Latin American Society of Soil Science

Latin American Society of Soil Science
Name	Latin American Society of Soil Science
Formation	1969
Type	Learned society
Headquarters	Bogotá, Colombia
Region served	Latin America and the Caribbean
Languages	Spanish, Portuguese
Leader title	President

Latin American Society of Soil Science is a regional learned society dedicated to the advancement of soil science across Latin America and the Caribbean, fostering collaboration among researchers, institutions, and policymakers. The society connects scientists from universities such as Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Universidade de São Paulo, Universidad de Buenos Aires, and Universidad de Costa Rica with international organizations like Food and Agriculture Organization, International Union of Soil Sciences, and World Bank. Its activities intersect with governmental agencies including Instituto Geofísico, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, and regional initiatives such as Inter-American Development Bank projects.

History

Founded amid rising environmental and agricultural concerns, the society emerged in the late 1960s influenced by meetings in capitals like Bogotá, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Mexico City. Early leaders hailed from institutions including Universidad de Chile, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Universidad de la República (Uruguay), and were informed by conventions such as the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment and the Convention on Biological Diversity. The society’s formation paralleled initiatives by FAO and collaborations with research centers like Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical and International Rice Research Institute, shaping policies in riparian zones, Andean highlands, and Amazonian basins. Over decades, it engaged with projects related to Soil Conservation Service, National Science Foundation, and regional programs under Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Mission and Objectives

The society promotes soil characterization, conservation, and sustainable management aligned with goals of Convention to Combat Desertification, Millennium Development Goals, and later Sustainable Development Goals. Objectives include strengthening links among universities such as Universidad de Salamanca partners, research institutes like Embrapa, and governmental ministries including Ministry of Agriculture (Brazil), to address land degradation in biomes such as the Amazon rainforest, Pampa, and Andes mountains. It supports best practices relevant to stakeholders represented by organizations like World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, and The Nature Conservancy.

Membership and Organization

Membership comprises academics, technicians, and institutions from countries including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela. Organizational structure mirrors models from societies like American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America, with elected councils, regional chapters in cities such as Lima and Montevideo, and committees liaising with agencies like UNESCO and CIRAD. Membership categories accommodate students from Universidad Central de Venezuela, professionals from Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, and corporate partners engaged in projects with Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture.

Conferences and Events

The society organizes congresses, symposia, and workshops often hosted in partnership with universities such as Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, research centers like International Potato Center, and agencies including FAO and IDB. Major triennial congresses attract delegates who collaborate on themes linked to programs by Global Environment Facility, Convention on Wetlands, and regional networks like Red de Manejo de Suelos. Events include field days in ecosystems studied by Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and policy dialogues involving representatives from Ministry of Environment (Peru) and Secretaría de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural (Mexico).

Research and Publications

Research spans pedology, soil fertility, erosion, and carbon sequestration with outputs comparable to journals like Soil Science Society of America Journal, Geoderma, and Catena. Publications include proceedings, position papers, and technical guides co-authored with institutes such as Embrapa, CIAT, and INIA (Uruguay), and cited in reports by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and World Resources Institute. Collaborative projects address topics relevant to programs run by Global Soil Partnership, Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, and International Center for Tropical Agriculture.

Education and Outreach

Educational initiatives target students and practitioners from universities such as Universidade Federal de Viçosa and Universidad de Antofagasta, offering training modeled after curricula at Cornell University, University of California, Davis, and University of Florida extension programs. Outreach includes technical manuals for farmers linked to ministries like Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (Costa Rica), capacity building with NGOs such as Oxfam and Heifer International, and participation in regional campaigns alongside Mercosur and Andean Community institutions to promote soil health, land restoration, and climate resilience.

Category:Scientific societies Category:Agronomy organizations Category:Environmental organizations in South America