The 2nd Eurosolan and Afrilab meetings aimed to strengthen laboratory performance and harmonize soil analysis methods through the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN), established in 2017. Key activities included quality assurance training, the execution of proficiency tests, the development of standard operating procedures, and support for laboratories through equipment donations and procurement guidelines. Additionally, GLOSOLAN is launching initiatives on soil spectroscopy and fertilizers analysis to enhance the quality assessment methods across various regions.

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Mrs. Nopmanee Suvannang
Chair GLOSOLAN
Item 1
Global Soil Laboratory Network updates

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Established in November 2017 to:
1. Strenghten 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

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A network of almost 500 laboratories
Africa
AFRILAB
Asia
SEALNET
Europe &
Eurasia
EUROSOLAN
Latin
America
LATSOLAN
Near East &
North Africa
NENALAB
North
America
Pacific
ASPAC
117 93 117 84 60 6 16

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Main areas of work
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL
- Training on internal and external quality
control.
- All training material and PT report are
available at http://www.fao.org/global-soil-
partnership/pillars-action/5-
harmonization/glosolan/qaqc/en/

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- Execution of regional and global proficiency tests (PTs).
2018 | regional PTs organized in Asia and Latin America
2019 | organization of the first global PT that involved 100 laboratories
from all regions and looked at 12 analytical parameters
Organic carbon (%)
Analytical results do not
depend on the region
It is valid to make a global
network
Frequency

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 Low performing laboratories are assisted in terms of training.
 Good performing laboratories are given the possibility to compete for equipment.
Mean 3.1%
sd= 0.6%
Organic carbon (%)
Uncertainty (sd) can be
calculated
Comparisons at global level
are now possible
Frequency

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Still, a “Resolution on the
international exchange of soil samples
for research purposes under the
Global Soil Laboratory Network
(GLOSOLAN)” will be presented at the
27th Committee on Agriculture in 2020
(COAG 27)
Please support its endorsement
GLOSOLAN is also encouraging laboratories to organize
national PTs by establishing the first global customs
control procedures (available on GLOSOLAN webpage at
http://www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership/glosolan/soil-analysis/quality-assurance-and-quality-
control/custom-control-procedure-database/en/).

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Interested laboratories may have the opportunity to
provide samples to GLOSOLAN’s PT.
Becoming a GLOSOLAN PT sample provider does not only
benefit GLOSOLAN but it also gives the possibility to the
sample provider to have consensus values assigned to their
samples allowing them to be considered as a reference
material that may be used in Quality Control procedures.

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Main areas of work
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOPs)
SOPs go hand-in-hand with the execution of internal and
external quality control exercises
• GLOSOLAN is working to produce globally harmonized SOPs for known methods.
Priority is given to methods for the analysis of soil chemical parameters but we
will start to work on soil physical and biological parameters as well as on soil
contaminants soon.
• The methods to harmonize are decided at the annual meetings of GLOSOLAN
keeping into consideration regional priorities and requests

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• In 2019, GLOSOLAN harmonized the SOPs on soil sample pre-
treatment, total carbon by Dumas dry combustion, organic
carbon by Walkley and Black, and calcium carbonate equivalent
by volumetric calcimeter method and by titrimetric method.

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How does the harmonization process work?

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What SOPs is GLOSOLAN working on in 2020?
All GLOSOLAN SOPs are available at http://www.fao.org/global-soil-
partnership/glosolan/soil-analysis/standard-operating-procedures/en/ for free
- pH in water 1:2.5
- pH in CaCl2
- pH in KCl
- Organic carbon by Tyurin
- EC in saturated paste
- EC in water 1:5
- Available P by Bray I, Bray II, Olsen-P, Mehlich I and
Mehlich III
- Total nitrogen by Kjedhal and by Dumas
- Mineral nitrogen by 1 or 2 molar KCl

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Main areas of work
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
Equipment is an essential part of laboratory analysis but
remember that equipment alone does not make the
difference in getting reliable data.
GLOSOLAN believes in TRAINING FIRST! Before investing in new laboratory
equipment, lab managers should make sure that laboratory staff is properly and
regularly trained and that good laboratory practices, including equipment
maintenance and calibration, are implemented.
However, laboratories cannot work without equipment! GLOSOLAN will provide
laboratories that have a good proficiency in soil analysis with new equipment. The
proficiency of laboratories is assessed through the GLOSOLAN proficiency tests.

