For the first time in Latin America, the symposium brings together specialists from around the world in São Paulo to discuss how soil health can promote a sustainable future
From May 25 to 29, 2026, the International Diffusion Center of the University of São Paulo (CDI/USP) will host the 10th edition of the International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter (SOM), the most important global scientific event dedicated to soil organic matter. Organized for the first time in Latin America, the symposium is led by the Center for Carbon Research in Tropical Agriculture (CCARBON/USP) with support from the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), and the Agrisus Foundation, as well as the Brazilian Society of Soil Science (SBCS) and the Luiz de Queiroz Agricultural Studies Foundation (FEALQ). The event will bring together world-renowned experts to debate science, innovation, and sustainability in São Paulo.
Since its first edition in 2007, in France, SOM has been held in countries such as the United States, Belgium, China, Germany, England, Spain, South Korea, and Morocco, consolidating itself as the leading international forum on soil organic matter. In 2026, Brazil will have the honor of hosting the 10th edition, reinforcing the country’s leadership in soil science research and agricultural sustainability.
The event will mainly address topics related to soil health, such as land use and agricultural productivity, climate change mitigation, regenerative agriculture, agroforestry systems, carbon sequestration, and monitoring and verification protocols.
Program
The SOM 2026 program includes thematic sessions with internationally recognized speakers, oral presentations, and digital poster exhibitions, as well as a technical visit to an experimental crop-livestock-forest integration system.
The symposium begins on Monday (25) with an opening ceremony and welcome cocktail. Starting Tuesday, the official program kicks off with plenary sessions featuring keynote speakers and simultaneous oral presentation sessions. In addition, digital posters will be displayed on kiosks distributed throughout CDI/USP.
On Thursday (28), in addition to lectures and presentations, a closing session will be held. On this occasion, the SOM 2026 Award will be presented to recognize the best posters and oral presentations in the undergraduate and graduate categories.
Concluding the program, on Friday (29) the Field Trip will take place in partnership with the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), taking participants to a technical visit at an experimental site of the Integrated Crop-Livestock-Forest System (ILPF), located in São Carlos (SP).
SOM 2026 Highlights
With registrations sold out 30 days before the event, SOM 2026 is expected to welcome a diverse audience. Of the 600 participants, 45% are undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students, 40% are postdoctoral researchers and professors, and 15% are professionals from the private sector. In addition, 40% of attendees will come from different countries.
A total of 420 abstracts were submitted. Of these, 80 were selected for oral presentation sessions, and 360 will be displayed as digital posters.
SOM 2026 will also serve as an international showcase for advances in Brazilian science, strengthening collaboration networks among researchers, companies, and policymakers. Reflecting this goal, the event has 12 sponsors from various sectors, including the food industry, agribusiness, research and development, measurement technologies, carbon market tools, and scientific publishers.
Among the highlights of the program are the keynote speakers. Of the 12 invited, 11 are from abroad, including renowned scientists Rattan Lal and Francesca Cotrufo.
Dr. Lal is a world-renowned soil scientist and authority on soil carbon sequestration. The Indian-American researcher, professor at Ohio State University, has been awarded numerous prizes, including the GCHERA World Agriculture Prize (2018), the Awasthi IFFCO Award (USA, 2019), the World Food Prize (2020), the Padma Shri Award (India, 2021), the Mahatma Gandhi Prize for Environmental Protection (2022), and the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity (2024), among others.
Professor of Soil and Crop Sciences at Colorado State University, Dr. Francesca Cotrufo is co-founder of Cquester Analytics. The Italian scientist studies soil organic matter and carbon-climate interactions to support sustainable land management and climate policies. She serves as editor of Global Change Biology and has received important awards, including the Soil Science Research Award from SSSA and the ASA-CSSA-SSSA Mentoring Award.
About CCARBON/USP
The Center for Carbon Research in Tropical Agriculture (CCARBON/USP) is a research center linked to the Rector’s Office of the University of São Paulo (USP) and based at the Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ) in Piracicaba, SP. Created under FAPESP’s Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers (RIDC) program, CCARBON aims to generate knowledge, technologies, innovation, human resource training, and scientific dissemination focused on developing carbon-based solutions for tropical agricultural systems and the resilience of natural ecosystems. Its activities seek to reconcile the growing demand for food, fiber, and energy with environmental, economic, and social sustainability, supporting the construction of more resilient and sustainable production systems.
Service
Event: SOM 2026
Date: May 25–29, 2026
Location: Auditorium, International Diffusion Center of USP
Av. Prof. Lúcio Martins Rodrigues, 310 – Butantã, São Paulo – SP, 05508-020
Schedule:
• May 25 – 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
• May 26–28 – 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
• May 29 – Field Trip departure at 6:30 am
Press contact:
Lucas Jacinto – Science Communicator CCARBON/USP
lucas.j.jornal@gmail.com | +55 (19) 98131-2340
