On 20 March 2021, Soil Science Society of China (SSSC) sighed a MoU with Soil Science Society of America(SSSA) and established the Joint Working Group to conduct academic exchanges in soil quality and agricultural development, and strengthen scientific cooperation to innovate soil sciences theories and work out solutions to climate change, food production and other critical issues under the guidance of Prof. Jiaobao Zhang, SSSC President, and Prof. Michael L. Thompson, SSSA President-Elect.

On 23 February 2023, SSSC-SSSA Joint Working Group held a webinar on soils and climate change as one in series of collaborative efforts by the two societies to strengthen the transfer of soil science knowledge and experience.

Professor Michael L. Thompson Visited ISSCAS on Invitation

Photo with Prof. Michael L. Thompson in soil museum (©SSSC)

From 18-20 July, Prof. Michael L. Thompson, SSSA President-Elect, came to visit the ISSCAS under the invitation of SSSC. The ISSCAS organized an academic meeting with more than 200 research staff and students. During the meeting, Prof. Michael L. Thompson presented his report “Black Soil and Organic Matter” to introduce black soil in Iowa including its structure, characteristics, organic matter distribution, etc., and had discussions with attendees.

After the academic meeting, Prof. Xiaoyuan Yan, SSSC Vice President, Prof. Fang Wang, Chair of SSSC International Collaboration Working Committee, and Dr. Weidong Yan, SSSC Vice Secretary-General, communicated issues concerning two societies’ cooperation in the future like joint membership, professional meetings, publications, etc.

SSSC-SSSA Working Group Hosted Joint Symposium on “Rapid Evolution in Black Soil Science” in Changchun

Group Photo(©SSSC)

From 20-21 July 2023, the joint symposium on “rapid evolution in black soil science” was hosted by SSSC-SSSA Working Group and organized by the Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, CAS (IGACAS) and ISSCAS in Changchun with over 300 Chinese and American experts and graduates attending in person and online.

During the opening ceremony, Prof. Xiujun Li, IGACAS Vice President, addressed speech in which he briefed China’s black soil research history, status and major challenges faced in global black soil and hoped two societies’ cooperation would lay good foundation for black soil research. In the following two keynote sessions chaired by Prof. Guanghua Wang from IGACAS and Prof. Limei Zhang from the Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, CAS, Prof. Michael L. Thompson summarized two global hot research topics on black soil organic matter in his report “Grand Challenges and Research Priorities on Soil Organic Matter” and Prof. Shuijin Hu from North Carolina State University expounded his view on the frontiers in balancing grain production increase in black soil region and carbon neutrality in his report “Tradeoffs between fine roots and mycorrhizal fungi modulate climate change effects on soil organic carbon”.

In terms of the symposium’s theme “Rapid Evolution in Black Soil Science”, over 10 experts from the Institute of Applied Ecology, CAS, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, CAS, ISSCAS and IGACAS introduced their research progress in China’s black soil organic matter mapping based on remote sensing, black soil erosion control, black soil contamination by chemical pesticides and remediation, carbon accumulation in black soil, chemotaxis of soil bacterial, single cell and soil microbiome, and life and death in the soil organism.

At the end of the symposium, Prof. Michael L.Thompson concluded that he was impressed by Chinese researchers’ excellence in interdisciplinary collaboration, and pointed out the urgency to unify definition of some terms such as carbon storage, carbon sequestration and carbon capture under the fact of rapidly evolving black soil science. He also expressed his gratitude to IGACAS for organizing the symposium which made a flying start for SSSC-SSSA cooperation, and hoped it will become a routine for both sides’ communication.

Profs. Jiabao Zhang and Michael L. Thompson Attended 3rd International Symposium on Black Soil Conservation and Utilization

Prof. Jiabao Zhang talking with Prof. Michael L. Thompson(©SSSC)

From 21-23 July 2023, Profs. Jiaobao Zhang and Michael L. Thompson were invited by IGACAS to attend the 3rd International Symposium on Black Soil Conservation and Utilization & the 9th Lishu Black Soil Forum which was successfully held in Changchun.

Under the title of “Soil Health of Mollisols and Beyond: Grand Challenges and Global Significance”, Prof. Jiabao Zhang gave a fascinating insight into the soil health’s concept and evolution, and clearly stated the necessity of mastering the history of soil formation and development and insisting on internal stability theories and technologies innovation to keep black soils healthy in order to increase soil productivity and biodiversity. While Prof. Michael L. Thompson detailed the evolution history of American black soil after the European immigration to North America in 1832 and showcased latest research and significance of black soil erosion control, carbon sequestration, etc.

During the symposium, they had interviews with The People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency and other media during which they put forward their views on Chinese and American experience and advanced technologies in black soil protection and SSSC-SSSA strengthened communication and cooperation to address climate change and other major challenges.