Honorary Membership cannot be requested by an individual; they must be nominated for the award. We expect the proposer to notify the nominee in advance that they are submitting the nomination.

Honorary Membership nominations will be reviewed by the Grants & Awards Committee in May and a maximum of two nominees will be proposed to BSSS Council. Following Council鈥檚 decision, members of the Society must vote on the proposal at the next General Meeting in July.

Both the nominator and the nominee will be notified of the outcome: either unsuccessful or the nominee being proposed to the next General Meeting.

If you would like to nominate an Honorary Member at the next General Meeting, please complete and return the聽听迟辞听admin@soils.org.uk听产测听Thursday 30 April.

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A quick look back at 2025

Last year saw membership rise again, now approaching 1000. We took part in events such as Rhizosphere6 and Eurosoil25, where we met many current and former members and spoke with people working across different areas of soil science. These meetings were useful for the Society and brought in around 70 new members.

We launched the Overseas Collaboration Award in honour of our former Patron, HRH the Duke of Gloucester. The aim is to support early career soil scientists from low and middle income countries by pairing them with BSSS mentors. We were also pleased that Kate Humble agreed to become the new Patron. Her involvement has already helped raise the visibility of soil science and she joined us on the Soil Matters podcast, which continues to grow in audience.

We kept a steady presence at familiar outreach events including Groundswell, the British Science Festival and Open Farm Sunday. Our Annual Conference in Manchester was the largest we have run, and the Early Careers Meeting beforehand showed that the future of soil science is in good hands.

The Year Ahead: 2026

State of Soil Science Report

A major piece of work for this year is the State of Soil Science report. It will set out where the discipline currently stands in the UK: the scale and aims of soil research, the level of funding available, the training routes that exist, the demand for skills and the areas where support is needed. A Steering Committee is being put together, but members across the Society will be invited to contribute.

The plan is to produce a clear document that draws together evidence rather than relying on scattered impressions. This will help us speak more confidently to government, funders and organisations who rely on soil science.

Education and Skills

Education is another priority. We will continue to broaden the Working with Soils courses, and we are exploring ways to link them to formal qualifications such as PG Certs or Apprenticeships.

We would also like to rebuild closer cooperation among soil science education institutions. There are not many of us teaching soil science and there is no benefit in working in isolation. With soil science often taught as a smaller part of wider degrees, students need good practical training that can be delivered consistently. The BSSS is well placed to help with this.

Preparing for the 80th Anniversary

Planning has begun for our 80th Anniversary in 2027. Part of this will be a focus on early women soil scientists whose work deserves to be more widely recognised. We are already collecting names and stories and welcome suggestions from members. I challenge you to find someone more inspiring than Frances Kay, the first female soil surveyor in the UK, who in the 1930s used to conduct surveys on a bicycle. Frances is the reason why soil maps are so beautifully coloured.

We will also form the scientific and local organising committees for Eurosoil2028. After the success of WCSS22 in Glasgow, we will reach a similar high bar in producing an exceptional international meeting.

Conferences and International Activities

The year started with the BSSS represented at the Oxford Farming Conference, where Ed Hinman and Khalid Mahmood spoke with delegates on soil policy and industry engagement. Internationally, Andy Morris and I plan to attend COP17 (UNCCD) in August and COP31 (Climate) in November to continue building our strong partnerships and ensure soil science remains part of wider environmental discussions.

Our regular external events will continue as usual. These include Open Farm Sunday and the Royal Highland Show in June, Groundswell in July, and the British Science Festival and Contamination Expo in September. These events remain important for speaking with farmers, students, teachers and the wider public.

The year will finish with the BSSS Annual Meeting in December in Aberdeen, run with the University of Aberdeen, the James Hutton Institute and SRUC. It should bring together a broad mix of soil specialists and a growing interest from allied disciplines, industry, and artists (yes, please come back 鈥� you were great last year).

Thanks

As always, the Society relies on its members. I want to thank everyone who contributes time to Council, Working with Soils courses and other activities. I am grateful to Past President Jack Hannam for her continued support, and to President鈥慐lect Lizzie Sagoo for stepping into her role with a huge amount of enthusiasm. I also want to thank Andy Morris and the Executive Team, whose work underpins much of what we do.

We have a full year ahead, and I look forward to seeing many of you at our events and meetings as we move through 2026.

