Global assessment 2020: presentation of regional findings and discussion on regional priorities in soil laboratories The document summarizes the results of a global assessment conducted in February-March 2020 of soil laboratories in the Near East and North Africa region. It found that the 15 participating laboratories from 10 countries reported an estimated 159 public and 189 private soil laboratories in the region. Most laboratory infrastructure and staff qualifications were rated as average, with soil chemical analysis being the most commonly performed. The majority of countries reported that laboratory services did not meet national demand. Continuous training, consumables, and better waste management were identified as the main needs to improve laboratory capacity and services in the region.

1. Global assessment 2020: presentation
of regional findings and discussion on
regional priorities in soil laboratories
By Lucrezia Caon
GSP Secretariat

2. All laboratories were asked to
complete a global assessment
in February-March 2020
Aim: collect information on
laboratories’ training and
equipment needs at the
national level, and assess the
capacity of laboratories to
satisfy national demands in soil
analysis
In this regard, questions were
not laboratory specific but
country oriented

3. These data will serve to
improve the GLOSOLAN
work plan in terms of
activities, budget
allocation and provision of
country specific political
support
Report available soon

4. Number of participants from NENA
• 15 soil laboratories from 10 different countries
• Responding countries: Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait,
Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen

5. Estimated number of soil
laboratories operating in the region
(based on responding countries)
• Public labs: 159
• Private labs: 189
46%56%
Public laboratories Private laboratories

6. Conditions of the laboratories
Poor (infrastructure
and equipment are
poorly maintained
and not sufficient to
carry out the
workload)
Average (there are
some problems but
overall, infrastructure
and equipment work)
Good (infrastructure
and equipment are
well maintained and
sufficient to carry out
the workload)
Average condition of laboratories’
infrastructures
Basic (they learned by
doing)
Good (they have a
university degree but
are rarely or not
sufficiently trained)
Very good (they have
a university degree
and are trained on a
regular basis)
Average qualification of laboratory
staff
Tunisia
Sudan
Tunisia
Morocco

7. Type of soil analysis performed
Soil chemical
analysis
10
Soil physics
analysis
9
Soil biological
analysis
5
Numbers represent amount of laboratories performing the indicated analysis

8. Country demand
5: Iran, Iraq,
Jordan,
Kuwait,
Yemen
3: Lebanon,
Sudan
Tunisia
2: Morocco,
Syria
Are the available soil laboratory services enough to
cover the country’s demand?
Yes Maybe No

9. Spectroscopy
as alternative for wet-chemistry
7
3: Jordan,
Kuwait,
Tunisia
Presence of soil laboratories using
spectroscopy within the country
YES NO
2: Central
Laboratory for Soil
Analysis (LCAS),
Tunisia;
Soil Chemistry
And Physics
Laboratories,
Kuwait
13
Are you using or would like to use soil
spectroscopy in your laboratory?
I am using it already
I am not using it but I would like to introduce it in my lab

10. International Standards
and Quality Control
[CELLRAN
GE]8
2:
[CELLRAN
GE]
Countries whose laboratories have a
quality control process
Yes No
Countries whose laboratories
follow International Standards
All laboratories in the country
No + not all of them

11. International Standards
and Quality Control
[CELLRAN
GE]8
2:
[CELLRAN
GE]
Countries whose laboratories have a
quality control process
Yes No
Labs replying NO to the QC
survey distributed for this
meeting:
• Sudan
• Yemen
• Morocco
• Iraq
• Tunisia

12. Technical Assistance
5
7
Sufficient (technical assistance is available to train laboratory staff and well
maintain laboratory equipment. Consumables are easy to find)
Insufficient (if something breaks there is no one to repair it, there is no one
to train staff on the use and maintenance of laboratory equipment,
consumables are difficult to purchase)

13. Main Needs
30%
24%
43%
3%
Better waste management and disposal policies
Consumables
Continuous training
Other (accreditation for all soil test according to International Standards)

14. Thanks for your attention