Marcel G.H. Jamagne, now Emeritus Research Director of the National Institute for Agronomic Research (INRA), was President of the French Soil Science Society from 1995 to 1999 and Vice-President of ISSS/IUSS from 1994 until 1998. He was co-organizer of the 16th World Congress of Soil Science in Montpellier in 1998. Born in Brussels, he served as Engineer of Agronomy and Forestry in 1955, and earned his Doctor in Sciences (PhD) in 1973. He worked in Soil Survey in Central Africa for four years, returning to France to INRA, Soil Science Department. In 1961, he initiated a specific method of detailed survey that has been used later on by many countries in Europe and Northern Africa. In 1968, he created the Soil Survey Staff of France and served as Director and kept this responsibility until 1997, when he was appointed Emeritus Director. Since the 1970’s he has been national delegate and international expert for FAO, UNESCO, UNEP and the Council of Europe and the European Commission dealing with soil survey, use and conservation. He was nominated Chairman and general coordinator for the elaboration of the European Soil Geographic Database. He has professional experience in different regions of Europe, Africa, South America and Asia. Jamagne is still an active referee and reviewer for numerous editorial boards of scientific publications, and Chief Editor of the journal of the French Soil Science Society. He has been lecturer at different universities in Europe and South America. He is a Member of the Agricultural Academy of France and has received many awards during his career.