IUSS Alert 245 (march 2026)

State of the art

The IUSS Divisions, Commissions and Working Groups Chairs can now share their publications on the IUSS Alert. Every month, send your publications to the Secretariat and they will be published here. Please do so by the 15 of every month to make sure your articles are published in the monthly current issue. Let’s keep our community posted on the progress of Soil Sciences.

Highlighted IUSS publications

By Division 1

Future societal developments provide a challenge for pedology as an integrative activity within soil science

By Johan Bouma

In contrast to earlier periods, the soil science profession receives major attention from the policy arena in Europe as evidenced by recent major financial research support (e.g. EC, 2023). Writing research proposals and running research programs, sometimes with participants from many countries, is highly time consuming, also because legal requirements are increasingly imposed. In addition, scientific activities are affected by elaborate internal procedures, adopted from the business community, focused on financial and human resource management. As a result, not enough time, it seems, is left for reflection as to desirable future developments of the soil science profession in a rapidly changing world. This discussion paper has therefore the objective to contribute to a discussion about the future role of soil science in society and sketch possible future scenarios.

News from the IUSS

Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development 2025-2034 – Healthy Soils for Humanity

The new decade of soil sciences for sustainable development has begun, read the manifesto and download the logo here: https://www.iuss.org/decade-of-soil-sciences-for-sustainable-development/

The Decade aims to prioritize production, dissemination, and use of actionable scientific knowledge across all areas of soil sciences to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Divisions, Commissions, and Working Groups are encouraged to coordinate with the IUSS Research Forum in planning activities aligned with the themes of the Decade. These may include special issues, books, position papers, policy briefs, webinars, conferences, workshops, sessions at the World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS), and other relevant initiatives.

Division and Commission Officers Election – 2026 and members of the Standing Committees Election 2026

The election process is now completed, and the winners will be announced via IUSS Alert within May 31, 2026.

Presidential Election 2026

The new IUSS President will be elected during the 23 World Congress of Soil Sciences in Nanjing, China this coming June. The IUSS Secretariat will take care in due time to inform the Full Members on the election procedure.

To enquire: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

IUSS Joint Commission 1.7/3.8 “Permafrost-Affected Soils

Call for papers, Submission Deadline: Tuesday, September 1st, 2026

We would like to draw your attention to a Special Issue, “Applied Pedology: Practical Solutions Across a Variety of Disciplines and Issues” in Soil Use and Management. The special Issue is framed within the IUSS initiatives of the Research Forum for the 2025-2034 Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development (DSSSD) (https://www.iuss.org/decade-of-soil-sciences-for-sustainable-development/). We’d like to extend an invitation for contributions to the special issue before the 1 September 2026 deadline.

For more information on the scope of the special issue, please refer to the Call for Papers (contributions accepted include, original research papers, reviews, reports of case studies and practical experience, opinions, and perspectives).

Manuscript can be submitted the SUM submission system. Please follow the Author Guidelines and select the special issue title when asked: “Is this submission for a special issue?”.

We would be enormously grateful if you could let us know your decision via this form.

For more information: Prof. Adrian Unc, aunc@mun.ca Vice-Chair

Alan Wild Reviews, Perspectives and Topical Collections Editor, Soil Use and Management (British Soil Science Society)

Soil Mission Manifesto

The Mission Soil Manifesto (https://mission-soil-platform.ec.europa.eu/community/mission-soil-manifesto) calls for action to respond to the urgent need to protect and improve soil health in Europe and beyond and bring together regional and local policymakers, stakeholders and citizens into a vibrant community that cares for soil health. It was launched by the EU Mission Soil on April 18, 2023, and it has been signed by the IUSS President, Prof. Victor O. Chude.

Soil Science Society of China (SSSC) and IUSS

The 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) – Soil and the Shared Future for Humanity

Date: June 7th -12th, 2026

Location: Nanjing, China

Nanjing Welcomes Global Soil Scientists for the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science

Soil Science Society of China successfully won the bid to host the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) in Brazil’s 21st WCSS. For the first time, China as a host country invites global soil scientists to explore the centennial journey of soil science.

The 23rd WCSS will be held in the International Expo Center from June 7 to 12, 2026 in Nanjing, the capital city of the most developed Jiangsu province, under the theme of “Soil and the Shared Future for Humanity”. 121 sessions in five categories have been accepted.

Deprived from the Chinese character “土” (Soil), the mascot KuiKui manifests the concept of “One World for One Earth”. The emblem on its belly represents the earth, with the inner circle featuring five typical soil colors in China, while the outer circle featuring the blue ocean.

