http://www.fao.org/globalsoilpartnership This presentation was made during the GSP/E-SOTER Global Soil Information workshop that took place at the FAO HQ, Rome , Italy from 20-23 March 2012. This presentation was made on the first day by Achim Dobermann, and it presents Soil data needs for agronomists. ©FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. Soil data needs for
agronomists
Achim Dobermann
Global Soil Partnership, Rome
March 20-23, 2012

2. Soil information is the weakest
link in agriculture and many
other sectors.

3. Soil Use and Management 12 (1996), 33-43

4. We can do better than that

5. Mean 64.0
Min 27.0
Max 87.9
CV% 18.4
RMSE 9.8
RI (%) 19.7
Mg C/ha
15
25
35
45
55
65
75
85
95
Final C map
C=100-1.2EC-5.2REF-0.6REF2-2.1ELC predicted for
sampled locations
C predicted for
all grid locationsResiduals
Kriging
Regression
model

6. Megatrends in agriculture
Productivity & efficiency increase
Skillful, precise agriculture
Integration of value chains
Connection to health
Multiple objectives
Interactive knowledge
R. Rabbinge, WUR

8. • To develop a set of global standards for best practices of
sustainable rice production (global rice GAP)
• To develop quantifiable sustainability targets
• To develop and promote decision-support tools (such as
Field or footprint Calculators)
• To promote the adoption of best practices and
sustainability criteria
Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP)

9. Soil data products for agriculture
1. Digital soil information for decisions makers (policy
makers, investors)
– Basic soil maps and thematic layers, derived products
– Accurate, easy to understand, not too old
– Interpretation, custom analysis & evaluating options
2. Digital soil information for field agronomists & farmers
– Customer-oriented, demand-driven soil data & services
– Fine resolution, up to date, valid, usable
– Accessible , customizable for own apps
3. Soil data & monitoring systems for scientists
– Explore implications of our current and future actions?
– New methodologies – breakthroughs
– Detailed, raw

10. Who has useful soil data?
National soil survey organizations
Other ministries
Universities
Soil testing labs
Individual scientists
Companies
International organizations
NGOs
Farmers
Owners & users of satellite data
Military, intelligence services
....

11. We have a lot more than we know
Nobody can claim to have it all or to own it all
What is the value of a 50-year old soil profile?
The real value lies in interpretation & use
Share what you have to fill the big gaps
Not every use has to be free
Treaty mechanism for sharing benefits?

12. Who do we need to reach with all
that information and how?

16. Web GSM mobile
phone
Smartphone
e
Interactive Voice
Response
implementation box
Farmer calls 2378
using Globe SIM
Smartphone
output
Web output
SMS output

17. Spatial soil and other information can be
interfaced with the ‘calculator’
Model on
cloud server
Output
Input: Information
from farmer
Database with attainable yield
based on historical climate data
Spatial soils information geo
referenced to farmer’s location
Soil nutrient supply
Soil nutrient reserves
Soil constraints

18. Suite of compelling
services and financial
products
Microfinance
Service
providers
Insurance
Marketing
Input providers
Connect farmers with relevant
agricultural science and services
Interactive Apps ---
providing management
guidelines
1. Invest wisely at start of season
- Crop Manager
2. Protect investment during
season
- Crop Doctor
 Requires a solid business approach

19. How can we use new
technologies to improve soil
information?

20. Nipponbare
93-11
IR 64
underway
DJ 123
underway
Global rice genetic diversity map
2012:
2000 lines 1 M SNPs
4000 whole genomes
IRRI (60%)
Cirad (14%)
ARC/Cornell (12%)
CIAT (8%)
Embrapa (6%)
2005:
2252 lines
44 SSR markers

22. From Feuillet et al. 2011. Crop genome sequencing: lessons and rationales. Trends in Pl Sci. 16:77-88.
Rice genome sequencing already has impact but much more
can be done in scale and scope

23. What’s slowing us soil scientists
down?

24. Lack of access to useful data
Insufficient validation
Not enough breakthrough technologies
Disagreements, lack of harmonization
IP uncertainties
Lack of incentives
Fragmentation, lack of critical mass

25. Beijing Genomics Institute, Shenzhen, China

26. Reach out more
Fill the biggest gaps first
Don’t get bogged down in technicalities
Keep GSP simple and focused

27. Thank you