On behalf of the GCSAYN Board of Directors, it is with great enthusiasm that we confirm the designation of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, as the GCSAYN West African Hub. The Hub will be co-led in partnership with Kaduna State University (Nigeria), University of The Gambia, and City of Mercy Christian Academy (Nigeria). These four institutions have been recognized as new *Centers of Excellence (CoEs)* and will play a pivotal role in ensuring the effective implementation of all GCSAYN programs and activities throughout West Africa. As autonomous entities, the CoEs will organize regional meetings, coordinate initiatives, and report directly to the Executive Office of the Executive Director (EOED).

Leadership Statements

Ambassador Dr. Hans Hoogeveen, Chair of the GCSAYN Board, stated: “This milestone reflects GCSAYN鈥檚 commitment to empowering young leaders and institutions across Africa to drive sustainable agricultural transformation. The selection of these distinguished institutions as Centers of Excellence ensures strong regional leadership and impactful implementation.”

GCSAYN Executive Director, Divine Ntiokam, added: “The establishment of the West African Hub is a strategic move to deepen our grassroots engagement and accelerate climate-smart agriculture solutions led by youth. We are confident in the capacity of these institutions to deliver meaningful change.”

Secretary General Anantdeep Dhillon commented: “Collaboration across borders is essential for addressing climate challenges. This Hub represents a powerful network of innovation, knowledge-sharing, and coordinated action across West Africa.”

Messages from the Centers of Excellence

A representative from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, remarked: “We are honored to serve as the West African Hub for GCSAYN. This responsibility aligns with our mission to advance research, innovation, and youth empowerment in sustainable agriculture.”

Kaduna State University, Nigeria, shared: “As a co-lead institution, we are committed to fostering collaboration and supporting youth-driven agricultural transformation across the region.”

The University of The Gambia stated: “We look forward to contributing our expertise and strengthening regional partnerships to advance climate-smart agricultural practices.”

City of Mercy Christian Academy, Nigeria, added: “This opportunity enables us to expand our impact by equipping young people with the knowledge and tools needed to build resilient agricultural systems.”

About GCSAYN:

The Climate Smart Agriculture Youth Network Global (GCSAYN) is a global platform dedicated to empowering young people to lead and innovate in climate-smart agriculture. Through partnerships, capacity-building, and advocacy, GCSAYN supports sustainable agricultural development and climate resilience worldwide.

Media Contact:

Office of the Secretary General

Climate Smart Agriculture Youth

Network Global (GCSAYN)

secretariat@csaynglobal.org

+1 (250) 516 3913

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The IUSS Mission is to promote all branches of soil science and its applications, to promote contacts among scientists and other people engaged in the study and the application of soil science, to stimulate scientific research and to further the application of such research. With 60,000 soil scientists globally as its membership, the opportunities through the networks IUSS supports to educate, influence and engage on soils in the widest context are immense.

My aspiration for IUSS, building on all the work that IUSS has done over the last 100 years, is to ensure IUSS further enhances its clear focus on advancing the discipline of soil science and supporting the development of soil scientist across our community, alongside ensuring IUSS is known as the global champion for the recognition of soils, and the first point of contact for advice, guidance and support. With the World Congress of Soil Science happening in Nanjing in June this year there will be a lot of activity, and just as with the legacy BSSS and IUSS together delivered from the last Congress in Glasgow, we want to use the extra momentum the World Congress generates to focus attention on existing activities and kickstart new initiatives.

The theme for World Congress is Soil and the Shared Future for Humanity, and this links well to the聽IUSS 2025-2034 Decade of Soil Sciences for Sustainable Development 鈥� Healthy Soils for Humanity. As soils continue to move up the agenda, with these themes setting the framework for conversations and debate, and events such as the World Congress facilitating the sharing of science, the building of relationships and enabling collaboration, now really is a good time to be a soil scientist.聽

The opportunity for National Soil Science Societies to work together more to promote soil science globally and to share examples of best practice between peers, related scientific disciplines and society (including with policy makers) will play a large part in creating a framework for success in addressing the existential threats we face; for example, without healthy and secure soils we can鈥檛 achieve food security, social stability and resilience and a sustainable future. I look forward to discussing, collaborating and building relationships as part of my role, not least in person in Nanjing this year.

聽Soil Judging Competition

BSSS is proud to be supporting the next generation of soil scientists by sending a team to Nanjing to take part in the soil judging competition. This is a fantastic opportunity for participants to develop their practical skills, represent the UK on an international stage, and connect with peers from across the global soil science community.

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Elemtex Ltd. manufacture and sell consumables for elemental analysers. They also sell consumables and spare parts’ for EA-IRMS systems. They ship globally from their headquarters in Cornwall UK.

We are delighted to be a corporate member of the BSSS network enabling us to offer high quality Elemtex products to support the research and analysis of all soil laboratories involved.

 

Ken Neal, Director at Elemtex

To learn more about their work visit:

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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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Van Walt Ltd designs, installs, supplies & rents equipment for environmental research and monitoring in the UK, Ireland, Spain, New Zealand and South Africa. With over 40 plus years of experience within the environmental monitoring industry, their team is armed with decades of knowledge, experience on site, and technical and hands on experience with the equipment they offer.

Van Walt has over four decades of experience with supplying soil sampling solutions. Our attendance at the Manchester BSSS conference was an affirmation of how dedicated and passionate this organisation and others are towards the future of soil science. We were especially pleased to see the volume of activity and dedication that the BSSS provides within the industry, and Van Walt are very proud to have become a corporate member. With our collaboration, we hope to continue to inspire future generations.