The World Congress of Soil Science is the most authoritative and influential international conference in the field, sponsored by the International Union of Soil Sciences. It is a major event for scientific and technological professionals in soil science and related disciplines worldwide to engage in academic exchange. Held every four years, the conference covers a wide range of topics and serves as a platform for exchange and collaboration among soil scientists from around the globe.

The WCSS2026 theme, ‘Soil and the Shared Future for Mankind’, focuses on the importance of soil for our future, with a variety of arrangements including poster exhibition, young researcher forum and soil judging contest. Tours will also be organized for participants to visit typical soils in combination with unique landscapes and cultural diversification as China is a vast country with rich soil resources.

With a global population that is projected to exceed 9 billion by 2050, our current and future food security hinges on our ability to increase yields and food quality using the soils that we already have available today. We are responsible for the soils that provide us with food, water and air, and we need to take action today to ensure that we have healthy soils for a sustainable and food secure future. Our understanding of the importance is developing rapidly and WCSS2026 provides a platform for us to discover the solutions to soil issues and an opportunity to connect all who work with and have interests in soils.

Read more: Join and follow via the official website: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/

Important dates and deadlines:
Regular registration deadline: May 7, 2026
Cancellation and Refund deadline: May 7, 2026

Post-Congress Tours
Invitation to participate in the exclusive Post-Congress Scientific Tours across China — where soil science meets stunning landscapes and cultural heritage. They are arranged six unique expedition routes covering key soils and regions, from the black soils of Northeast China to the tea gardens of Jiangnan, from the capital’s green city projects to the magnificent Danxia and Karst landforms. Each tour blends field observation, soil profiling, and local culture — guided by experts and designed for deep learning beyond the congress.

Choose your scientific journey:
Tour 1: Scientific Expedition on Red Soil in South China
Tour 2: Jiangnan Tea & Rice Soil Scientific Expedition
Tour 3: Survey on Soil Environment and Green City Construction in the Capital
Tour 4: Soil and Geoscience Expedition in the Loess Plateau & Historical-Cultural Tour
Tour 5: Northeast Thick Black Soil Region Scientific Expedition
Tour 6: Northeast Thin Black Soil Region Scientific Expedition

Explore routes, costs, and details here: https://www.23wcss.org.cn/Post-Congress%20Tours/index.html

IUSS and Soil Science Society of China (SSSC)

Travel Awards for Attending World Congress of Soil Science 2026

The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) and Soil Science Society of China (SSSC) are pleased to offer travel awards to support early-career scientists who wish to participate in the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS2026) from 7-12 June 2026, in Nanjing China. This initiative aims to encourage the participation of promising graduate students and early-career researchers by providing financial assistance to help cover travel and registration expenses.

A total of 40,000 USD in funding is available, aiming for gender and geographic equity. Each selected applicant will be eligible to receive up to a maximum of 1,000 USD. The award will be disbursed as a reimbursement for actual travel costs and/or WCSS2026 registration fees incurred.

Support is only for early-career scientists who are high-quality Master or PhD students or who completed a Master or PhD degree less than 5 years ago.

Applicants must be the presenting author of a submitted oral or poster presentation abstract for WCSS2026 and must be a member of a council society (national soil science society) that is a full member of IUSS.

Applicants need to send their applications to: wcss2026@issas.ac.cn

Contact: wcss2026@issas.ac.cn

The Digital Age in the Study, Evaluation, and Teaching of Soil Science

Special session number 503003 IUSS 23rd World Congress on Soil Science

In the digital transformation era, we invite researchers and professionals to participate with us in this innovative session exploring the convergence between cutting-edge technologies and soil sciences. This pioneering session will address how digital tools revolutionize our understanding, management, and teaching of soil sciences. Participants will be able to observe the largest augmented and mixed reality applications that allow soil profiles to be visualized in real-time, facilitating on-site analysis and improving educational experience in the field. We will explore the development of mobile applications focused on soil resources, as well as the potential presents by the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced image analysis systems focused on soil sciences. This session represents a unique opportunity to establish international collaborations between soil scientists, software developers, and technology experts. Attendees will be able to share experiences on the implementation of innovative technological solutions in soil research and discuss the potential of these tools to address global challenges in soil conservation and sustainable management. In this sense, we are seeking contributions that highlight recent technological developments, successful case studies, and innovative proposals that combine soil sciences with these emerging technologies. This session will undoubtedly be a catalyst to inspire the next generations and foster the development of collaborative projects that harness the power of technology to advance our understanding of soils systems. Join this space where scientific tradition converges with digital innovation, creating new possibilities for research, education and soil management.