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Based on the results of the GLOSOLAN PT 2019, we are providing equipment to 21
laboratories in 21 countries

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GLOSOLAN work on equipment
1. Promotion of good practices
Practical advices on what to do and
what not to do before, during and
after purchasing laboratory
equipment or receiving it as a
donation. Good practices on the
management of consumables and
hazardous substances are included.
Available at
http://www.fao.org/3/ca8241en/ca8241en.pdf

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GLOSOLAN work on equipment
2. Establishment of a barter/donation system
• Several laboratories worldwide are asked to replace their still functioning equipment
on a regular basis. Instead of being disposed, this equipment can be donated to
laboratories in need
• Often, laboratories receiving donations are given equipment they are not in the
conditions to operate and/or well maintain because of several factors like the in-situ
availability of service providers for equipment maintenance, provision of consumables,
etc. for specific equipment brands. The same can happen to laboratories purchasing
new equipment themselves. This can result in the misuse, damage or disuse of the
equipment. GLOSOLAN is available to support laboratories willing to barter their well-
functioning equipment for free.
More information available at http://www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership/glosolan/equipment/en/ .
Interested laboratories can send an email to GSP-Secretariat@fao.org and Lucrezia.Caon@fao.org

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GLOSOLAN work on equipment
3. Development of guidelines on procurement
• GLOSOLAN and FAO are working to develop guidelines on the
procurement of laboratory equipment. This would help laboratories to
better formulate their requests to vendors participating to the bid, get
the right equipment, get trained on its used and receive after-sale
services including remote support and maintenance services.

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Main areas of work
INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES: SOIL SPECTROSCOPY
22 April 2020 | Launch of the GLOSOLAN programme on soil
spectroscopy

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Main areas of work
INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES: SOIL SPECTROSCOPY
23 -25 September 2020 | First Plenary Meeting on Soil
Spectroscopy
Main conclusions:
1. The concept notes written for the launch of the initiative were revised
2. The 2020-2021 work plan of GLOSOLAN on spectroscopy (main activities, timeline
and implementing partners) was defined. Special attention was given to the
establishment of the global spectral calibration library and the writing of
guidelines, protocols and manuals on spectroscopy
3. The modality by which GLOSOLAN will interact with other initiatives, and how
projects can contribute to GLOSOLAN was defined
4. The modality by which GLOSOLAN will interact with countries and laboratories,
institutions and organizations working on soil spectroscopy was defined
5. The governance of the initiative was defined

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Main areas of work
FERTILIZERS ANALYSIS
GLOSOLAN received a request to look into fertilizers quality
assessment and it is now working on establishing the
International network on fertilizers analysis (INFA)
To be launched through an online meeting in 2020. Main
objectives of the meeting:
 Define the international role and the specific
objectives of INFA.
 Develop the INFA work plan
 Identify international organizations like The
Fertilizer Institute that INFA should connect to
(identification of cooperation opportunities)

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In order to prepare to the meeting
- Laboratories and institute responsible for the assessment of fertilizers
quality in their country are being identified
- Regional and international organizations, associations and institutes working
on fertilizers quality assessment and with agendas compatible with that of
INFA are being identified. As per the principles of GLOSOLAN, INFA will try
cooperate and limit duplication of efforts as much as possible.
- All stakeholders working in the field of fertilizers quality assessment are
invited to complete the questionnaire at
https://forms.gle/Z5kYUpH5f6rpn6zUA. These inputs will be used to open
the discussion at the launch meeting of INFA.
Examples of the inputs we are collecting are herewith reported.
For more information on this activity and INFA or to get involved, please contact Lucrezia.caon@fao.org

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Expectations
- INFA will develop global and when appropriate regionally harmonized methods
on fertilizers quality assessment
- Global proficiency tests on fertilizers quality will be performed. A database on
customs control procedures similar to that prepared on soil samples can be
developed
- Possibility to establish regional centers for training and doing the assessment of
fertilizers quality
- Capacity building: training and equipment
NATIONAL LEGISLATIONS
In order for countries to use INFA methods, we need to work on INFA and
on policy in parallel

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GLOSOLAN is currently working on the establishment of the
National Soil Laboratory Networks (NASOLANs), the
ultimate level in which the network is organized.
We will have a detailed discussion on this topic this afternoon
National Soil Laboratory Networks (NASOLANs)
GLOBAL
REGIONAL
NATIONAL

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Thanks for your attention