Welcome at ISRIC - World Soil Information

We are an independent knowledge centre, established in 1966. Our mandate is to serve the international community with information about the world’s soils  and thus to resolving major global issues.

We aim to:

  • Inform and educate about the world’s soils
  • Serve the scientific community as custodian of global soil information
  • Undertake applied research on land and water resources

We are the World Data Centre for Soils (WDC-Soils) within the ICSU World Data System. We also maintain the World Soil Museum and World Soil Library.

From World Soil Museum to ISRIC - World Soil Information

When the FAO and UNESCO decided to prepare a Soil Map of the World in 1961, it was immediately clear that a World Soil Museum had to be established also. Indeed, it was deemed that this newcolor coded Soil Map should be based on an agreed soil classification: for instance, cryosols for permanently frozen soils, histosols for soils having specific organic horizons, or gypsisols having a horizon with 15 percent or more gypsum. But what do these cryosols, histosols and durisols look like in reality? And does a cryosol sample from Russia differ from a cryosol sample from the United States? In a World Soil Museum, students and scientists would be able to learn from these different types of soils from around the world. In addition, the museum could act as an international reference centre for soil data.

The Dutch government, convinced of the importance of this unique project, provided funding for the new museum. First housed in the University of Utrecht, in 1977 the museum moved to accommodations in Wageningen.

The World Soil Museum was renamed International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC) and is now known as ISRIC – World Soil Information. Forty-five years on, we developed a collaborative agreement with Wageningen University and Research Centre and have broadened our services.

We provide the following services:

  • Data supply and co-developing uniform tools for collecting and analyzing soil related data.  From the start ISRIC has collected, interpreted, collated and up-scaled soil data from different countries to a regional or global scale, and developed standardized tools to do so.  Our data policy is built around the concepts of full and open access, and of data sharing being provided at no cost or for no more than the cost of reproduction. In 1989 we obtained the prestigious status of ICSU World Data Centre for soils; in 2011 this accreditation was renewed.
  • Applied research. For more than a decade we have been supporting interdisciplinary and participatory projects that address global issues including combatting land degradation, mitigating climate, improving food security and using water more efficiently.
  • Training. ISRIC researchers support people doing research on land and water resources with training and practical field work. We provide training for different users of soil data including students in soil science, agronomists, land planners and agricultural extension workers.
  • Education about soils through our World Soil Museum. ISRIC has the most extensive collections of soil samples from around the world. We can tell many stories about soils and their role in food security, climate change, water shortage and biodiversity. All stories can be illustrated by profiles, maps, pictures, micro slides, digital means or other attributes.
  • Access to a library and map collection. At ISRIC soil maps and articles from around the world can be stored, scanned and made accessible. We have already built up a collection of more than 30,000 articles, country reports, books and soil maps, with emphasis on the developing countries.  They are used to generate useful data.

ISRIC’s intentions for the coming years are to:

  • Expand its data holdings, enhance internet-based access to its freely available data sources, and develop advanced methodologies for digital soil mapping.
  • Expand its efforts in collaborative projects on land and water resources for global development issues.
  • Strengthen its role as advocator of the importance of soils through new storage facilities for soil samples and a modernized World Soil Museum.

To realize these goals, ISRIC’s staff is developing its expertise towards the use and development of new methods and techniques.

ISRIC staff

ISRIC staff and guest researchers  at ISRIC annual meeting (Nov. 2010)