4th meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN) 11-13 November 2020 Ms. Nopmanee Suvannang, Ms. Lucrezia Caon

1. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Ms. Nopmanee Suvannang
GLOSOLAN Chair
Item 1
Report of the work performed by
GLOSOLAN in 2019-2020

2. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Established in November 2017 to:
1. Strengthen the performance of laboratories through the use of
standardized methods and protocols
2. Harmonize soil analysis methods so that soil information would
be comparable and interpretable across laboratories, countries
and regions
3. [Aspiration] provide a certification for technical competencies in
laboratory analysis

3. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
For the harmonization of soil laboratory methods and data, and for
building the capacity of laboratories in soil analysis. Four major areas
of work:
- Execution of external quality control (proficiency testing)
- Training on the execution of internal quality control
- Harmonization of Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs)
- Training on the implementation of GLOSOLAN SOPs
- Training on safety and health
- Training on equipment use, maintenance and purchasing
- Establishment of a donation/bartering system
- Spectroscopy
- Harmonization of fertilizers quality assessment
procedures

4. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
A network of almost 600 laboratories
Africa
AFRILAB
Asia
SEALNET
Europe &
Eurasia
EUROSOLAN
Latin
America
LATSOLAN
Near East &
North Africa
NENALAB
North
America
Pacific
ASPAC
121 94 122 151 61 6 16

5. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
A network of almost 600 laboratories

6. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
National Soil Laboratory Networks
(NASOLANs)
GLOBAL
REGIONAL
NATIONAL
How does GLOSOLAN work?
The national focal point to the Global Soil Partnership nominate a
laboratory to serve as National Reference Laboratory (NRL).
The NRL is tasked to establish the NASOLAN for its country.

7. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Every year, the work plan of GLOSOLAN is decided at its
annual plenary meeting (usually in September / October)
Reports available on the
GLOSOLAN webpage
http://www.fao.org/global-
soil-
partnership/glosolan/en/

8. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
GLOSOLAN work plan 2020
PUBLISHED ON THE GLOSOLAN
WEBPAGE
IMPLEMENTED

9. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
GLOSOLAN work plan 2020
NENALAB ESTABLISHED IN
JUNE 2020
ALL RESOLAN MEETINGS
ORGANIZED BETWEEN JUNE
AND OCTOBER 2020

10. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
GLOSOLAN work plan 2020
IMPLEMENTED
PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED:
some National Reference
Laboratory did not complete the
monitoring form
CREATION OF NASOLAN
WEBPAGES ONGOING

11. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
GLOSOLAN work plan 2020
IMPLEMENTED
ONGOING
ONGOING
IMPLEMENTED

12. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Proficiency testing or
inter-laboratory
proficiency test

13. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
2019 | PT/Inter-laboratory comparison of 85
labs worldwide
Specific objective: want to improve the network so that we can have
- data you can trust/be confident in = data of quality (fit for the
purpose)
- data that are comparable around the world
PT is done to assess lab performances
GLOSOLAN produced a document easy to read for lab managers
but also for stakeholders and funders.
Each page you have a result and an explanation on why we
measured that characteristic, and what we learned from it and what
recommandation we made. For example:

14. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
−4
−2
0
2
4
pH
MeanZscore
−4
−2
0
2
4
EC
MeanZscore
−4
−2
0
2
4
OC_WB
MeanZscore
−4
−2
0
2
4
K_exch
MeanZscore
Soil A Soil B Soil C
Anonymous lab. code Anonymous lab. code Anonymous lab. code
For the 4 most common parameters, we put the Z score of each lab:
Between green lines= ok
Between green and red :
questionnalbe
Above/below red= un-
satisfactory.
pH is ok
OC there is a big problem
with many labs having
results too high
confusion
between organic
matter and
organic carbon ?
Unit problems ? Transcription problems

15. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Answer to our 2 questions
Outliers (wrong data) do not come from bad chemical analysis: they come from
mistakes in transcription, units and absence of quality control before sending
out the data
IMPROVEMENT CAN BE OBTAINED AT LOW COST BUT NEEDS
A CHANGE IN DAILY ATTITUDE
Consensus values in the different regions were not significantly different
they were COMPARABLE but the dispersion of results was variable
in the different regions
QUALITY OF THE DATA IF I COMPARE 85 labs around the
world?
pH, and some others are OK Some like P are not good….
ARE DATA COMPARABLE?

16. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
PERSPECTIVES
Trainings for the implementation of quality control
Select ‘pilot’ labs that were the most performing and use them to train the less
performing in implementation of the quality control procedures and learn how to
implement quality assurance.
GLOSOLAN has to implement new worldwide PT for the pilot Labs and check there
performances on a statistical point of view
Teaching theory of good practices
Organising capicity transfer between labs
Improve the estimation of the consensus values
Associate new labs to the PT to give the opportunity to asses performances, this
can be done also through Regional networks or specific networks (saline soils,
calcareous soils, volcanic soils, etc…)
Involve new labs in all regions

17. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
GLOSOLAN PT 2019
results will be reported in
the “Report of the first
global inter-laboratory
comparison 2019” (to be
published soon)
Information on how the
statistical analysis is done
in GLOSOLAN will be in a
dedicated cookbook

18. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
GLOSOLAN work plan 2020
IMPLEMENTED
ONLINE SYSTEM UNDER
TESTING
IMPLEMENTED
(but restricted access)
STARTED BUT ON HOLD
BECAUSE OF COVID-19
CANCELLED BECAUSE OF
COVID-19

19. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
GLOSOLAN’s future PTs
Unfortunately, it was not possible to organize any PT in 2020 due to
Covid-19.
However, GLOSOLAN will do its best to organize another global PT in
2021.
Question:
• Who will provide the soil samples?
• Are Portugal and Brazil still available as sample providers?

20. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Submission of PT results
In 2020, FAO invested to develop an online platform for
the submission of PT results.
Each laboratory participating to future GLOSOLAN PTs will
receive a unique PIN (e.g. Lab PIN: 2009003111)
The PIN should be used to login
NOTE WELL: the app will allow users to login, logout, save
changes, review data, etc. BUT once users press
COMPLETE, data cannot be changed anymore. The PIN
will become inactive.

21. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
App overview

22. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
App overview

23. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
App overview

24. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
App overview
SAMPLE CODE / NUMBER
REPLICA of MEASUREMENT (if required)
PARAMETER TO BE MEASURED and METHOD TO USE
UNIT OF MEASURE TO USE

25. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
App overview

26. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
App overview

27. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
App overview

28. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
App overview

29. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
App overview

30. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
GLOSOLAN work plan 2020
IMPLEMENTED
Launched in June 2020
Available at http://www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership/glosolan/soil-
analysis/quality-assurance-and-quality-control/custom-control-
procedure-database/en/
Thanks to all of you that helped developing it. Please help us to
keep it complete and updated !

31. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)

32. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
GLOSOLAN work plan 2020
DELAYED BECAUSE OF COVID-
19 BUT ONGOING. The first video
is being recorded in Thailand
ONGOING
To be discussed during this
meeting

33. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
GLOSOLAN work plan 2020
IMPLEMENTED only the
endorsement of the SOPs is
missing
Except for the SOP on soil
particle-size distribution
(harmonization of the SOP post-
poned)
IMPLEMENTED
Trainings on the topic were given
at the RESOLAN meetings

34. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
GLOSOLAN work plan 2020
IMPLEMENTED
PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS
THROUGHOUT 2020
LAUNCH MEETING OF THE
INTERNATIONAL NETWORK ON
FERTILIZER ANALYSIS (INFA)
ON 8 AND 9 DECEMBER 2020

35. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
GLOSOLAN work plan 2020
NO PROGRESS
PROVIDED ON REQUEST
IMPLEMENTED
ONGOING
IMPLEMENTED

36. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
GLOSOLAN work plan 2020
BARTER AND DONATIONAL
SYSTEM ESTABLISHED
http://www.fao.org/global-soil-
partnership/glosolan/equipment/e
n/
ONGOING
We had some delays due to
COVID-19
IMPLEMENTED
Evaluation of offers ongoing
ONGOING

37. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
GLOSOLAN work plan 2020
IMPLEMENTED
Project proposals were written to
support some country and
regions already
POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19
SURVEY LAUNCHED BUT FEW
ANSWERS COLLECTED
IMPLEMENTED
IMPLEMENTED

38. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
The “Resolution on
the international
exchange of soil
samples for research
purposes under the
Global Soil Laboratory
Network
(GLOSOLAN)” was
endorsed by the 27th
Committee on
Agriculture in October
2020 (COAG 27)
See
http://www.fao.org/3/ne
021en/ne021en.pdf

39. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Points for your kind attention
Because GLOSOLAN is growing so much and so fast, we should better
think about how decisions are made within the network in order to sure
a fair representation and equal opportunities to all members and
countries
Proposal on the harmonization of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) :
- Opinion on the SOPs to harmonize : all RESOLAN members (RESOLAN
meetings)
- Decision on the SOPs to harmonize : all GLOSOLAN members
(GLOSOLAN meetings)
- Writing of the SOPs : working group composed by regional leaders + 1
global leader
- Review and endorsement of the SOPs: a Review Panel (1 Panel per each
SOP). Global SOP leaders to be part of the Panel
- SOPs presented at the GLOSOLAN meetings for information before
publishing
Do you agree on this
proposal ?
Poll

40. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Points for your kind attention
Because GLOSOLAN is growing so much and so fast, we should better
think about how decisions are made within the network in order to sure
a fair representation and equal opportunities to all members and
countries
Proposal on GLOSOLAN and RESOLAN governance :
- Only National Reference Laboratories can vote for the Chair, vice-Chair
and (if any) Steering Committee
- The performance of the National Reference Laboratories need to be
monitored and evaluated every year. All National Reference
Laboratories need to complete the related evaluation forms
Do you agree on this
proposal ?
Poll

41. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Points for your kind attention
Because GLOSOLAN is growing so much and so fast, we should better
think about how decisions are made within the network in order to sure
a fair representation and equal opportunities to all members and
countries
Proposal on the writing of technical documents:
- All GLOSOLAN members can express an opinion on the technical documents
GLOSOLAN should write
- Establishment of a Technical Committee to:
 Review the proposals made by RESOLANs and GLOSOLAN on the writing of
technical documents.
 Approve or reject the proposals – decisions to be reported to all GLOSOLAN
members
 Advice on how to write technical documents. Working groups will established to
write the documents as usual
- Endorsement of the technical documents by GLOSOLAN members at the
GLOSOLAN meetings

42. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Points for your kind attention
Because GLOSOLAN is growing so much and so fast, we should better
think about how decisions are made within the network in order to sure
a fair representation and equal opportunities to all members and
countries
Proposal on the writing of technical documents:
Composition of the Technical Committee :
- The GLOSOLAN coordinator will open a call : All those interested to join the
Committee can submit an expression of interest
- The Technical Committee should not be too large (maximum 10 people). A
selection of applicants will be made based on:
 Their technical competence
 The time they can commit to the work
Do you agree on this
proposal ?
Poll

43. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Thanks for your attention