5TH INTERNATIONAL SOIL JUDGING CONTEST

Join us in the vibrant city of Nanjing for the 5th International Soil Judging Contest in June 2-6, 2026, a highlight of the 2026 World Congress of Soil Science. We invite the global soil science community to this ancient capital, where rich history meets modern innovation. The contest will be held in the week prior to the main sessions of the Congress.

Participation and Funding Support for 5th International Soil Judging Contest.pdf

Price and Board Basis: Approximately $2500 per team of 4 competitors and 1 coach. A second coach can be included in the team for $500 extra ($150 extra for single room).

Board Basis: Full Board. This includes accommodation, all meals, and local transportation during the competition, but not national (within China) or international travel.

Eligibility Criteria: All teams and team members must meet the following conditions to be eligible for the Soil Judging Contest.

Registration Guidelines:

- Registration must be submitted by national soil science societies; individual registrations will not be accepted. Registration should be submitted to soiljudging@issas.ac.cn, which includes a motivation letter with an introduction of team members.

- Deadline for registration is January 15, 2026 (UTC+8). Each country, or group of countries acting together, may nominate up to two teams. If a country or group of countries nominates two teams, the priority team must be indicated. A second team can only be admitted after the first team of every country or group is admitted.

Funding Support and Selection:

- The Soil Science Society of China will provide funding up to $20,000 to support two eligible teams/10 person. $5,000 of this is from waiving the two registration fees, leaving $15,000 to be spent by the teams.

- Funding is limited to teams or individuals from low-income, lower-middle income, and upper middle-income countries in regions such as Africa, South America, and Asia, as defined by the World Bank.

- Application for funding support needs a max. two-page motivation letter (including brief introduction of team members), and a detailed budget. Application is accepted from a national soil science society or an individual, and submitted to soiljudging@issas.ac.cn. Applications for support will be evaluated by the WCSS2026 organizers. Deadline for application is January 15, 2026 (UTC+8). Successful winners will be notified via email by February 15, 2026 (UTC+8). Results will also be posted on the official WCSS2026 website.