2026 Highlights

• State of Soil Science report underway
• Expansion of Working with Soils courses and new training partnerships
• Planning begins for BSSS 80th Anniversary in 2027
• Early work on Eurosoil2028 committees
• Attendance planned for COP17 (UNCCD) and COP31 (Climate)
• Outreach at Open Farm Sunday, Royal Highland Show, Groundswell, British Science Festival and Contamination Expo
• BSSS Annual Meeting in December in Aberdeen

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BSSS is the UK鈥檚 leading body in the area of soil science with a global reach. We strive to secure the future of soils by promoting an enhanced understanding of the critical importance of soils in delivering the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and supplying knowledge through our science to support efforts to halt and repair soil degradation. We aim to make a positive difference in the sustainable management and long-term security of soils that is critical to solving the environmental and societal challenges we face today.

During their time as President Elect, the post-holder will be expected to play an active role within the Society and shadow the current President where required.

About the role

On becoming President (1 January 2029), the post-holder will be expected to:

• lead the trustees and members of the executive in the development of strategic plans for the charity
• provide leadership and support to the Executive Director and ensure that the charity is run in accordance with the decisions of the trustees, the charity鈥檚 governing documents and appropriate legislation
• ensure the business of the Society is discussed efficiently and effectively at Council, Board and Annual General Meetings
• represent the Society at functions, meetings and in the media in line with the agreed strategy
• maintain the trustees鈥� commitment to board renewal and succession planning, in line with best practice.

The applicant must be eligible to become a trustee and must be a Society member.

To see the full Job Description,

How to apply

We are accepting applications from the BSSS membership now and look forward to finding out who the next BSSS President Elect will be.

To apply, please submit your CV and a covering letter to admin@soils.org.uk

Deadline for applications: Friday 27 March 2026

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A Rich Programme

At our Annual Conference, we were delighted to welcome 200 delegates, building on our record total from the previous year. As you can see, it was a very rich and diverse programme which included an impact session, 4 discussion panel sessions, 2 keynotes, 28 oral presentations across 5 themes, 7 quickfire presentations, 60 posters with 3 poster sessions, 11 parallel sessions, an art and culture exhibition, the Soiols Use and Management anniversary networking event, 2 scientific and 1 cultural tour, and our EGM where we confirmed our new Early Careers Committee Chair. We also had high profile delegates and speakers such as Tony Juniper CBE (Chair of Natural England), Prof. Pete Smith (delivering the invited talk) and Dr. Nils Broothaerts (from the European Commission).

Integrated Perspectives

The Society is committed to the study of soil in its widest aspects and brings together those in academia, in industry, and all those working with, or with an interest in soils. The conference really is the embodiment of this. The five abstract themes of soils for people, soils for climate, soils for water, soils for life and advances for soils helped delegates to learn and understand more about soil in these wide aspects and allow them to take this into their own research and work. Poster sessions provided emerging researchers and practitioners the chance to share work on contemporary soil challenges, from microbial ecology to landscape-scale soil functions. The conference welcomed delegates from all over the UK and also internationally (from 4 continents), highlighting the importance and influence of the work that was on show. A popular highlight was our art and culture room that featured artworks, films, ceramics, a 鈥楽inging Compost鈥� set up and VR headsets.

Gala Dinner

At the end of the first day, we organised a Gala Dinner at Manchester Hall, where we were treated to music from musicians from the Royal Northern College of Music. We had 70 delegates at the event which featured a drinks reception and then a 3 course meal in the Goulbourne Suite, intertwined with Christmas and Manchester-themed music. We welcomed three guest speakers, all from our art and culture room. Daro Montag set the scene for the evening and explained about his work with Rothamsted and the Broadbalk archive. Later on, Karolina Trdlicova and Emma McKenna highlighted their social science projects and how scientists can engage the general public. The evening was lead by Prof. Paul Hallett and we presented our Outstanding Society Contribution Award or OSCA to Dr. Danni Robb for all her work for our Early Career members.

Scientific Tours

On Friday 4 December, we went on our scientific and cultural tours. The main scientific tour took place at Bold Moss in St Helens (part of the Mersey Forest) where delegates learnt about the soil management initiatives on the site. The tour was led by Professor John Handley, a peatland and habitat specialist, who shared his expertise on how healthy soils support biodiversity, store carbon and contribute to climate resilience. The second tour was at Manchester City Stadium where delegates got an exclusive look on the pitch from the head groundsman at the club, whilst also giving delegates a closer look at the state of the art equipment and seeing how it all works.

