Second meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN), 28 - 30 November 2018, FAO HQ, Rome, Italy Ms. Nopmanee Suvannang, GLOSOLAN Chair

1. Ms. Nopmanee Suvannang
GLOSOLAN Chair
Item 1: Report of the work performed
by GLOSOLAN since its estblishment

2. Work performed since the 1st
GLOSOLAN
meeting (1-2 November 2017)
2
- About 200 laboratories registered in GLOSOLAN
(registration are always open. Please send an email to the
GSP-Secretariat@fao.org or to Lucrezia.caon@fao.org)
- The Regional Soil Laboratory Network for Asia (SEALNET)
and that for Latin America (LATSOLAN) were launched in
November 2017 and March 2018, respectively
- Discussion were undertaken to launch the Regional Soil
Laboratory Network for Europe and Eurasia, who agreed
to work together, and that for the Pacific region

3. Work performed since the 1st
GLOSOLAN
meeting (1-2 November 2017)
3
- A concept note for the writing of a Best Practice Manual was
submitted and presented to the 6th
GSP Plenary Assembly
(June 2018)
- A document on how to prepare soil samples for proficiency
testing started to be developed with the support of WEPAL.
Ultimately, the issue of how to exchange soil samples for
proficiency testing was presented at the 6th
GSP Plenary
Assembly (June 2018)
- Finalization and launch of the first online GLOSOLAN Survey

4. 4
First GLOSOLAN online survey
Key findings
>700 views in 8 weeks,
>300 forms were uploaded to GSP.
111 complete surveys could be analysed.
Big interest around the world!

5. 5
First GLOSOLAN online survey
Key findings
most of the responding laboratories not yet
affiliated with a laboratory network.
if affiliated: mainly with national networks
International inter-comparability of
data is currently difficult.

6. 6
First GLOSOLAN online survey
Key findings
 Formal education: highly variable.
A strong need for capacity building.

7. 7
First GLOSOLAN online survey
Key findings
 a large percentage of temporary staff
 absence of regular staff training
A strong need for training plan &
training programmes.

8. 8
First GLOSOLAN online survey
Key findings
 laboratory infrastructure: not limiting factors
to obtain good quality data.

9. 9
First GLOSOLAN online survey
Key findings
 Standard Operating Procedures (SPOs) are
generally written in the local language,
 SOPs are highly variable
Difficult to compare global results

10. 10
First GLOSOLAN online survey
Key findings
 Quality control and quality assurance are
established
 the frequency of the controls is low (several
days)
Difficult to guarantee quality of results.

11. 11
First GLOSOLAN online survey
Key findings
 Laboratory certification/accreditation is not
yet sufficiently established
Difficult to guarantee quality of results.

12. 12
First GLOSOLAN online survey
Recommended actions
 1. stimulate the development of standard
operating procedures (SOPs)
GLOSOLAN proposes:
 to draft its own SOPs, starting at
regional level
select the most common/important
parameters

13. 13
First GLOSOLAN online survey
Recommended actions
 2. improve staff qualifications.
GLOSOLAN proposes:
to develop e.books and videos,
to develop training programmes,
regularly update them.

14. 14
First GLOSOLAN online survey
Recommended actions
 3. motivate laboratories to implement and use
internal quality control (IQC) more frequently.
GLOSOLAN proposes:
to assist the labs in preparing soil
samples for their IQC.

15. 15
First GLOSOLAN online survey
Recommended actions
 4. motivate laboratories to participate to ring
tests for their external quality control.
GLOSOLAN proposes:
to organise annual ring test at
regional and global level

16. 16
First GLOSOLAN online survey
 5. establish one or two soil reference
laboratories in each region.
 6. set up a communication platform.
 7. develop and promote a certified soil
laboratory quality assurance system.
GLOSOLAN proposes also:

17. There is the potential for
GLOSOLAN to do a lot!
What is the objective of this meeting?
-Reaffirm the objectives of GLOSOLAN
-Develop a detailed, long-term (at least 5
years) work plan

18. Thanks for your attention