Contact: fernando.ayala@comunidad.unam.mx; leptosol@ciga.unam.mx

Mitigating the impact of land use and its change through conservation management

Call for Papers

Submission deadline: August 1st, 2026

Special issue as IUSS (International Union of Soil Sciences) Commission 4.3 – Soils and Land Use Change with Dr. Gary Feng.

We welcome original papers and reviews that might be presented at the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science held in Nanjing, China, on June 7-12, 2026.

Soils are vital for supporting agriculture, mitigating environmental quality, and provision of ecosystem services. Healthy, functioning soils are the keystone to global sustainability of ecosystems and land-based human activities, and for providing healthy environments for humankind.

The selected papers will mainly report the latest achievements in research focused on conservation, restoration and improvement of land use and its change through conservation managements, focused on promoting the sustainability of managed and natural ecosystems.

Keywords: soil health, land use change, soil amendment, cover crops, conservation management, soil functions, soil properties, carbon dynamics

Guest Editors:

Prof. Gary Feng
USDA-ARS
United States

Prof. Felipe A. Zúñiga Ugalde
Universidad Austral de Chile; Instituto de Bosques y Sociedad
Chile

Prof. Ying Ouyang
USDA Forest Service; Southern Research Station
United States

Prof. José Dörner
Universidad Austral de Chile; Instituto de Ingeniería Agraria y Suelos
Chile

Dr. Tingting Chang
Hohai University
China

Prof. Rainer Horn
Institut für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde; Christian-Albrecht-Universität zu Kiel
Germany

Dr. Ingrid Martínez
Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA-Chile)
Chile

News from national and regional soil science societies 2026

Argentine Soil Science Association

The 30th Argentine Congress of Soil Science (CACS2026)- Challenges from South to North: Commitment between Conservation and Production

Date: April 14th –17th, 2026
Location: San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro – Patagonia – Argentina.

The Argentine Soil Science Association, together with academic and scientific institutions from the Patagonian region, is organizing the 30th Argentine Congress of Soil Science, under the theme “Challenges from South to North: Commitment between Conservation and Production,” participants are invited to reflect on Argentina’s territorial diversity and the challenges of balancing conservation with the sustainable use of natural resources, with a focus on soil.

Soil Science Society of Pakistan (SSSP)

The 21st International Congress of Soil Science (ICSS-2026) – Soil Resilience for Sustainable Development

Date: May 5th – 7th, 2026
Location: University of Poonch Rawalakot (UPR) in Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan

The theme of Congress is: “Soil Resilience for Sustainable Development”

Canadian Society of Soil Science and Canadian Society of Agronomy

2026 Joint Annual Meeting – Soils & Crops in Focus – Critical Resources from Coast to Coast to Coast

Date: June 20th – 25th, 2026
Location: University of Guelph, Canada

Joint meeting of the Canadian Society of Soil Science and the Canadian Society of Agronomy. This conference, with its theme of “Soils & Crops in Focus – Critical Resources from Coast to Coast to Coast” will address the importance of resilient and healthy food production throughout Canada.

Soil Science Australia

2026 Soil Science Australia National Conference

Date: November 1st – 5th, 2026
Location: Boorloo, Perth, Australia

The conference will serve as a platform for a diversity of voices across science, policy, industry and community to explore our understanding of soils as the foundation of productivity, security, community and resilience.

Deadlines: Call for abstracts close April 24th, 2026

Conferences, Meetings and Workshops 2026

The 4th Global Soil Biodiversity Conference (GSB 2026)

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

The 4th edition of the Global Soil Biodiversity Conference (GSB 2026) will bring together researchers, policy analysts, students, and practicing farmers to discuss soil biodiversity with the goals of informing the public, promoting this information into environmental policy, and overall creating a platform for the current and future sustainability of soils.

The European Soil Partnership

The European Soil Partnership (ESP) is part of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP), a network of seven regional partnerships established by member countries of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other governmental and non-governmental institutions. Subregional and national partnerships enable close links with stakeholders including land managers and the public. The ESP sees itself as an umbrella network for various European initiatives and actions, at the level of regions, countries, EU and its neighbours, and it advocates for their visibility and contributions in the global soil protection movement.

