12 June 2013: At its First Plenary Assembly, the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) launched a new Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS) to provide scientific and technical advice on global soil issues for the GSP and for other international institutions. The ITPS will also advocate sustainable soil management in sustainable development agendas.

The meeting of the GSP Plenary Assembly was held at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) from 11-12 June 2013. The Assembly also approved the GSP Rules of Procedure. Partners provided support for World Soil Day and the International Year of Soils, as well as the Plans of Action for the five GSP Pillars related to: soil data and information; sustainable soil management; targeted soil research; and technical cooperation, policy education and extension. The Development of a GSP Roadmap was also discussed related to links to the Rio Conventions, the World Soil Charter, global soil information, soil restoration programs and the Global Soil Biodiversity Assessment. The Secretariat was also requested to establish a trust fund to support the development of the GSP plans of action. Partners stressed that soils should not be neglected in international discussions. [GSP Press Release] [First Plenary Assembly of the GSP Documentation]