The 23rd World Congress of Soil Science
From June 7 to 12, 2026, the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS 2026) was held at the Nanjing International Expo Center. Dubbed the “Olympics” of soil science, this was the first time in nearly a century since the congress was founded in 1927 that the event was hosted in China. Co-organized by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) and the Soil Science Society of China (SSSC), and hosted by the Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISSCAS), the congress brought together nearly 3,000 soil scientists, researchers, practitioners, and industry representatives.
Congress venue (©SSSC)
The congress featured an exceptionally rich and comprehensive program. It included 8 plenary talks, 95 parallel sessions, 9 panel discussions, 5 interactive workshops and 15 featured talks, 2,007 oral presentations and 801 poster displays, and 7 entrepreneur sessions.
The opening ceremony was held on the morning of June 8. It was presided over by SHEN Renfang, ISSCAS Director and SSSC Honorable President. Seven Distinguished guests delivered welcome addresses including IUSS President Victor O. Chude, Nora Berrahmouni, Deputy Director of the Land and Water Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and ZHANG Jiabao, SSSC President and IUSS Vice President Congress. Prof. Zhang highlighted in his speech that no other discipline binds the microscopic world of mineral particles and microbial activity so intimately to the macroscopic imperatives of food security, climate change, and the destiny of humanity as does soil science. May this congress serve as a gift that we, together, offer to the soil-and may it become, in turn, a gift that the soil bestows upon the future of humanity.
During the plenary sessions, eight distinguished speakers shared their visions and research insights. A keynote highlight was delivered by Prof. SHEN Renfang, SSSC Honorable President and ISSCAS Director, who stated that they have developed a distinctive path that ensures stable yields, improves quality, and protects soil in parallel given China’s situation of large population but limited land.
The featured talks were delivered on June 9 and 12, bringing together 14 leading scholars in soil science from both China and abroad.
The talks on June 9 focused on frontier topics such as soil carbon sequestration, peat land carbon cycling, heavy metal pollution control in soil, coordinated soil and water management, black soil protection, and farmland nitrogen management. Talks on June 12 featured discussions on cutting-edge topics such as soil microbial responses to climate warming, nitrous oxide emission reduction, heavy metal soil remediation, soil virus-es and element cycling, and global soil erosion mapping.
v China-France Flagship Initiative on Sustainable Agriculture: Soil-Plant Interactions Dialogue
Organized by the CAS and the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), this event attracted 20 representatives who engaged in in-depth discussions on project implementation, research coordination, talent exchange, and technology transfer. Prof. YAN Xiaoyuan expressed his hope for deeper cooperation in soil-plant interactions, contributing jointly to global sustainable agricultural development based on China-France strong agricultural foundation.
A group photo of the Soil-Plant Interactions Dialogue participants (©SSSC)
v China-Spain Summer School on Soil Health and Sustainability
Co-organized by the ISSCAS, the SSSC, and the Beijing Society of Soil Science, and supported by the IUSS Young and Early Career Scientists Working Group, the Spanish Society of Soil Science and other institutes, the program brought together over 50 selected early-career researchers from China and Spain. They engaged in
They attended expert lectures, visited the Soil Museum and Zhenjiang field stations, and hosted a summer school session with talks and panels at the congress. In Beijing (June 13–15), they visited two CAS institutes to discuss soil remediation, fertilizer innovation, and joint collaboration.
A group photo of the Summer School participants (©SSSC)
The poster session was a major highlight, featuring an impressive total of 801 poster presentations. It provided an invaluable platform for researchers from around the world to showcase their latest findings, exchange ideas, and foster interdisciplinary collaborations.
Attendees exchanging ideas before their posters (©SSSC)
5th International Soil Judging Contest
A key pre-congress event, the 5th International Soil Judging Contest, was held from June 2 to 6, 2026, in Nanjing and Jurong, Jiangsu Province. This contest served as a critical platform for young soil scholars, bringing together approximately 120 experts and students from 16 different countries.
Onsite scene (©SSSC)
The contest included pre-event preparation, systematic training, mock exercises, and official contests. The awards ceremony was held at Ice-breaking Event on June 7. The contest provided an excellent platform for global academic exchange, advanced soil science education, and strengthened international cooperation in the field.
Prof. Yan presenting the medal to winners (©SSSC)
The congress concurrently hosted an extensive World Soil Science and Equipment Expo. It was split into four specialized zones: soil fertility, soil remediation, equipment and academic research.
