and perspectives
Centre Européen de Calcul Atomique et Moléculaire (CECAM-AT)

Date: September 24th-26th, 2025
Location: BOKU University, Vienna, Austria

Registration deadline: July 18, 2025
Read more: https://www.cecam.org/workshop-details/1393

SUITMA13 International Conference

Date: October 5th – 9th, 2025
Location: Pisa, Italy

British Society of Soil Science
Early Careers’ Conference 2025
Date: 1–2 December, 2025
Location: King’s House Conference Centre, Manchester
Theme: Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future
This dedicated event is free to attend for BSSS Early Career members and brings together emerging voices from academia, industry, and policy in a dynamic and inclusive space. Over the course of two packed days, delegates will explore the theme “Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future” through a rich programme of oral and poster presentations, interactive workshops, and networking activities, all designed to highlight the latest research, innovations, and career development pathways in soil science.
Oral abstract deadline: Sunday 31 August 2025
Poster abstract deadline: Friday 24 October 2025
Full details on abstract themes and submission guidelines can be found on the BSSS website.
Read more: https://members.soils.org.uk/widget/event-6210932?sk=cnxQtp/MQEse2UJPdSbMw2I/eJrP3lfywhtQ/+H5e4iKdfGDFGZCsHorG1ytHtqF

Annual Conference “Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future”
Date: 3–5 December, 2025
Location: King’s House Conference Centre, Manchester
Dynamic, multi-disciplinary events will bring together researchers, practitioners, and policy makers across the built environment, agriculture, and natural sciences to explore the vital role of soils in supporting a sustainable future.
The overarching theme, Resilient Soils for a Sustainable Future, will guide three days of presentations, discussions, and networking opportunities. With global challenges such as climate change, food security, and biodiversity loss becoming increasingly urgent, the conference offers a timely platform to showcase cutting-edge research and debate key strategies for strengthening soil resilience.
Researchers are encouraged to submit oral abstracts by Sunday 31 August, while poster submissions will remain open until Friday 24 October. Full details on submission guidelines and thematic focus are available on the BSSS website.
Read more: https://members.soils.org.uk/event-6210965

News from national and regional soil science societies
2026

Field International Workshop on Paleopedology “Deciphering the ancient anthropic landscape transformation in the southern Maya lowlands in Mexico”

Date: February 19th – 25th, 2026
Location: Palenque, Mexico

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops
2025

The 10th International Acid Sulfate Soils Conference
Date: Conference – September 15th-17th, 2025
Excursion – September 18th-20th, 2025
Location: Luleå, Sweden

The 6th WASWAC World Conference. Resilient Landscapes: Innovations and Traditions in Climate-Adaptive Soil and Water Conservation (RISE-SWC)

Date: September 15th-17th, 2025
Location: Rabat, Morocco

Deadlines:
Last date of abstract submission: May 30th, 2025
Intimation of acceptance of abstracts: June 30th, 2025

Biosystems Engineering for the Green Transition

AIIA (Italian Association of Agricultural Engineering) 2025 International Conference

Date: September 21st-24th, 2025
Location: University of Reggio Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Italy

Second International Forum on Agroecosystem Living Labs

Date: October 15th – 17th, 2025
Location: Bordeaux, France

10th edition FESP (Fire Effects on Soil Properties)
Date: November 25th -28th, 2025
Location: UFRO, Pucón Campus, Chile

Organized by the Universidad de la Frontera and La Universidad de los Lagos.
The conference website will be available very soon with all the information.

Read more: For now more information you can write to: fesp10@ufrontera.cl

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops
2026

The 4th Global Soil Biodiversity Conference (GSB 2026)

Date: April 12th -15th, 2026
Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

The Global Soil Biodiversity Conferences organized under the auspices of the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI) are now considered to be the premier global conferences dealing with soil biodiversity. The 4th edition of the GSB 2026 will bring together researchers, policy analysts, students, and practicing farmers to discuss soil biodiversity with the goals of informing the public, promoting this information into environmental policy, and overall creating a platform for the current and future sustainability of soils.

12th SCAR Open Science Conference & Meetings

Date: August 10-14, 2026
Location: Oslo, Norway
Deadline for submitting: 31 August 2025
e-mail: osc@scar.org
Read more: OSC 2026 – Expression of interest

International Symposium on Earthworm Ecology (ISEE13) 13th edition in Wageningen, the Netherlands

Date: August 23rd-28th, 2026
Location: Wageningen, the Netherlands

Opportunities

Call European Research Council Advanced Grants

ERC Advanced Grants are designed to support excellent Principal Investigators at the career stage at which they are already established research leaders with a recognised track record of research achievements. Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their research proposal
Read more: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/ERC-2025-ADG?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&frameworkProgramme=43108390&programmePart=43108406&order=DESC&pageNumber=1&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate

Deadline date: 28 August 2025 17:00:00 Brussels time

Soil Biology Lab Skills Course for Assessing Soil Functions
Date: September 1st – 5th, 2025
Location: Wageningen University, the Netherlands

The Soil Biology Group of Wageningen University is organising a laboratory skills course to define which measurements of soil biology are relevant for which soil functions. This course will provide the participants with an overview of a range of methods related to the five soil functions and will provide detailed practical training in a subset of measures. The training will be a combination of lectures, laboratory and field sessions (interactive lectures and practical sessions each day). Assessing a range of measurement types, from simple visual assessments in the field, to training in microscope identification techniques for nematodes and earthworms, and functional measures in the lab such as MicroResp. All methods described in the course will be made available to participants as well as advice on how to analyse the data.