Outreach and Engagement

A key theme from both conferences was the social sciences element and how members can translate their science into something that the public can engage with. It was fascinating to see how art and culture could also fit into this space and was a different angle for people to consider. Prior to the conference, we were pleased to visit a local school in Manchester to provide an outreach session for Year 3 and 4 classes as part of their soils and rocks element of their curriculum. Lead by Dr. Lizzie Sagoo and Dr. Marta Cattin, we were able to engage the children by getting their hands dirty and learning about the importance of soil. The event was an opportunity to use one of our loan boxes and highlight the experiments that are featured.

Exhibitors and Sponsors

We had 3 headline sponsors, one of which was our journal, Soil Use and Management, that was celebrating their 40^th anniversary. We had 14 exhibitors, several of which also provided their own CPD parallel sessions which really enhanced our programme and was well received by the delegates. Thank you to all our partners and sponsors for supporting the event and providing further engagement for the delegates. It was great to be showcasing exclusive sessions at the conference such as the LandIS Open Access National Soils Portal Launch which was an important industry update for stakeholders and members alike.

Supporting Early Career Members

The start of the week featured an engaging Early Careers event with workshops and presentations to aid the development and learning of 100 Early Careers members. Sessions on Effective Communication, Soil Classification and Description, as well as Career Pathways in Soil Science equipped many aspiring soil academics and practitioners with the skills and advice needed to thrive in the industry.

Soils are increasingly recognised as foundational for global sustainability. With mounting policy focus on land use and soil protection, the BSSS Annual Conference provided a vital forum to share research, build partnerships, and inspire actionable solutions across sectors.

Researchers left with fresh ideas on:

• strengthening soil health monitoring,
• integrating soil data into environmental decision-making,
• and applying interdisciplinary approaches to complex soil issues.

Whether you鈥檙e a soil scientist or new to the Society, the conference reaffirmed a simple truth: healthy soils are indispensable for a resilient and sustainable future.

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With the UK consultation on a new approach to land use highlighting the need to protect our most productive agricultural land and enhance food security, the role of soil health is more critical than ever. Across the world, there is growing recognition鈥攆rom bodies such as the UK EFRA Committee鈥攖hat soil health should be treated with the same priority as water and air. This conference will provide a platform to discuss these pressing issues, with a focus on:

• The role of soil in climate adaptation, flood mitigation, land remediation and biodiversity
• The policy landscape surrounding soil protection and land use
• The latest research and innovations supporting long-term soil resilience

Programme

The exciting and diverse programme will feature keynote speakers and experts across the 2 days. Our programme features opening remarks from Tony Juniper (Chair of Natural England), the BSSS invited lecture from Pete Smith (Professor of Soils & Global Change at the University of Aberdeen), an impact session with William Blake (University of Plymouth), Diana Mangalagiu (University of Oxford) and Bruce Lascelles (IUSS President-Elect), a flood and water session from David Robinson (UKCEH) and David Tompkins (Associate Director at WSP), and also a regenerative agriculture session with Pippa Chapman (University of Leeds), Ruth Wade (University of Leeds), Hannah Cooper (University of Nottingham), and Philip Wright (Wright Resolutions Ltd). This is in addition to other sessions on the EU Mission Soil, Land Remediation, and the role of arts and culture. You can find all the details in our conference programme.

Conference Programme

Abstracts and Presentations

The scientific committee accepted oral and poster abstracts across five topics, linked to the conference theme, which includes:

1. Soils for People聽[Covering all aspects of Soil Health, Soil Functions, Indicators, Metrics, Ecosystem Service Delivery, Soil Biodiversity, and Sustainable Soils in Different Land Uses.]
2. Soils for Climate聽[Covering aspects such as Net Zero, Carbon Sequestration, Peatlands, Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fluxes]
3. Soils for Water聽[Covering aspects such as Nutrient and Water management, Soil Erosion, and Nutrient and Water Use Efficiency.]
4. Advances for Soils聽[Covering aspects such as Sensors and Instrumentation, New techniques, AI and data, Modelling, and Decision support tools.]
5. Soils for Life聽[Soil, social sciences and culture, Interdisciplinary work, Stakeholder engagement, Participatory research and citizen science, and Art and culture.]