Date: April 23-24, 2026
Location: FAO headquarters in Rome and online

International Conference on Alternatives to Reduce Soil Degradation

Date: May 19th, 2026
Location: Hybrid event, Online & In-Person. Kossuth Klub, Budapest, Hungary

This conference seeks to promote interdisciplinary partnerships and facilitate the exchange of knowledge, with the goal of better understanding the intricate complexities of soil and assessing the potential for sustainable development.

Special conference theme: The main focus of the conference will be on conservation agriculture, soil biological processes, and how to improve soil quality in practice.

Deadlines:
Oral: April 23rd, 2026; Poster: April 30th, 2026
Registration: On site: May 5th, 2026; Online: May 18th, 2026

Read more: www.arsd-conference.com

10th International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter (SOM2026)

Date: May 25th – 29th, 2026
Location: University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil.

The X International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter (SOM2026) represents a unique opportunity to bring together the world’s leading scientific authorities in the areas of soil organic matter, carbon, regenerative agriculture, sustainable livestock, forestry and ecosystem restoration.

Read more: Official website = https://eventosccarbon.com.br

100th anniversary of agricultural experimentation at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW

Date: June 12th –13th, 2026
Location: Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Poland

The conference will provide a platform for discussion and presentation of results in various fields, including agricultural sciences, agricultural chemistry, soil science, environmental sciences, and biological sciences, among others.

Important dates
Deadline for articles and abstracts submission: February 15th, 2026
The announcement of the final conference program: April 30th, 2026

Read more: https://ir.sggw.edu.pl/en/lte/

IFSA2026: Farming and Agri-Food Systems dynamics: facing crises and trade-offs in transition pathways

Date: June 29th – July 03rd, 2026
Location: Montpellier, France

This symposium aims to revisit progress and debates in co-designing and promoting sustainable Agri-Food systems to face crises and support multiscale decisions. There are many trade-offs to document but also many synergies to analyse when looking at transition pathways and impacts.

Key dates:
Early bird registration deadline: March 15th, 2026
Registration deadline (also for field visits registration): April 30th, 2026

12th Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Open Science Conference & Meetings

Date: August 8th –19th, 2026
Location: Oslo, Norway

The SCAR and the Norwegian Polar Institute warmly invite you to the 12th SCAR Open Science Conference, The conference will feature an interdisciplinary programme that includes plenary lectures, parallel sessions, mini-symposia, workshops, panel discussions, posters, and social activities.

Join colleagues from around the world for a rich and varied programme, from plenary lectures and mini-symposia to parallel sessions, panels, posters, and an inspiring social programme in and around Oslo.

Read more: https://scar2026.org/

4th International Symposium on Climate-Resilient Agri-Environmental Systems (ISCRAES 2026)

Date: August 12th –14th, 2026
Location: Dublin, Ireland

The main theme of the ISCRAES 2026 is “Land Health Nexus: Cultivating Climate Resilience and Sustainable Agri-Environments”, leading to achieving the primary objective of agro-environmental sustainability by tackling the current major environmental, climate, and societal challenges facing the world.

Deadlines:
– Standard registration: 30 April 2026 (For inclusion in the proceedings and programme)
– Late registration fee: 31 July 2026

Read more: www.iscraes.org

International Symposium on Earthworm Ecology (ISEE13)
13th edition

Date: August 23rd-28th, 2026
Location: Wageningen, the Netherlands

This year’s theme, “From the lab to the field, from the field to the lab”, reflects the commitment to bridging the gap between experimental and real-world studies, both of which are essential to the advancement of earthworm research. ISEE13 will offer a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, with a strong focus on early-career researchers who are at the forefront of addressing global challenges impacting or affected by earthworms.

Deadlines:
Deadline for early bird registration: April 15th, 2026
Deadline for registration: June 17th, 2026

First Celebration of the International Day of Caves and Karst (IDCK), proclaimed by UNESCO

Date: September 10th – 13th, 2026
Location: Postojna, Slovenia

Following the proclamation of the International Day of Caves and Karst (IDCK) by UNESCO, this is the first official celebration.

The central date of the celebration will be 13 September 2026, with a series of scientific and outreach events planned in the days leading up to it.

We warmly invite all supporters of the International Day of Caves and Karst initiative, as well as the wider scientific, educational and policy communities, to save the date. A formal announcement, registration form and detailed programme will follow.

5th International Soil Modeling Consortium Conference (ISMC 2026) “Advances and Challenges in Tropical Soil Modeling”

Date: September 15th – 19th, 2026
Location: Rio di Janeiro, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Brazil

The conference is organized by the University of São Paulo (USP), the Geological Service of Brazil (SGB), and PUC-RioThe official language of the conference is English.

