Welcome to
The X International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter (SOM2026) represents a unique opportunity to bring together the world's leading scientific authorities in the areas of soil organic matter, carbon, regenerative agriculture, sustainable livestock, forestry and ecosystem restoration
During the event, the most advanced methods and technologies for the characterization and quantification of soil organic matter and carbon will be presented, as well as practical experiences and successful corporate cases developed in Brazil and around the world.
SOM Conference 2026
The International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter (SOM 2026) is the largest and most important international conference on soil organic matter and traditionally brings together hundreds of students, researchers, and practitioners from academia, industry, and the agricultural sector around the world. The SOM has established itself as a biannual technical-scientific event where topics are presented at the frontier of innovative technologies and sustainable practices to face challenges related to the influence of soil organic matter on soil fertility and health, carbon sequestration and ecosystem sustainability, as well as important issues for the market and public policies are discussed. The event not only promotes dialogue among global experts, but also serves as a privileged stage for the dissemination of research and development activities from academia and industry.
By presenting innovative studies and applications, SOM promotes the advancement of knowledge and its practical implementation in areas related to soil organic matter, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and ecosystem management around the world. In 2026, the SOM Conference will celebrate its 10th edition in São Paulo, in its first edition in South America. The event will be organized by the Center for Carbon Research in Tropical Agriculture of the University of São Paulo (CCARBON/USP), a Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center (RIDC) supported by USP, the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) and the private sector. This landmark event is held in collaboration with the Brazilian Society of Soil Science (SBCS), reinforcing its importance as a hub for the advancement of research and innovation in soil organic matter on a global scale.
Keynote Speakers
Rattan Lal
Dr. Rattan Lal is a world-renowned soil scientist (pedologist), university professor, and authority on soil carbon sequestration.
Abad
Chabbi
Abad Chabbi (Research Director) is a plant ecologist and soil biogeochemist specializing in biogeochemical cycles under changing climate and land use.
Rachel
Creamer
Rachel Creamer is professor of soil health and monitoring at Wageningen University and Research.
Joann K. Whalen
Joann K. Whalen is a James McGill Professor at McGill University, focused on soil biology/health and nutrient management for sustainable agriculture.
Charles Rice
Charles Rice is a Distinguished Professor at KSU and soil scientist (with IPCC experience), focused on carbon/nitrogen, soil health, and climate change.
Genxing Pan
Dr. Pan is a senior professor of Soil Science focused primarily on soil organic matter and biochar to enhance soil ecological functions and services.
Budiman Minasny
Professor Budiman Minasny is a global leader in Soil Science, pioneering digital mapping and carbon sequestration using AI and remote sensing.
Francesca Cotrufo
M. Francesca Cotrufo is a Professor and soil ecologist at CSU, specializing in organic matter and carbon-climate interactions for sustainable management (and co-founder of Cquester Analytics).
Martial Bernoux
Martial Bernoux is a researcher and expert, currently serving as a Senior Natural Resources Officer (Climate Change) at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome.
Carlos Cerri
Carlos Eduardo Cerri is a Full Professor at USP and CCARBON Director, focused on soil carbon sequestration and greenhouse gases in tropical agriculture.
Jennifer Pett-Ridge
Jennifer Pett-Ridge is a leading scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and a professor at UC Merced, specializing in linking microbial identity and function using systems biology and biogeochemistry.
Jizhong Zhou
Dr. Zhou is an international leader in microbial ecology, renowned for his groundbreaking discoveries of microbial feedback responses to climate change and environmental contamination, seminal contributions to microbial theoretical ecology, and pioneering advances in metagenomic and computational technologies.
