GLOSOLAN | Global Soil Laboratory Network: 3rd meeting. 28-30 October 2019 | FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy. Presenter: Mr.Uponi

1. 3rd Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Joseph Uponi
Chair AFRILAB
African Soil Laboratory Network
(AFRILAB)

2. 3rd Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
INTRODUCTION
• The inaugural meeting of the AFRICAN SOIL
LABORATORY NETWORK (AFRILAB) took place May
21-24, 2019 at Nairobi Kenya.
• This was facilitated by the Global Soil Partnership
(GSP) with the support of the British Geological
Survey (BGS), United Kingdom
• 31 Laboratory managers from 19 countries were in
attendance

3. 3rd Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Objectives of the first AFRILAB meeting
• To establish the Regional Network
• Agree on the regional activities and the workplan
for 2019
• Collect regional inputs on GLOSOLAN work on
standardization of methodologies and protocols
• Participating laboratories made brief presentations
on the status of their labs describing their strengths
and weaknesses

4. 3rd Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Discussions on perceived areas of
attention for AFRILAB
• Staff training and replacement of retiring personnel
• Participation in affordable proficiency testing
• Harmonization of standard operating procedures
• Improvement of laboratory infrastructure
• Local and alternative sourcing of reagents and other laboratory
materials
• Capacity building in dry chemistry, GIS and remote sensing with
respect to the geo-referencing of the samples
• Getting ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation
• Data interpretation and the system for providing
recommendations
• Laboratory health and safety
• Etc.

5. 3rd Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
GLOSOLAN SOPS
• We had a brief lecture session on preparation of SOPs
• The GLOSOLAN SOP for organic C by Walkley Black
method was discussed with suggestions for final
improvement
• Most of the labs use the soil pH method with 1:2.5
soil:water ratio. Same ratio also for soil electrical
conductivity. Harmonised SOP for Soil pH should be
drafted by Takesure Tendayi from Zimbabwe
• It was agreed that for 2019/2020 AFRILAB will work on
SOPs for Bray-1 P – Ms Lesogo will lead.
• Mpofu Clarisse will lead for Bray-2 SOP and
• Uponi J., Thembikosi Mbedzi will lead for Mehlich 3

6. 3rd Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
• Establishment of exchange programmes between
laboratories
• Launch a survey to assess the status of laboratory
equipment and the availability of local suppliers.
The survey should also ask about the method to
georeference soil samples. In this regard,
awareness raising campaigns on open access Apps
for georeferencing samples should be promoted.

7. 3rd Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Other activities
• The visit to ICRAF during the Meeting in Nairobi
generated a lot of interest in soil spectroscopy
• There has been a survey of soil testing labs in Nigeria.
About 50 labs were identified. We have asked the more
viable ones to now register with GLOSOLAN
• The draft SOP for Bray-1 has been prepared for
circulation
• There has been increased awareness among the soil
labs in Zimbabwe. They are trying to set up a local
equivalent of GLOSOLAN. They have an active
Whatsapp group
• We also have a vibrant AFRILAB whatsapp group and
have had some discussions on Lab asafety

8. 3rd Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Governance
• At the end of the meeting we had the following
persons chosen for leadership
• Uponi Joseph from Nigeria (Chair)
• Ms. Lesego Mooketsi-Selepe Botswana(Vice Chair
Anglophone)
• Mr. Abdourahaman Moustapha from Niger (Vice
Chair Francophone)

9. 3rd Meeting of the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN)
Thanks for your attention