Presentation delivered during day 1 of the Global Soil Partnership Plenary Assembly – 5th Session, that took place at FAO Hq in Rome, Italy, from 20 to 22 June 2017. The presentation was made by Mr. Ronald Vargas, GSP Secretariat, FAO.

2. The International
Network of Soil
Information
Institutions (INSII) is
the backbone of Pillar
4 and is supported by
a technical working
group of soil
information experts
(P4WG).
Pillar 4 - GIP

3. Global Soil Information System
International Network of Soil Information Institutions (INSII)

4. GLOSIS - Governance
1. Establishing GLOSIS and INSII:
Arrangement
2. Chair of INSII and P4WG
3. Soil Data Facility (SDF)
4. GSP Data Policy

5. “Arrangement”
To establish GLOSIS, the International Network of Global Soil
Information Institutions (INSII) needs to be established as the
main decision making platform for Pillar 4;
Genesis of INSII: 1st meeting 8-10 December 2015, 2nd
meeting 24-25 November 2016. Planned: 3rd Meeting in
October 2017.
Formalization was requested by members due to a) data
sharing, b) official mandate (national representation).
Action by PA
Endorse the “Arrangement” to establish GLOSIS
and its INSII and invite national soil information
institutions to join the network.

6. Chair INSII (& P4WG)
Background:
 During last two meetings, was not possible to
appoint a chair. Mr. Luca Montanarella (pro-
tempore Chair);
 Ensure GLOSIS is established and P4IP executed.
Action by PA: call for candidates, select and
appoint an INSII Chair for a two years period.

7. GSP Soil Data Facility (SDF)
Background:
• The Secretariat launched a call (April, 2017) for the
selection of an institution or consortium of institutions to
host the GSP Soil Data Facility (SDF).
• The GSP-SDF is to provide technical and infrastructure
support to the Global Soil Information System (GLOSIS),
to be established as per the Pillar 4 Implementation
Plan.
• The SDF will be the technical backbone of the
International Network of Soil Information Institutions
(INSII), strengthening and supporting the sharing of
interoperable soil data products.
Application Deadline: 20 May 2017 ,SDF Selection: 5th PA

8. GSP Soil Data Facility (SDF)
Action by PA: review the only candidature
and if appropriate appoint the GSP-SDF.

9. GSP Data Policy
This GSP data policy aims to ensure that:
a. every existing ownership right to shared soil data are
respected;
b. the specific level of access and the conditions for data
sharing are clearly specified;
c. the ownership of each dataset and web service is
properly acknowledged and well-referenced;
d. the data owners are protected from any liability
arising from the use of their original and/or derived
data.

10. GSP Data Policy
This Global Soil Partnership Data Policy is applicable to:
a. All members of the GSP and FAO that share soil data through the
Global Soil Information System and SoilSTAT
b. Users, developers, and contributors to the Soil Information System,
SoilSTAT, and Soil Spatial Data Infrastructure.
c. Creators of Derived Data developed in any form using the Original
Data shared through the Global Soil Information System and SoilSTAT
d. Any authorized user, institution, or Nation that has access to the Global
Soil Information System and SoilSTAT, regardless of the conditions on
which such access is given.
Action by PA:
Endorse the GSP Data Policy to guide soil data
sharing under GLOSIS