The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM) represented the Philippines at the 4th Global Soil Biodiversity Conference (GSB 2026), held from April 12 to 15, 2026, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The event gathered 453 participants from around the world, including researchers, policy experts, students, and practitioners – all committed to mainstreaming soil biodiversity science into sustainable soil management.

Representing the country were Dr. Karen S. Bautista, Chief Science Research Specialist, and Ms. Vicky T. Dimaano, Senior Science Research Specialist from the Soil and Water Resources Research Division (SWRRD). Dr. Bautista led the presentation of their Research Paper titled “Metagenomics of Liquid Organic Plant Supplements and Their Influence on Soil Microbial Communities,” highlighting how organic inputs shape soil ecosystems.

The Research is part of a two-year study conducted from 2022 to 2023 by the Soil Biological Resources Management Section. The team includes Ms. Vicky T. Dimaano, Ms. Jacqueline S. Rojales, Mr. Luis Angelo A. Cortez, Ms. Digna R. Allag, Mr. Jerry Paul P. Arciaga, Ms. Valerie Joy A. Valdez, Ms. Mabel D. Tenedero, and Dr. Karen S. Bautista, with full support from the DA-BSWM’s Director, Dr. Gina Parde-Nilo, and Assistant Director, Ms. Denise A. Solano.

The study drew interest during the open forum, particularly regarding the methods used to assess product shelf life. Dr. Bautista explained that the research team conducted monthly sampling to monitor nutrient content — specifically nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as changes in microbial population count over time. This approach provided evidence into both the stability and biological effect of liquid organic supplements.

On the third day, the Philippine delegates participated in a concurrent session during the 5th Annual Meeting of the International Network on Soil Biodiversity (NETSOB). The lunch symposium focused on discussions around soil biodiversity monitoring, including the selection of appropriate indicators and metrics, as well as the harmonization of sampling, extraction, data assessment, and interpretation methods. These aim to support the generation of comparable data, contributing to GLOSOB and other regional and national soil monitoring systems.

The conference was organized under the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI), with support from the Biological Survey of Canada, Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Elsevier, and British Society of Soil Science. GSBI aims to advance scientific knowledge on soil biodiversity and promote its integration into environmental policy and sustainable land management practices. The Global Soil Biodiversity Conference series is widely regarded as the premier international platform for discussions on soil ecosystems. GSB 2026 featured a dynamic scientific program designed to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange towards a strong research-policy interface. 

DA-BSWM’s participation assures the Philippines’ continued commitment to global scientific collaboration and innovation in soil research. 

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