Event schedule
MAY 25TH, 2026
17:00–18:00
– REGISTRATION18:00–19:00
– OPENING CEREMONY19:00–21:00
– WELCOME COCKTAILMAY 26TH, 2026
08:00–09:00
– REGISTRATION09:00–10:30
– PLENARY SESSION 1 SOIL ORGANIC MATTER (SOM) AS A KEY COMPONENT FOR CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION.PROF. RATTAN LAL
PROF. ABAD CHABBI
DISCUSSION
10:30–11:00 – COFFEE BREAK
11:00–12:30 – ORAL SESSIONS
SECTION 1: CARBON SEQUESTRATION AND STABILIZATION MECHANISMSSECTION 2: GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
SECTION 3: SOM MODELING IN AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS
SECTION 4: MONITORING, REPORTING AND VERIFICATION (MRV) PROTOCOLS
12:30–14:00 – LUNCH
14:00–15:30 – PLENARY SESSION 2
SOM FOR HEALTHY SOILS AND FOOD SECURITYPROF. RACHEL CREAMER
PROF. JOANN K. WHALEN
DISCUSSION
15:30–16:00 – COFFEE BREAK
16:00–17:30 – ORAL SESSIONS
SECTION 5: SOM AND SOIL HEALTH INDICATORSSECTION 6: SOM DYNAMICS UNDER DIFFERENT PEDOCLIMATIC ENVIRONMENTS
SECTION 7: SOM DYNAMICS IN WETLANDS AND DRYLAND ECOSYSTEMS
SECTION 8: SOM DYNAMICS IN PLANTED, RESTORED, AND NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS
MAY 27TH, 2026
09:00–10:30
– PLENARY SESSION 3 BEST AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND THEIR IMPACTS ON SOM AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICESPROF. CHARLES RICE
PROF. GENXING PAN
DISCUSSION
10:30–11:00 – COFFEE BREAK
11:00–12:30 – ORAL SESSIONS
SECTION 9: BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR SOM (CROPLAND, PASTURE, FORESTRY)SECTION 10: SOM AS A PILLAR FOR SOIL FERTILITY AND NUTRIENT CYCLING
SECTION 11: ADVANCED METHODOLOGIES FOR SOM ASSESSMENT
SECTION 12: ORIGINS, COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONALITY OF SOM
12:30–14:00 – LUNCH
14:00–15:30 – PLENARY SESSION 4
EMERGING TECHNIQUES AND DIGITAL TOOLS APPLIED FOR SOM STUDIESPROF. BUDIMAN MINASNY
PROF. FRANCESCA COTRUFO
DISCUSSION
15:30–16:00 – COFFEE BREAK
16:00–17:30 – POSTER SESSION
19:00 – CULTURAL PRESENTATION AND GALA DINNER
MAY 28TH, 2026
09:00–10:30
– PLENARY SESSION 5 UNVEILING THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN SOM AND BIODIVERSITYJENNIFER PETT-RIDGE
TDB DISCUSSION
10:30–11:00 – COFFEE BREAK
11:00–12:30 – POSTER SESSION 2
12:30–14:00 – LUNCH
14:00–15:30 – PLENARY SESSION 6
GLOBAL INITIATIVES, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, AND POLICIES FOR ACHIEVING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs)DR. MARTIAL BERNOUX
PROF. CARLOS E. P. CERRI
DISCUSSION
15:30–16:00 – COFFEE BREAK
16:00–17:30 – ORAL SESSIONS
SECTION 13: HOW SOIL BIODIVERSITY SHAPES ORGANIC MATTER AND ECOSYSTEM HEALTHSECTION 14: RESIDUE RECYCLING AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN SOM DYNAMICS
SECTION 15: EDUCATION AND OUTREACH INITIATIVES ON SOM
SECTION 16: SOM CASE STUDIES IN WORLD’S BIOMES
17:30–18:00 – CLOSING CEREMONY AND AWARDS FOR BEST ORAL AND POSTER PRESENTATIONS
MAY 29TH, 2026
FIELD TRIPS (TBD)
Registration Fees
STUDENTS (UNDERGRADUATE, MASTER AND PHD)
UNTIL 09/02/2026
R$ 750,00
UNTIL 15/03/2026
R$ 1.000,00
UNTIL 25/05/2026
R$ 1.500,00
ACADEMIC (POSDOC AND PROFESSOR)
UNTIL 09/02/2026
R$ 1.500,00
UNTIL 15/03/2026
R$ 2.000,00
UNTIL 25/05/2026
R$ 2.500,00
CORPORATE
UNTIL 09/02/2026
R$ 2.500,00
UNTIL 15/03/2026
R$ 3.500,00
UNTIL 25/05/2026
R$ 4.000,00
30% off for groups of 5+
Special Discount for Groups
SOM 2026 encourages companies to join the event. Groups of 5+ participants are eligible for a 30% discount on registration fees (excluive to the corporate category).
