4th meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN) 11-13 November 2020 Mr. Filippo Benedetti

1. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Mr. Filippo Benedetti
Global Soil Partnership
Item 12
National Soil Laboratory Network
(NASOLAN)
Down/up scaling GLOSOLAN

2. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Global (GLOSOLAN)
Regional (RESOLAN)
National (NASOLAN)

3. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Why are NASOLANs needed?
• To support the implementation of GLOSOLAN activities
at the local level
• To bring local challenges to the attention of GLOSOLAN
that will develop strategies to address them
• To reach a larger number of laboratories
Please encourage and support the establishment of
national networks

4. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
• Enlarge the network by motivating other soil laboratories operating in the
country to register in GLOSOLAN and, consequently, in NASOLANs
• Facilitate the implementation of GLOSOLAN activities
• Advertise GLOSOLAN activities and events (e.g. online or in person training
and meetings like those of the Regional Soil Laboratory Network),
motivating national laboratories to take part in it
• Organize national training and meetings in order to:
i. Transfer the knowledge and skills acquired in GLOSOLAN/RESOLANs
to other laboratories
ii. Discuss common challenges and need
iii. Explore financial resources mobilization opportunities
NASOLAN tasks
(please refer to the Terms of Reference you received by email)

5. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
• Organize national inter-laboratory comparison exercises
• Keep the communication active with the Chair and Vice-Chair
of their RESOLAN, the GSP national focal point and the
GLOSOLAN coordinator
• Keep the NASOLAN webpage updated in order to facilitate:
i. The financial resource mobilization activities
ii. The involvement of laboratories in projects
iii. The monitoring of national activities.
NASOLAN tasks
(please refer to the Terms of Reference you received by email)

6. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Endorsement of the Terms of Reference (TORs) for the
National Soil Laboratory Networks (NASOLANs)
• The ToRs were sent to all
GLOSOLAN members by
email for review.
Deadline: 4 November
• No changes to the
content of the document
were proposed. Unless
someone has something
against this document, the
document is considered
endorsed.
• Next steps: proof reading
of the document and
publication on the
GLOSOLAN webpage.

7. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
How to establish a NASOLAN?

8. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Role of the National Reference Laboratories
• Take the leadership in establishing
and implementing NASOLAN
activities
• Scale down: Involve other
laboratories in their country in all
GLOSOLAN and RESOLAN activities
• Scale up: Inform their RESOLAN
Chair and vice-Chairs, the
GLOSOLAN Chair and vice-Chair
and the GLOSOLAN coordinator on
national needs and challenges.
• See the Terms of Reference
of Laboratories in GLOSOLAN
available on GLOSOLAN website

9. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Always remember...
• Everybody matters: all GLOSOLAN members should play a role in
the establishment of their NASOLAN - especially in case the
national reference laboratory does not show to be active on this.
In this case, please inform the GLOSOLAN coordinator.
• Together we are stronger: when possible, it is important to
develop common strategies and work plans at different scales.
This will make it easier to help each other
• Create a tendency: the main goal of GLOSOLAN activities is not to
have some top-level labs but to improve the performance of all
laboratories

10. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Endorsement of the Guidelines on how to establish a
National Soil Laboratory Network (NASOLAN)
• The Guidelines were sent
to all GLOSOLAN
members by email for
review.
Deadline: 4 November
• Presentation of the
proposed changes and
endorsement of the
document
• Next steps: proof reading
of the document and
publication on the
GLOSOLAN webpage.

11. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
NASOLAN webpages
In order to support countries in establishing their NASOLAN, GLOSOLAN is
also creating NASOLAN webpages (1 page per each country) in the
national official language and in English.
NASOLAN webpages provide multiple advantages:
 They increase the visibility of the national network at the national,
regional and global level
 They ensure that all soil laboratories have access to their NASOLAN
information
 They allow projects and initiatives to connect with NASOLAN and its
members. In this regard, soil laboratories can be easily contacted and
involved in projects and initiatives independent from GLOSOLAN and
the GSP
 They bring NASOLAN and soil laboratories needs to the attention of
donors

12. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
The information reported on the webpages are the following:
I. Status of the NASOLAN (already established / under establishment / not
established)
II. Date of establishment of your national soil laboratory network
III. Number of members (type of laboratory + type of analysis performed)
IV. Name of the national network (if already established)
V. Brief history of the network (highlighting the obstacles encountered and how
you faced them: have you received the support from any institutions?)
VI. Activities, meetings, material produced, partners (please provide the topics
covered, external links to material, pictures, etc.)
VII.Main needs and challenges of the network
VIII.Main needs and challenges of the laboratories in the network

13. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)

14. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Online country profiles database

15. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)

16. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
a) NASOLAN already established
• make sure to have as many laboratories as possible registered in it (and in
GLOSOLAN)
• Make sure to have a workplan to implement activities and attract donors
• Keep on looking for financial resources to support the network
b) NASOLAN under establishment:
• Make sure that all obstacles to the network establishment have been
addressed
• Organize the kick-off meeting in person or virtually (in case financial
resources are not available)
• Develop a workplan to implement activities for the upcoming years
• Look for financial resources to support the network
Way forward

17. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
c) NASOLAN not established yet:
• Identify the main problems and obstacles to the establishment of the
network
• Think to possible solutions, taking as examples the countries with an
already- established network and consulting your country National
Focal Point at the GSP
• Ask support to the National Reference Laboratory,
RESOLAN/GLOSOLAN Chair and Vice-Chairs, GLOSOLAN coordinator
Way forward

18. 4th Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Thanks for your attention