Worldwide Portal to Information on Soil Health  English Español
Site Map   Learning Modules   Discussion Archives	Organizations, Networks and Other Groups focusing on soil health, cover crops, organic inputs and related soil biology and soil management topics Non-Govermental Organizations/Centers/Programs Networks, Associations and Societies Research and Educational Institutes (groups and programs) Government Agencies, Units and Programs (see also organic agriculture organizations) Non-Govermental Organizations/Centers/Programs CIEPCA (the Center for Cover Crops Information and Seed Exchange in Africa, or Centre d'Information et d'Echanges sur les Plantes de Couverture en Afrique) assists researchers and development specialists working on tropical cover crops in Africa. FAO Working Group on Conservation Agriculture promotes improvement of the sustainability of tillage-based cropping systems through better land husbandry based on principles of reduced or zero-tillage and permanent soil cover. CIDICCO (the International Cover Crops Clearinghouse), is a Honduras-based International NGO that focuses on exchanging information on green manure and cover crops (GMCCs) and other topics affecting resource limited farmers in the tropics. DMC (Direct sowing, Mulch-based systems and Conservation Agriculture) is an international initiative to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders to develop and adopt DMC systems. CTIC (Conservation Technology Information Center) promotes the development of public-private partnerships in the USA that promote soil and water quality by equipping agriculture with affordable, integrated management solutions. The Mycorrhiza Information Exchange has links to literature, listservs and audiovisuals as well as a list of mycorrhizal research groups, labs, and societies worldwide. TSBF (the Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Programme), a not-for-profit organization hosted by UNESCO in Kenya, focuses on the management of the biological and organic resources of soil. ISRIC (the International Soil Reference and Information Centre) includes the Netherlands-based World Data Center for Soils of the International Council for Science (ICSU). The US Composting Council is a non profit organization involved in research and education on composting. Its homepage contains news, publications, membership information and other resources. Intensifying Crop Production with Conservation Agriculture is an information resource database from FAO on conservation agriculture with a focus on conservation tillage. Networks, Associations and Societies AAPRESID (Asociación Argentina de Productores en Siembra Directa) es una Organización No Gubernamental (ONG) formada por productores y técnicos agropecuarios, quienes constituyen el sector activo y directivo de la institución. Cuenta además con el patrocinio de empresas del sector y del auspicio de numerosas instituciones. ECAF (European Conservation Agriculture Federation) African Conservation Tillage Network promotes the adoption of conservation tillage practices on the African continent in order to assure a more sustainable use of the soil resources and to combat desertification. The Institute of Professional Soil Scientists is a UK-based soil research network, which includes the British Society of Soil Science. IHSS (International Humic Substances Society) fosters scientific education and research, and promotes public understanding of humic substances. The IMS (International Mycorrhiza Society) has information on meetings, relevant listservs, publications and membership. The IUSS (International Union of Soil Sciences) stimulates research on soils and use of the findings to benefit mankind. The Soil Association focuses on organic food, farming and sustainable forestry The Soil Ecology Society is an international organization of researchers, students, environmental professionals and others interested in the advancement and promotion of soil biology and ecology. The US-based SWCS (Soil and Water Conservation Society) works on sustainable soil, water, and related natural resource management. The Vetiver Network, promotes the use of vetiver grass for soil and water conservation (in French and English). ESB (The European Soil Bureau), a network of national soil science institutions, provide information on European soils to both policy makers and users of soil data). The Spanish Society of Soil Sciences' Group of Soil Enzymology is an organization of researchers working on the topic of soil enzymology in Spain. WANTFA (The Western Australian No tillage Farmers Association) Swiss No-till (in German and French only) Pacific Northwest Conservation Tillage Information Source The WASWC (World Association of Soil and Water Conservation) has members worldwide working on sustainable soil, water, and related natural resource management. Research and Educational Institutes (groups and programs) MOIST (the Management of Organic Inputs in Soils of the Tropics Group), sponsored by the Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development, investigates and exchange information on cover crops, green manures, managed fallows and mulches in tropical farming systems. The Research Group on Soil Fertility at The Imperial College at Wye, University of London focuses largely on researching legume/rhizobium symbiosis and its impact on nutrient cycling. ISTRO (The International Soil Tillage Research Organization), a non-profit, scientific and education corporation, collaborates on the conferences, the Soil & Tillage Research Journal and other activities. Plataforma Plantio Direto is a Portuguese language homepage outining a technical platform for cooperative research and development of zero-till agriculture in Brazil. Portions of the site have been translated into Spanish and English. Root Biology and Soil Restoration Group is located at the University of Guelph's Department of Botany (Canada). The Soil Salinity Research Institute, which is based in Pakistan, carries out research on all aspects of salinity/sodicity. STEEP (Solutions To Environmental and Economic Problems) is an interdisciplinary research/education program focusing on developing profitable cropping systems technologies for controlling cropland soil erosion and protecting environmental quality. It is a collaborative project involving scientists and educators from the University of Idaho, Oregon State University, Washington State University, and USDA-Agricultural Research Service The On-line Composting Center, hosted by the University of Florida (USA), provides information on composting organic materials. Government Agencies, Units and Programs NSERL (the National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory), sponsored by the US Agricultural Research Service develops the knowledge and technology landowners need to conserve their soil resources. The Wind Erosion Research Unit, a project of the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and Kansas State University, is the focal point for wind erosion research in the United States. The Canadian Soil Information System, sponsored by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, provides soil survey, and ecoregion information, soil maps, and more. The Soil Quality Institute homepage is sponsored by the USDA - NRCS. It provides information on soil biology, soil quality, and soil quality assessments. (Another USDA-NRCS page of intererst is the World Soil Resources site). *see also related organizations*
	TropSCORE's Worldwide Soil Health Information Portal Send us e-mail: lhf2@cornell.edu © Copyright 2002 by TropSCORE and Cornell University Last updated: November 17, 2005 by the Development Team