We look forward to hearing innovative research developments in soil science from BSSS members and partners from across the UK and the world.

Outreach

We will be bringing an art and culture room to the conference again where delegates can interact with artists and researchers showcasing their work, and engage with soil science in a different way. The room will feature work from Jo Pearl, Daro Montag, Paul Granjon, Emma McKenna and Karolina Trdlicova. We will also be hosting a talking soil bench at the venue which features an inbuilt speaker system that can play a sequence of audio tracks to convey information about the local area and soils in general. In this case, users will be able to go on an intriguing journey to listen and learn about the fascinating soils beneath their feet. As part of the conference, we will also be looking to deliver an outreach session at a local school to highlight the importance of soil and engaging the children in several activities from our loan box.听

Gala Dinner

There will be a Gala Dinner on the first day of the Annual Conference on聽Wednesday 3 December from 7:30pm – 12am which will be held at Manchester Hall. This will consist of a 3 course meal and a drinks reception, plus entertainment and awards in one of the most uniquely historic venues in Manchester, providing an authentic experience for the conference.听

This is set to be a fabulous event and a great opportunity to sit down and network with other delegates. It will also be the perfect way to celebrate the work of the Society with a selection of awards and speeches over the course of the night. Tickets are still available so even if you aren’t able to join us for the conference, you can still boom your place at this exclusive event.听

Sponsors

We are delighted to be working with several sponsors who are supporting us on the conference.

Headline Sponsors

Our headline sponsors are Soil Use and Management (one of the Society’s journals), Elementar, and Leco.

Session Sponsors

Our session sponsors are: Cranfield University and LandIS, Van Walt, AMAST Network, and Royal Eijkelkamp.听Look out for their presentations in the parallel room at the conference.

Exhibitors

All of our headline and session sponsors will be exhibiting along with: The Dutch Scientist, Umwelt-Ger盲te-Technik GmbH (UGT), Burleigh Dodds and CABI.

Supporters and Partners

We are delighted to be working partnership with Manchester Accommodation BID in the delivery of the event, and would like to thank them for their continued support and expertise. Land Drainage Consultancy Ltd (LDC) is our lanyard sponsors for both the Annual Conference and Early Careers Conference.

Tickets

Tickets are still available to purchase with 1 or 2 days options, and exclusive discounts for BSSS members. We look forward to seeing a record attendance in Manchester.

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To nominate a member, please complete the and include a brief summary of why you feel the member deserves recognition.

Please return this completed form to admin@soils.org.uk by the closing date of Friday 7 November听补迟 5:00pm.

Nominations will be reviewed by the Grants & Awards Committee and the winner will be announced during the Society’s in Manchester, which takes place from Wednesday 3 to Friday 5 December 2025.

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The 快猫短视频 (BSSS) is delighted to announce that we have been chosen as the host of the EUROSOIL conference in 2028, which is due to be held in Edinburgh. Following a presentation from BSSS President, Prof. Paul Hallett, and Executive Director Andy Morris, at the 2025 EUROSOIL conference in Seville, Spain; BSSS was selected by a unanimous vote to host the next conference. The conference is set to take place on 4-7 September 2028.

We wanted to congratulate the Spanish Society of Soil Science (Sociedad Espa帽ola de la Ciencia del Suelo or SECS) for delivering a fantastic conference in 2025 and we will look to build on this and continue this legacy in 2028.

What is EUROSOIL?

EUROSOIL is the official meeting of the European Confederation of Soil Science Societies (ECSSS) and is held every four years. It is among Europe鈥檚 most important Soil Sciences events and offers a fantastic opportunity for knowledge transfer among the Soil Sciences community.

About BSSS

The 快猫短视频 (BSSS) is an established international membership organisation committed to the study of soil in its widest aspects. The Society brings together those working within academia, practitioners implementing soil science in industry and all those working with, or with an interest in soils.

This is a fantastic opportunity for the organisation to bring together the soil science community and showcase the amazing work being developed in this sector across the world.