This is a great opportunity to bring your colleagues, strengthen collaboration, and increase your organization’s visibility at the world’s leading event on soil organic matter and sustainability.
For more information, contact us: som2026@usp.br
SOM 2026 Travel Support Grants
For Students and Early-Career Scientists from Low-Income Countries and Brazil
Sponsors and Partners
Join us as a SOM2026 sponsor
The X International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter (SOM2026) will gather a diverse audience, including researchers, students, industry, government representatives, and organizations committed to sustainability and innovation. This broad participation makes the event a unique platform for promoting collaboration across sectors. By sponsoring SOM2026, your brand will be featured in official communication materials, digital media, and on-site visibility spaces, reaching an engaged international audience. Sponsors will also have opportunities for institutional promotion, networking, and participation in selected event activities, depending on the chosen sponsorship category. Sponsorship plans are available in five categories — Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, and Platinum — offering different levels of exposure and benefits. If your company or institution is interested in partnering with SOM2026 and gaining visibility in a global event focused on sustainability, soil health, and climate solutions, please get in touch with our team. Contact us: som2026@usp.br
Organizing Committee
Mauricio Cherubin
CHAIRMAN
Professor at ESALQ/USP and Research Director at CCARBON/USP
Carlos Eduardo Pellegrino Cerri
CO-CHAIRMAN
Professor at ESALQ/USP and Director of CCARBON/USP
Dissemination Leader
Tiago Osório
DISSEMINATION LEADER
Professor at ESALQ/USP and Dissemination Director at CCARBON/USP
Scientific Leaders
Leidivan Frazão
SCIENTIFIC LEADERS
Professor at UFMG and Member of the CCARBON/USP Management Committee
Joao Luis Nunes Carvalho
Researcher at CNPEM and Member of the CCARBON/USP Management Committee
Lucas Canisares
Assistant Professor at CCARBON and ESALQ/USP
Scientific Committee
Adriana Silva-Olaya (Universidad de la Amazonia)
Antonio Carlos Azevedo (ESALQ/CCARBON)
Beata Madari (Embrapa)
Dener Márcio da Silva Oliveira (UFV)
Francisco Ruiz (ESALQ)
Marcos Gervásio Pereira (UFRRJ)
Nayana Alves Pereira (CCARBON)
Pedro Brancalion (ESALQ/CCARBON)
Raul Roberto Poppiel (ESALQ/CCARBON)
Ricardo de Oliveira Bordonal (CNPEM)
Roberto Pinheiro (ESALQ/CCARBON)
Rodrigo Hakamada (ESALQ)
Sarah Teneli (CNPEM)
Simone Raposo Cotta (ESALQ/CCARBON)
Stoécio Malta Ferreira Maia (IFAL)
Thais Pessoa (CNPEM)
International Advisory Committee
Francesca Cotrufo - Colorado State University
Denis Angers
- Agriculture and Agriculture-Food Canada
Abad Chabbi
- French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA)
Carlos Eduardo Pellegrino Cerri
- Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ/USP)
Pil Joo Kim
- Gyeongsang National University (GNU)
Rémi Cardinael
- CIRAD (French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development)
Pete Smith
- University of Aberdeen
Tiago Osório Ferreira
- Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ/USP
Joann K. Whalen
- McGill University
Asmeret Asefaw Berhe
- University of California
Johannes Lehmann
- Cornell University
Qiaoyun Huang
- Huazhong Agricultural University
Genxing Pan
- Nanjing Agricultural University
Rota Wagai
- National Agriculture & Food Research Organization (NIAES/NARO)
Klaus Lorenz
- The Ohio State University
Cornelia Rumpel
- French National Research Center (CNRS)
Ngonidzashe Chirinda
- Mohammed VI Polytechnic University
Charles Rice
- Kansas State University
Supporters
Sponsors
