Soil profile analysis as part of the 2024 Soil Judging Competition.
Formed back in 1952, the Society promotes the advancement of soil science and its members include professional soil scientists, environmental scientists, ecologists, geographers, agricultural scientists, foresters, engineers, policy-makers, farmers, teachers, and consultants.
In December 2024 the Society jointly hosted the Rotorua Soils 2024 conference with Soil Science Australia, bringing together around 390 soil and land science professionals from Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ), Australia, and the South Pacific. World Soils Day fell on the last day of the conference, with a plenary talk given to open the day by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton.
Rotorua also played host to the regular Soil Judging Competition, which organisers say is a fun way to upskill soil skills across the industry.
Across three days, the international event saw aspiring and experienced soil practitioners not only compete as an individual or team member, but also develop their professional skills in the identification of soil features, soil classification, and land capability assessment.
More than 200 current and emerging researchers, students, environmental consultants, policy and extension specialists took part in the competition, from 23 universities, nine regional councils, six private consultancies, 12 research institutes/ societies, and seven government ministries.
The competition aims to equip participants with the soil description and classification skills vital for interpreting the best management and land use for any given soil. These skills are urgently needed in New Zealand and Australia to address soil protection, climate, environmental, and land use challenges, say the organisers, co-led by Manaaki Whenua’s Dr Kirstin Deuss and Associate Professor Carol Smith from Lincoln University.