Grounding Carbon Farming course

Date: 13th – 19th September 2025
Location : Dampierre-en-Bray, Normandy, France

Organised by: WIMEK graduate school in collaboration with Soil biology and Environmental policy groups (Wageningen University).

Other News

EU Soil Law, (provisional) Agreement between the European Parliament and the Council

The European Soil Monitoring Law takes a step forward. The Council of the Union, which brings together representatives of the Member States, has reached a provisional agreement with representatives of the EU Parliament. This is a shared text of the directive which, in the objectives of the Commission that proposed it, will have to help achieve the goal of restoring continental soils to health by 2050.
The directive will have the task of establishing a framework for soil monitoring, capable of improving resilience and managing the risks of contaminated sites. It will also define the principles of mitigation of soil consumption, with particular attention to sealing and soil removal.
Poland holds the rotating presidency of the Council and Paulina Hennig-Kloska, Polish Minister for Climate and Environment said: “With the agreement reached, we have established the first ever EU framework for soil assessment and monitoring across Europe. It is time to act, as more than 60% of Europe’s soils are unhealthy and their condition is deteriorating. Healthy and resilient soil is crucial to ensuring healthy and nutritious food and cleaner water for future generations.” The agreement also pleases the EU Commission which says: “This is an important step to address the urgent challenges related to soil health that impact all European countries, the resilience of our food chain and the economy in general. The new law will also help strengthen soil resilience to natural disasters, heatwaves and extreme weather events, as well as other critical environmental challenges, such as erosion, contamination and biodiversity loss.”

Russell Review On Artificial Intelligence
The European Journal of Soil Science recently published a highly anticipated Russell Review on ‘Artificial Intelligence in Soil Science‘ written by Alexandre M.J.-C. Wadoux.
The paper was written on invitation, as part of the EJSS 75th anniversary celebrations and provides a fascinating insight into Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its role in soil science.
Read more: EJSS Russell Review explores how AI will transform soil science – British Society of Soil Science

New Books

Understanding and utilising soil microbiomes for a more sustainable agriculture
By Professor Kari E. Dunfield, University of Guelph, Canada. Ed.: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing. Published: May 2025
In recent years, a new wave of research into understanding soil microbiomes has emerged, with stakeholders across the supply chain recognising the fundamental importance of these communities in optimising both crop and soil health. Despite these advancements, many soil microorganisms and their ecological functions remain only partially understood.
This new book summarises the wealth of recent research in this important area. It reviews advances in techniques for analysing soil microorganisms, the composition and dynamics of soil microbial communities, the ecosystem services they support and how they can be enhanced.
Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing are delighted to announce the 20% off your purchase of the book – as well as any other published soil science titles in their Agricultural Science Series – using code SOIL20 via the BDS website. Discount code expires 31st August 2025.
ISBN: 13: 9781801464741

Conservation Agriculture Research Updates – July 2025

by Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)

The July Conservation Agriculture Newsletter from Professor Peter Hobbs at Cornell University.

Communications

Please provide the new name, surname, position and e-mail address to: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

If you are interested in promoting your product or book, event, job call in our Alert, please send an email to iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it.

L'articolo IUSS Alert 237 (July 2025) proviene da iuss.org.

Alert Archivi - iuss.org

IUSS Alert 246 (april 2026)

State of the art

Highlighted IUSS publications

News from the IUSS

News from national and regional soil science societies 2026

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops 2026

New Books

Opportunities

Communication

IUSS Alert 245 (march 2026)

State of the art

Highlighted IUSS publications

News from the IUSS

News from national and regional soil science societies 2026

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops 2026

New Books

Opportunities

Communication

IUSS Alert 244 (february 2026)

State of the art

Highlighted IUSS publications

News from the IUSS

News from national and regional soil science societies 2026

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops 2026

Opportunities

Communication

IUSS Alert 243 (January 2026)

State of the art

Highlighted IUSS publications

MEDAL

News from the IUSS

In memorial

News from national and regional soil science societies 2026

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops 2026

The 4th Global Soil Biodiversity Conference (GSB 2026)

Opportunities

New Books

Communication

IUSS Alert 242 (December 2025)

State of the art

Highlighted IUSS publications

MEDAL

News from the IUSS

News from national and regional soil science societies 2026

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops 2026

Opportunities

New Books

Communication

IUSS Alert 241 (November 2025)

State of the art

Highlighted IUSS publications

News from the IUSS

News from national and regional soil science societies 2025

News from national and regional soil science societies 2026

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops 2026

Opportunities

New Books

Communications

IUSS Alert 240 (October 2025)

State of the art

Highlighted IUSS publications

MEDAL

News from the IUSS

IUSS and Soil Science Society of China (SSSC)

News from national and regional soil science societies 2025

Italian Society of Soil Science

News from national and regional soil science societies 2026

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops 2025

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops 2026

Opportunities

New Books

Communications

IUSS Alert 239 (September 2025)

State of the art

World Soil Day (WSD) 2025

IUSS Alert 238 (August 2025)

State of the art

Highlighted IUSS publications

MEDAL

News from national and regional soil science societies
2026

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops
2025

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops
2026

News from national and regional soil science societies
2026

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops
2025

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops
2026

News from national and regional soil science societies
2026

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops
2025

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops
2026