鈥淲e are extremely excited and pleased to bring Eurosoil to Edinburgh in 2028. 聽We hope to continue the legacy of Eurosoil 2025 by welcoming our International colleagues to the fantastic city of Edinburgh and share their latest cutting-edge research, engage in knowledge exchange and inform policy makers around the critical discipline of soil science.鈥�

 

Prof. Paul Hallett and Andy Morris, BSSS President and Executive Director

The Location

EUROSOIL 2028 will be held in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland (UK). Edinburgh is one of Europe鈥檚 most compact and walkable capital cities. It is a global leader in sustainable tourism and green initiatives with City-wide Net Zero targets and green transport options. Edinburgh is also a UNESCO World Heritage city, renowned for its history, culture, and architecture. We are confident that an Edinburgh bid will not only attract a record number of delegates from the UK but also internationally. It has been ranked the most popular destination in the UK for eight years running for hosting UK and International Association Meetings (ICCA, 2019).

The Venue

The conference is planned to be held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC). The EICC is a world-class venue located in the heart of Scotland鈥檚 capital. Purpose-built for conferences and events, the EICC offers modern, flexible space and cutting-edge technology to support events of all sizes and formats.

The EICC is committed to sustainability, with a strong track record in responsible event delivery.听 It has hosted many prestigious international events and offers a seamless delegate experience in one of Europe鈥檚 most inspiring cities.

Creating a Legacy

As part of the bid to host EUROSOIL 2028 in Edinburgh, the 快猫短视频 (BSSS) is collaborating closely with our Professional Conference Organiser (PCO), EICC and the Edinburgh Convention Bureau to maximise the event鈥檚 legacy potential and societal impact.

These partners have expressed a strong commitment to co-creating a city-wide activation strategy that aligns with the core objectives of the congress, while enhancing public awareness and strengthening the visibility of soil science across diverse audiences.

A key component of this collaboration is developing a strategic legacy program to help define, plan, and evaluate impact. This programme will include a tailored measurement and reporting framework that allows both BSSS and the European Confederation of Soil Science Societies (ECSS) to identify clear legacy goals and track their achievement over time.

The proposed legacy strategy will enable EUROSOIL 2028 to contribute meaningfully not only to the scientific community, but also to the broader societal and environmental landscape of the host city, Edinburgh.

More details will follow in the coming months including how to register, partner and get involved in the event.

For further details or enquiries, please contact Andrew Morris at andrewmorris@soils.org.uk

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Have you achieved a high level of professional experience within soil science? Do you consider yourself to have national and international recognition within your field? Are you a Chartered Scientist or interested in becoming one? If so, the Professional Practice Committee is accepting applications for Fellow membership who have at least 10 years experience within the sector. Those awarded Fellow are entitled to use the designation F.I. Soil Sci.

For further information on the eligibility criteria of Fellow membership, please download our .

If you would like to be considered as a Fellow of the Society, please download the 聽and return it to聽admin@soils.org.uk听产别蹿辞谤别听5:00pm听辞苍听Tuesday 30 September.

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This year marks a special milestone for聽Soil Use and Management聽as we proudly celebrate 40 years of advancing knowledge and insight into the vital role of soil in agriculture, the environment, and policy. Over four decades, the journal has grown into a leading platform for cutting-edge research that helps shape sustainable land use and soil stewardship worldwide.

As we enter this exciting new chapter, we are delighted to welcome our new Editor-in-Chief, Professor Leo Condron, who took the helm in January 2025. Bringing fresh energy and vision, he is committed to guiding the journal into its next era, ensuring it remains at the forefront of soil science while addressing some of the most pressing global challenges of our time.

In this blog, we explore the journal鈥檚 renewed mission, key themes, and future directions under Professor Condron鈥檚 leadership. Join us as we look back on the past and look forward to the future of Soil Use and Management.

Meet the Editor-in-Chief: Professor Leo Condron

Professor Leo Condron聽brings a wealth of experience and passion to his role as Editor-in-Chief of聽. Born in Glasgow, he started his academic career with a BSc Honours degree in Agricultural Chemistry from the University of Glasgow. Soon after, he moved to New Zealand, where he completed his PhD in Soil Science at Lincoln College (then part of the University of Canterbury).

With nearly four decades in academia and research, Professor Condron has developed deep expertise in how land use and management affect soils鈥攅specially focusing on phosphorus cycling, organic matter dynamics in grassland and forest soils, soil chronosequence biogeochemistry, and relationships between soil microbial diversity and function. His work has significantly advanced our understanding of biological processes that influence phosphorus availability in soil-plant systems鈥攁 contribution recognized when he was awarded a Doctor of Science degree by the University of Canterbury in 2016.

