The Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN) was established in 2017 to strengthen soil laboratories through standardized methods and protocols. GLOSOLAN works by establishing regional soil laboratory networks and national reference laboratories to promote harmonization. In its first years of operation, GLOSOLAN developed standard operating procedures, conducted a global proficiency test involving 100 laboratories, and began work on best practice manuals, reference materials, and database harmonization to allow comparable soil data across networks. Moving forward, GLOSOLAN aims to further develop these initiatives while also exploring areas like spectroscopy and terminology standardization.

1. Global Soil Laboratory
Network (GLOSOLAN)
Ms. Lucrezia Caon
GLOSOLAN Coordinator
GSP Secretariat

2. June 2017 | 5th GSP Plenary Assembly
Endorsement of the Implementation Plan for Pillar 5
Included the establishment of Regional and a
Global Soil Laboratory Network
November 2017 | Launch of the Global
Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)

3. P
Laboratory(confidential code)
pH
Laboratory(confidential code)
Example provided by SEALNET 2.0 (ring test, South-East Asia)
Why?
Soil laboratories are the first source of data

4. ? ?

5. Technology …

6. Technology IS NOT the only thing
that matters…

7. Technology is not the only thing that
matters…
Staff qualification and regular training

8. Technology is not the only thing that
matters…
Maintenance of laboratory equipment and facilities

9. Technology is not the only thing that
matters…
Quality control/Quality assurance…internal and external
proficiency testing

10. Technology is not the only thing that
matters…
Good Laboratory Practices

11. …without forget about…SAFETY

12. Many (if not all) of these aspects are
already taken care at the international
level but …
- They missed of a global,
comprehensive harmonization
- They are not accessible for free

13. GLOSOLAN’s objectives…
• To strengthen the performance of laboratories
through use of standardized methods and
protocols
• To harmonize soil analysis methods so that soil
information would be comparable and
interpretable across laboratories, countries and
regions
• [ASPIRATION] To provide a certification
for technical competencies in laboratory
analysis.

14. Areas of work
CAPACITY BUILDING & LABORATORY
EMPOWERMENT
(including safety and waste disposal)
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES PROFICIENCY TESTING
CERTIFICATIONACCREDITATION
INTERPRETATION OF LABORATORY
RESULTS
PROVISION OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO
LAND USERS
HARMONIZATION OF DATABASES (TRANSFER FUNCTIONS)

15. The potential of GLOSOLAN is
tremendous
Reporting on
international
commitments (e.g.
SDGs)
Support decision
making at field and
policy levels
Improve the connection
between soil chemistry,
physics and biology
Contribute to the establishment of
the Global Soil Information System
(GLOSIS)
Contribute to the
development of
international standards
and indicators
Contribute to and improve soil
classification and description
Identify research needs
Expand the opportunities for
technical and scientific
cooperation
Contribute to the development of
harmonized methods for land
assessment and monitoring
Assist companies manufacturing
laboratory equipment in improving
their products
Strengthen the capability of
extension services
Increase investments

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

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

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

20. What did GLOSOLAN
achieve so far?
2018

21. What did GLOSOLAN
achieved so far?
November 2018 | 2nd GLOSOLAN meeting
- Review of GLOSOLAN
purpose, objectives, impacts
and indicators for its
performance’s assessment
- Development of the
GLOSOLAN work plan for the
year 2019 (2019-2028 for
Standard Operating
Procedures development)

22. What did GLOSOLAN
achieved so far?
2019 | Establishment of the GLOSOLAN
Technical Working Group

23. What did GLOSOLAN
achieved so far?
2019 | Identification of trainers,
advisors and regional partners
We do not want to duplicate efforts, we are
looking for cooperation with partners that
share our objectives and vision

24. What did GLOSOLAN
achieved so far?
2019 | Revision of the GSP Soil Data Policy
For your kind
attention

25. What did GLOSOLAN
achieved so far?
2019 | Standard Operating Procedures

26. What did GLOSOLAN
achieved so far?
2019 | Standard Operating Procedures
SOPs (on average 3 per year) 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028
sample pre-treatment
inorganic C (CaCO3 equivalent)
OC Walkley-Black
OC dry combustion
moisture content
electrical conductivity (saturated paste + 1
depending on countries’ survey inputs)
pH in water, CaCl2 and KCl
texture and coarse fraction (pipette method
and hydrometer)
bulk density
total nitrogen Kjeldahl
total nitrogen combustion
available P Olsen and Bray I/II
available P Mehlich III and ammonium
lactate
CEC and exchangeable cations by
ammonium acetate
CEC and exchangeable cations by chloride
plus survey in the regions

