From 7 to 12 June 2026, the Roullier Endowment Fund took part in the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS 2026), held in Nanjing (China) under the theme ‘Soil and the Shared Future for Humanity’.
This major international event brought together more than 2,000 researchers, experts, representatives of international organisations and public decision-makers from 62 countries to discuss the key issues relating to soil conservation and sustainable soil management.
A global event dedicated to soil health
Throughout the week, the conferences and scientific sessions highlighted the vital role of soils in food security, combating climate change, preserving biodiversity and ensuring the sustainability of agricultural systems.
The topics covered included, in particular:
- soil health and related public policies;
- regenerative agriculture and climate resilience;
- sustainable nutrient management;
carbon sequestration in soils; - nature-based solutions for more sustainable agriculture;
- the role of digital technology and artificial intelligence in soil monitoring and assessment.
Valuable lessons for the Roullier Endowment Fund’s projects
Participation in this conference has helped to strengthen the FDR’s scientific and strategic monitoring of global soil-related challenges.
The discussions confirmed several key trends:
- soil health is now recognised as a major global issue;
subsurface biodiversity plays a key role in the functioning of ecosystems; - soil organic carbon is an important lever for climate change adaptation and mitigation;
- digital technologies are opening up new avenues for understanding and the sustainable management of land.
The numerous scientific presentations and poster sessions also helped to identify innovative projects focusing on soil health indicators, agroecological systems, microbial biodiversity and carbon dynamics.
Developing international partnerships
This visit also provided an opportunity to meet numerous international stakeholders involved in soil science.
In particular, discussions took place with representatives from the FAO, the World Soil Museum (Netherlands), Embrapa (Brazil), European and South American universities, as well as with several researchers specialising in soil health, carbon, agroecosystems and public awareness.
These meetings help to strengthen the Roullier Endowment Fund’s international network and identify new opportunities for scientific cooperation.
Focus on scientific cooperation between France and China
On the fringes of the conference, participation in the “China-France Flagship Initiative on Sustainable Agriculture” event provided an opportunity to learn about several cooperation projects between French and Chinese institutions focusing on sustainable agriculture.
Discussions centred on collaborative research programmes, the prospects for international partnerships and funding schemes supporting scientific exchanges between the two countries.
A visit to the Nanjing Soil Museum
The trip concluded with a visit to the Nanjing Soil Museum, located within the Institute of Soil Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
This museum showcases the diversity of China’s soils, their role in ecosystems and the major challenges they face. The exhibitions also highlight the measures being taken to ensure their conservation and sustainable management, providing an excellent tool for raising public awareness of soil-related issues.
A rewarding experience in support of the FDR’s objectives
This participation in the WCSS 2026 helps to strengthen the Roullier Endowment Fund’s scientific monitoring, expand its international network and inform its thinking on soil conservation, sustainable agriculture and the dissemination of scientific knowledge to as wide an audience as possible.