ISMC 2026 will be the first ISMC conference held in Latin America and will focus on tropical soil modeling, emphasizing its importance for food and water security, carbon cycling, biodiversity, and land-use change.

Conference topics:
– Databases in PTF development to support soil modeling
– Soil structure and properties: Measurement, spatial and temporal variability, and uncertainty assessment
– Critical zone monitoring and modeling
– Modeling processes in highly weathered tropical soils
– Taking advantage of remote sensing and big data in soil modeling
– Modeling aspects of soil health
– General Session for model-related research

Important dates:
Abstract submission deadline: May 1st, 2026
Abstract acceptance: May 25th, 2026
Notification oral/poster: August 15th, 2026
Early bird registration June: 1st, 2026

10th International Nitrogen Conference (N2026)

Sustainable Nitrogen Management for Future Generations

Date: November 2nd-6th, 2026
Location: Wageningen, the Netherlands

The 10th International Nitrogen Conference (N2026) aims to foster global collaboration under the theme “Sustainable Nitrogen Management for Future Generations.” While coordination between science and policy is essential, effectively addressing the nitrogen challenge requires the active engagement of all stakeholders, including governments, researchers, educators, industry, civil society, and the public.

New Books

Contaminants in agricultural soils: Challenges and solutions

by Professor Ravi Naidu (University of Newcastle, Australia and CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (crcCARE), Australia)

Ed.: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited, Cambridge, 2025; p. 400

ISBN 10: 1801468788 / ISBN 13: 9781801468787

Contaminants in agricultural soils: Challenges and solutions provides a comprehensive overview of the major types of contaminants in agricultural soils. It considers key issues in dealing with contaminants such as advances in detection and risk assessment. The book also reviews recent advances in bioremediation and phytoremediation techniques to manage contaminants in soils. This book reviews current research on the key types of contaminants in agricultural soils, including heavy metals, antibiotic and pesticide residues, as well as recent advances in bioremediation and phytoremediation techniques to manage these contaminants.

Measuring and assessing the biological health of soils

by Professor Jeanette Norton (Utah State University, USA), Professor Josh Schimel (University of California – Santa Barbara, USA) and Professor Zoë Lindo (University of Western Ontario, Canada)

Ed.: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited, Cambridge, 2025; p. 476

ISBN-10: ‎ 183545075X / ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1835450758

One of the most important topics in soil science is understanding the relationship between soil biodiversity and soil ecosystem function. This relies on techniques able to accurately identify different soil organisms and how they interact in the soil microbiome. Measuring and assessing the biological health of soils provides a comprehensive overview of the range of techniques used to assess microbial/faunal diversity and activity in soils and its impact on key ecological processes. The book also reviews how biological indicators can be integrated into soil health testing programmes to improve the quality of agricultural, grassland and forest soils.

Opportunities

Summer school on soil health and intercropping in Florence, Italy: Applications open

Understanding how plant–soil interactions shape productivity and soil health is key to making intercropping a viable alternative to monocultures. The LEGUMINOSE Summer School “Understanding Contemporary Plant–Soil Feedback in Intercropping” offers a dedicated space to explore this topic, with a strong focus on soil health, soil microbial communities and nutrient dynamics in legume–cereal systems.

Designed for graduate students, early-career researchers and practitioners, the summer school provides a combination of lectures, hands-on training, and field visits. Participants will gain both theoretical and practical knowledge of how plant–soil feedback can be assessed and how it affects crop performance and soil fertility in intercropping systems.

Applications are now open for those interested in joining the summer school in Florence.

Practical details
• Dates: 19–21 May 2026
• Location: University of Florence, Italy
• Participation limit: 30 participants
• Registration deadline: 31 March 2026
• Fee: €300 per person (includes course materials, refreshments, lunches and one social dinner; travel and accommodation not included)

How to register

To apply, please prepare a short abstract (max. 250 words) describing your research interest or background in soil–plant systems. Send your application by email to shamina.pathan@unifi.it

Communication

To IUSS Commission and Working Group Chairs: you are kindly requested to inform the Secretariat whenever there is a change within your Commission and/or Working Group officers. In this way, it will be possible to keep the IUSS Officers Mailing List regularly updated.

To IUSS Full Members: please do not forget to let the Secretariat know about your new President, Secretary, Contact Person. This will be vital in keeping the mailing list updated, so you will not miss out any communication.

Please provide the new name, surname, position and e-mail address to: iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it

If you are interested in promoting your product or book, event, job call in our Alert, please send an email to iuss.secretariat@crea.gov.it.