Exhibition venue (©SSSC)
Numerous domestic and overseas instrument manufacturers attended, along with international research institutes such as FAO and IUSS. As a leading force in the domestic soil science field, the SSSC and ISSCAS made a joint appearance, systematically presenting an overview of their development course, organizational structure, and management systems, while prominently showcasing key research platforms, and fruitful achievements in international cooperation.
Profs. SHEN Renfang and SONG Xin talking to Prof. Kye-Hoon ‘John’ Kim at the ISSCAS booth (from left to right) (©SSSC)
Profs. YAN Xiaoyuan and Richard Heck at the ISSCAS booth (from left to right) (©SSSC)
v The IUSS Presidents Throughout One Hundred Years of Its History: This new book systematically documents the contributions and achievements of successive IUSS presidents, paying tribute to the pioneers who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the discipline.
IUSS President-elect Bruce Lascelles introducing the book (©SSSC)
v Book of Abstracts and Presentations of IUSS Centennial Celebration And Congress: These three volumes of the Book of Abstracts and Presentations represent a unique and unprecedented collection, as they bring together both the abstracts and the corresponding presentations of the contributions presented during the Centennial, for the Authors who have given permission at the Congress.
IUSS Past President Edoardo A.C. Costantini introducing the book (©SSSC)
v Frontiers in Soil Science: Authored by Prof. ZHU Yongguan, this book explores the convergence of core disciplinary challenges and disruptive technologies, structured around three thematic sections: Biology and Health, Fertility and Sustainable Use, and Pollution and Interdisciplinary Innovation.
Prof. ZHU Yongguan introducing the book (©SSSC)
v Green Fingers on Ancient Farmland: Wisdom of Traditional Chinese Land Use: This work, authored by Prof. CAI Zucong from Nanjing Normal University, describes how Chinese ancestors through their farming practices developed ideas centered on harmony among “Heaven’s timing, earth’s benefits, and Human harmony”, sustainability, and recycling of compost.
Prof. CAI Zucong introducing the book (©SSSC)
The congress was also a significant venue for the presentation of high-profile international awards.
IUSS Honorary Members: At the opening ceremony, IUSS President-Elect Bruce Lascelles and Past President Edoardo A.C. Costantini conferred the IUSS Honorary Membership awards to five newly recognized members. Three awardees are absent from this ceremony.
Learn more:
https://www.iuss.org/iuss-presidents-and-executive-committee/honorary-members/
IUSS Awards: During the gala dinner on June 11, IUSS Award Ceremony was held when six awards were presented including the Innovation Award, the Communication Award, the Emma Marie Antonie Täuber Award, the Jeju Award, the Von Liebig Award, and the Dokuchaev Award.
This congress arranged six in-congress field trips and four post-congress field trips. The in-congress field trips took place on June 10, 2026, including an Ecological Study Tour to the Institute of Soil Science, CAS, and Jiangsu Agricultural Expo Park.
Ecological Study Tour: ISSCAS + Jiangsu Agricultural Expo Park (©SSSC)
Ecological Study Tour: Soil Profile Survey & Zijin mountain (©SSSC)
Ecological Study Tour: Soil Carbon Neutrality and Climate Change Response Experimental Platform + Xuanwu Lake (©SSSC)
Cultural Experience Tour: Huanglongxian Tea Village (©SSSC)
Ecological Study Tour: Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Science (©SSSC)
Post-congress field trips offered participants opportunities to explore diverse soil landscapes and agricultural systems across different regions of China.
Soil and Geoscience Expedition in the Loess Plateau & Historical-Cultural Tour (©SSSC)
Northeast Thick Black Soil Region Scientific Expedition (©SSSC)
Scientific Expedition on Red Soil in South China (©SSSC)
Jiangnan Tea & Rice Soil Scientific Expedition (©SSSC)
The congress concluded on June 12, after five days of intense academic exchange and fruitful collaboration. The closing ceremony summarized the key outcomes and scientific advances achieved during the congress, with organizers expressing gratitude to all participants, volunteers, and partners who contributed to the success of this historic gathering.
Prof. SONG Xin making congress summary report (©SSSC)
The handover ceremony was also held. Prof. Zhang handed over the congress ball to Prof. Richard Heck, President of the Canadian Society of Soil Science, the host of the next congress. The 24th World Congress of Soil Science will take place in Toronto in July 2030, with the proposed theme “Soils in a Warmer World”.
Prof. ZHANG Jiabao handing over the ball to Prof. Richard Heck (©SSSC)
Hosting the event symbolically and practically deepens China’s involvement in shaping future research agendas and international cooperation frameworks dedicated to the sustainable stewardship of soil resources.