 

Van Walt

To learn more about their work visit:

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I was born in Delft in the Netherlands and studied Physical Geography as an undergraduate at the University of Amsterdam. From there, I completed a PhD in Soil Science at the University of Bangor in Wales, focusing on phenolic compounds in upland soils.

My early career included a postdoctoral position at the NERC Radiocarbon Laboratory in East Kilbride, where I worked on radiocarbon ¹⁴C dating of UK soils and their constituents. I then spent several years as a research scientist studying soil organic matter dynamics at IGER North Wyke, which later became Rothamsted North Wyke.

Since 2012, I have been based in Germany as Research Leader for soil organic matter dynamics and elemental cycles at Forschungszentrum J眉lich. Across these roles, my work has consistently focused on understanding soils as complex, dynamic systems.

________________________________________

Q: What are the main themes of your research today?

My research centers on biogeochemical processes at the soil鈥搘ater鈥揳ir interface, operating at both field and landscape scales in natural and agricultural ecosystems. A particular emphasis of my work is on the use of isotope signatures as tracers 鈥� for carbon, nutrients, other elements, and colloids 鈥� to better understand soil processes in the wider environment.

Over the years, I have co-authored more than 400 peer-reviewed papers and have supervised PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and early career scientists across multiple countries. This international experience strongly informs me how I view both soil science and scientific publishing.

________________________________________

Q: Why is soil science 鈥� and publishing high-quality soil science 鈥� so important right now?

There is growing recognition of the critical role soils play in planetary health, food security, climate regulation, and ecosystem resilience. With that recognition comes responsibility.

Soil scientists must provide high-quality, coherent, and trustworthy knowledge to support efforts to address the multiple environmental challenges we face. Long-standing, excellence-driven journals like the European Journal of Soil Science (EJSS) play a vital role in ensuring that decision-makers and the scientific community have access to robust, well-reviewed research.

________________________________________

Q: How do you view the role of EJSS within the global soil science community?

At the heart of any successful journal is a strong covenant between authors, editors, and reviewers. All parties share responsibility for achieving the highest possible quality in the final published work.

EJSS is a society-based journal with a global outlook. That means we aim to publish soil science that is relevant to our society while also serving the wider international community. Equally important is ensuring the journal remains open and accessible to researchers worldwide who wish to contribute high-quality work, evaluated through a rigorous and fair peer review process.

________________________________________

Q: You became Editor-in-Chief in January 2026. What priorities have you set for the journal so far?

Since taking on the role of EiC, we have already begun several important initiatives. One key focus has been expanding the pool of Associate Editors to ensure broader global coverage and expertise across soil science disciplines.

We are also continuing to invest in the training of new reviewers, which is essential for maintaining review quality and supporting the next generation of soil scientists. In parallel, we are developing clear guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in publishing, reflecting wider developments across academic journals.

________________________________________

Q: How is EJSS responding to emerging research needs and trends in soil science?

We have initiated new special issues in direct response to current needs identified by the soil science community. These special issues allow the journal to engage more actively with emerging themes while maintaining our core commitment to scientific quality.

While methods, tools, and topical priorities may evolve over time, the focus of EJSS will always remain soil science 鈥� in all its forms and applications.

________________________________________

Q: What does 鈥渜uality鈥� mean to you in the context of EJSS?

Quality is a shared responsibility. It involves authors presenting robust, clearly articulated research; reviewers offering constructive, expert feedback; and editors ensuring fairness, consistency, and scientific integrity throughout the process.

Beyond authors and reviewers, quality is also supported by the production and publishing teams who help bring each paper to its final form. EJSS succeeds because of the collective efforts of everyone involved.

________________________________________

Q: What are you most looking forward to as Editor-in-Chief?

I am very happy to be part of such a committed and experienced team and to contribute to the continued success of EJSS in my role as Editor-in-Chief.

Above all, I look forward to engaging with the many high-quality submissions that come to the journal and working with authors, editors, and reviewers to ensure EJSS continues to publish excellent soil science that meets the needs of both the scientific community and society at large.

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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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The EC conference held during the first week of December 2025 was a mix of workshops and presentations, giving delegates the stage to showcase their projects. The theme was resilient soils for a sustainable future, inviting delegates to present work on soils for climate, people, water, life and advances for soil. With dedicated poster sessions and oral presentations, it gave delegates the chance to discuss their work with peers. Posters and presentations were judged with prizes awarded for best talk and poster. Many congratulations to Catherine Martinez for best oral presentation, Sara Trojahn for best poster and Abbie Rogers for delegates choice on best poster.

The conference started with a social bingo session, acting as an ice-breaker for the delegates to network. Further workshops focused on effective communication in a range of scenarios and audiences to equip delegates with tools to communicate both within and outside of academic audiences. A soils profile workshop aimed to demystify soil classification and allowed delegates to get their hands dirty by assessing multiple soil cores.

The following day, Past-President Prof. Jack Hannam gave an excellent keynote speech on her career journey, providing helpful tips and insights. This set the scene for a career session designed to showcase multiple pathways into soil science careers, with a great panel discussing among many items, the skills they found most useful in their disciplines.

At the end of the conference, the outgoing chair of the EC committee, Dr Dannielle Robb, was presented with the Outstanding Society Contribution Award. This was well deserved for her hard work on the committee to generate events and provide information useful for early career members, her efforts to get the first UK soil judging competition underway and her passionate dedication to soil science.

On a final note, it was very pleasing to hear from a delegate in the annual conference (that immediately followed the EC conference), was their observation that the EC members who had stayed on formed groups with each other. This showed that we had achieved our intention for the EC conference to provide a space for delegates to meet and connect with peers, connections that could last throughout their careers.

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