Over his career to date, Professor Condron has published more than 330 articles and reports, including 300 journal papers. Beyond his research, he鈥檚 also a dedicated mentor, having supervised over 120 postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows, helping to shape the next generation of soil scientists.

With this impressive background, he鈥檚 perfectly positioned to lead聽Soil Use and Management聽into its next chapter.

What Is聽Soil Use and Management鈥檚 Mission?

础蝉听Soil Use and Management聽celebrates its 40th anniversary, we鈥檙e reflecting not just on where we鈥檝e come from鈥攂ut also where we鈥檙e headed. I had the privilege of stepping into the role of Editor-in-Chief in January 2025, and one of my first tasks was to revisit and revise the journal鈥檚 mission statement to reflect our evolving vision.

At its core, Soil Use and Management聽is about exactly that: how we use and manage soil. But it鈥檚 also about much more. While soil science is central to our work, the journal lives at the intersection of agricultural science, environmental science, and policy.

 

Prof. Leo Condron, Editor-in-Chief

We鈥檙e particularly interested in novel research that sheds light on how both natural and human-driven processes influence the function, health, productivity, and sustainability of managed soil systems.

A concept that is gaining renewed importance in our work is 鈥渟oil stewardship.鈥� This goes far beyond the boundaries of individual farms. Stewardship speaks to a broader, global responsibility鈥攁 recognition that how we manage soil has far-reaching impacts, from mitigating and adapting to climate change, to protecting environmental quality, to supporting food security, and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Ultimately, our emphasis is on soil management鈥攈ow we treat, tend, and transform soil in the face of growing global challenges. Of course, land use and land use change play key roles, but we see them as interconnected with the bigger picture of soil management. That鈥檚 where our focus lies as we enter this exciting new chapter.

Why Is Soil Stewardship So Important?

Soil might be under our feet, but it鈥檚 also at the heart of everything we do above ground, especially when it comes to growing food. Quite simply, soil stewardship is the foundation of sustainable terrestrial food systems. Without healthy, functioning soil, our ability to produce food鈥攁nd to do so reliably and responsibly鈥攕tarts to unravel.

One of the reasons soil stewardship matters so deeply is that soil degradation is, in many cases, irreversible. Once a soil is lost or severely degraded, we can鈥檛 just recreate it. Even a decline in its ability to function, whether that means retaining water, cycling nutrients, or supporting crops鈥攃an have serious consequences. It affects not only food supply and security but also the broader economy.

Farming isn鈥檛 just a way of life鈥攊t鈥檚 also a business. While subsistence farming is still the norm in many parts of the world, agriculture elsewhere operates on commercial scales. That means soil management decisions are often shaped by economic realities. But striking the right balance is key: between profitability, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility.

This is where policy has a crucial role to play. Good policy can help align those competing priorities, ensuring that economic incentives support soil health, that environmental goals are backed by practical measures, and that social values are respected in the process.

In the end, soil stewardship is about protecting a resource that underpins not just agriculture, but life itself. And doing it wisely means thinking long-term鈥攁bout people, planet, and prosperity.

What Are the Key Soil Trends to Watch This Year?

One of the most important鈥攁nd enduring鈥攖rends in soil science this year continues to be the focus on聽soil organic matter. And for good reasons. Soil organic matter is central to effective soil management because it influences nearly every aspect of how soil functions鈥攃hemically, biologically, and physically. In other words, it鈥檚 a cornerstone of聽soil health.

Alongside that, we see growing interest in how soils can be amended鈥攏ot just with traditional fertilizers, but also with innovative materials such as聽biochar. These types of amendments offer promising ways to enhance soil function and sustainability, particularly in the face of climate change and resource pressures.

These trends reflect a wider shift in soil research鈥攖oward integrated, system-based thinking that links soil health with sustainability, innovation, and practical outcomes for land managers.

What鈥檚 Coming Up in聽Soil Use and Management?

Looking ahead to upcoming issues of聽Soil Use and Management, we鈥檙e excited about several evolving themes and editorial directions that reflect both emerging challenges and new opportunities in the soil science community.

We鈥檙e actively working to develop a聽strategy for future reviews and thematic collections. The goal is to ensure we stay within our core mission while also remaining distinct from other journals in the field. We鈥檙e paying close attention to what鈥檚 already being covered elsewhere so we can bring fresh, original content to our readers鈥攚ithout duplicating efforts.