27. What did GLOSOLAN
achieved so far?
2019 | Standard Operating Procedures

28. Best Practice Manual
Structure and content
Manual 1: Site characterization, sampling and sample pre-treatment
Manual 2: Soil chemical analysis
Manual 3: Soil physical analysis
Manual 4: Soil biological analysis
Manual 5: Data quality, management and validation
Manual 6: Harmonization and correlation factors
Manual 7: Data processing: soil functions, classification and statistics
Manual 8: Soil contaminants
Manual 9: Standards or maximum allowed levels of nutrients – interpretation and recommendations
Manual 10: Security in the laboratory
Manual 11: Good Laboratory Practices

29. Manual 1: Site characterization, sampling and sample pre-treatment
Volume 1.1 How to collect a soil sample for soil nutrient assessment: site selection and sampling
Information on equipment, sample transport and storage, and moisture conditions should be included. The writing of
Volume 1.1 was assigned to Pillar 4.
Volume 1.2 Generic characterization of sites and samples
The writing of Volume 1.2 was assigned to Pillar 4.
Volume 1.3 Soil sample pre-treatment
Manual 2: Soil chemical analysis
SOPs developed by GLOSOLAN will be presented in here. For each method, information on its relevance/use, principle of
measurement, apparatus, reagents, procedure, calculations, report and reference should be provided.
Volume 2.1 Organic carbon
Volume 2.2 pH
Volume 2.3 Available phosphorous
Volume 2.4 Available potassium
Volume 2.5 Total nitrogen
Volume 2.6 Exchangeable cations and CEC
Volume 2.7 …
Best Practice Manual
Structure and content

30. What did GLOSOLAN
achieved so far?
2019 | Proficiency Test: reference material
- Basic guidelines for producing
a sample for proficiency
testing (under approval)

31. What did GLOSOLAN
achieved so far?
2019 | Proficiency Test: reference material
- General guidelines for the
preparation of reference
material
- Form for potential sample
providers in GLOSOLAN to
complete (under approval)

32. What did GLOSOLAN
achieved so far?
2019 | Proficiency Test: reference material
- General guidelines for the preparation of
reference material (under approval)
- Form for potential sample providers in
GLOSOLAN to complete (under approval)
- Training manual for the preparation of
reference material (under development)

33. What did GLOSOLAN
achieved so far?
2019 | First Global Proficiency Test
- 100 laboratories from all around the world involved
- Results to be presented at the 3rd GLOSOLAN meeting
(28-30 October 2019)
Main obstacle: INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE
OF SAMPLES (CUSTOMS PROCEDURES)

34. 2019 | Global Proficiency Test
For your kind
attention
In order to facilitate the free exchange of soil samples for
research purposes under GLOSOLAN …Resolution to be brought
to the attention of the FAO Council

35. 2019 | Global Proficiency Test
In order to facilitate the free exchange of soil samples for
research purposes under GLOSOLAN …Open Access online
Database on customs and laboratory import procedures (under
development)

36. What did GLOSOLAN
achieved so far?
2019 | Regional Soil Laboratory
Networks

37. What did GLOSOLAN
achieved so far?
2019 | Regional Soil Laboratory
Networks
Official establishment of RESOLAN-Pacific under
the Australasian Soil and Plant Analysis Council
(ASPAC)

38. What did GLOSOLAN
achieved so far?
2019 | Harmonization of databases -
Development of transfer functions
1. Harmonization of data obtained using different GLOSOLAN SOPs
PROPOSAL ENDORSED (Leader: Richard Ferguson, USDA, USA)
Soil parameter to harmonize at first: soil organic carbon (Walkley-Black and
the dry combustion methods)
2. Harmonization of data obtained using GLOSOLAN SOPs and ISO standards
PROPOSAL ABOLISHED as it is not needed

39. What did GLOSOLAN
achieved so far?
2019 | Harmonization of databases -
Development of transfer functions
3. Harmonization of data obtained using national methods and GLOSOLAN SOPs
PROPOSAL ENDORSED (Leader: Louise Ander, BGS UK)
Survey those laboratories that cannot use GLOSOLAN SOPs. Eventually organize
trainings on the development of transfer functions.
4. Harmonization of historical databases – DISCUSSION POST-PONED
Waiting for results from point 1. It is going to be very difficult.

40. What did GLOSOLAN
achieved so far?
2019 | GLOSOLAN Terminology
(under development)

41. What did GLOSOLAN
achieved so far?
2019 | Spectroscopy (ongoing)
- Establishment of a dedicated working group lead by
ICRAF and USDA
- Need to develop a detailed work plan

42. Thanks for your
attention