We will be聽commissioning keynote review and commentary articles, which will help spotlight underexplored issues or perspectives where we see a gap in current literature. It鈥檚 an opportunity to drive conversations forward and bring greater depth to complex topics in soil management. To this end Professor Adrian Unc from the Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada was recently appointed as the Editor for Alan Wild Reviews, Perspectives, and Topical Collections.

In short, we’re expanding the scope of the journal not just to keep pace with global trends鈥攂ut to help shape the dialogue around sustainable soil use in the years ahead.

Have an Idea for Publication? Here鈥檚 How to Get Started

If you鈥檝e got an idea for a paper or a special issue that fits within the scope of聽, we鈥檇 love to hear from you. The best first step is simple: just send me or the journal team an email to start the conversation.

We鈥檙e always open to exploring new ideas and collaborations, and reaching out early can help shape your submission to fit the journal鈥檚 mission and goals.

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In June, Andy Morris (Executive Director) and I attended Rhizosphere6 in Edinburgh where the BSSS was a sponsor, and we had our own stand.听 This international conference brought together 400 specialists from across the world to discuss the latest innovations on the below-ground world of plants and how they interact with soil. 聽Diverse research was presented including the search for new crop varieties that perform better under drought or reduced fertilisers, threats from climate change, food security and plant-soil processes that drive terrestrial biodiversity. 聽BSSS members, including former President Liz Baggs and me, were active as the organising committee, student helpers, session chairs and speakers. We had positive feedback on the BSSS from many delegates and took details of a few dozen new potential members.听 We also re-connected with several lapsed members and advocated the relevance of the BSSS to anyone working on soil.

Off the back of Rhizosphere6, I鈥檓 Guest Editing a Special Issue of the European Journal of Soil Science. 聽Titled 鈥�The role of the rhizosphere in improving soil鈥�, it will build on Peter Gregory鈥檚 Russell Review where he pondered 鈥淎re plant roots only 鈥渋n鈥� soil or are they 鈥渙f鈥� it?鈥�. 聽Its open to all for submissions by 30 October and to find out more, .

On behalf of our journals, Jenni Dungait (EJSS Editor) and I attended the European Geosciences Union (EGU) in Vienna at the end of April. I was a last-minute stand-in for Leo Condron, Soil Use and Management鈥檚 Editor (he had a family emergency due to a soil sampling related injury).听 We had stints at the Wiley stand where we publicised our journals, got feedback from potential authors, chatted with the editors of other journals and discussed journal strategy with our publisher. It was great to see so many BSSS members at the EGU, many of whom organised sessions or were solicited speakers.

Early July saw many of the BSSS Executive and members at Groundswell, the Regenerative Agriculture 鈥楩estival鈥� held in Hertfordshire. This is the only event I know of that features both a soil pit and a rave.听 Alongside our Corporate Members ADAS, farmers, specialists and the public got their hands dirty, learning and conversing about the fascinating properties of soils and how they can be protected through better practices.

Natural England hosted their Soil Health Conference in Sheffield in July. One session focussed on training opportunities at schools, universities and via our Working with Soils courses to ensure the next crop of trained soil scientists.听 We held the AGM at the end of the meeting, welcoming John Hollis and David Hopkins as new Honorary Members, and electing several new volunteers to Council.听 The following day the BSSS Board held a workshop to discuss our 80^th Anniversary celebrations, to be held in 2027!聽 We came up with many plans, including honouring the achievements of our members over the years.听 If you have any ideas on how to mark this important occasion, please let us know.

Our next big activity in Eurosoil being held in Seville this September. BSSS will have a stand and we hope to see you there. We have a panel session comprising 5 major projects either funded by the EU or national monitoring programmes. This will have a dual purpose for projects to demonstrate their exciting science and relevance to protecting soils, and as a networking event to bring projects together. It is being held on 10 September, 17:30鈥�18:30, in BAHIA Hall (Auditorium D). At the conference, the BSSS will be bidding to host Eurosoil in 2028.

So, it鈥檚 been another busy few months at the BSSS.听 With our involvement at various events, securing Kate Humble as our new Patron, contributing to several government enquiries related to soil health, and the growth of our journals, 2025 is turning out to be a successful year!

Prof. Paul Hallett

President

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