ESAFS 2022 NEWSLETTER

15th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE EAST AND
SOUTEAST ASIA FEDERATION OF SOIL SCIENCE
SOCIETIES (ESAFS 2022)
ORGANIZED BY
MALAYSIAN SOCIETY OF SOIL SCIENCE (MSSS)& UNIVERSITI MALAYASUPPORTED BY
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF SOIL SCIENCES (IUSS)MALAYSIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE(MARDI)
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (DOA)
FOOD AND FERTILIZER TECHNOLOGY CENTRE (FFTC)
PREPARED BY
DR ROSAZLIN ABDULAHPRESIDENTMALAYSIAN SOCIETY OF SOIL SCIENCE11. Introduction
The 15th International Conference of the East and Southeast Asia Federation of Soil ScienceSocieties also known as ESAFS 2022 was successfully organised at Royale Chulan Hotel in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia on August 22-26 2022, with 2 days (August 23-24) for scientific sessions and 2days (August 25-26) for excursion program. The conference was officiated on 23rd August byDeputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries II, YB Datuk Dr. Nik Muhammad Zawawi bin
Haji Salleh. The conference was jointly organized by The Malaysian Society of Soil Science (MSSS)in collaboration with the Institute of Biological Sciences (ISB), Faculty of Science, Universiti
Malaya (UM) with the support of International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS), Malaysian
Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Department of Agriculture (DOA) andFood and Fertilizer Technology Centre (FFTC). The earlier date for the conference, June 2021, waspostponed and rescheduled one year later due to Covid-19 pandemic.
The objectives of ESAFS 2022, are to share invaluable experience and knowledge among soil
scientists in East and Southeast Asia countries, to promote active participation of member
societies and networking and to contribute towards sustainable development in the region
through harmonization of agriculture and environment
The theme of ESAFS 2022 is ‘Our Soils Our Future’. Soil degradation due to soil erosion, soilpollution, soil organic matter and carbon depletion, soil sealing/capping, soil compaction, andsoil acidity, salinity and alkalinity, is negatively affecting food production and associated foodsecurity, national economies, provision of ecosystem services, adaptation to climate change, andincreasing poverty. The situation is being aggravated by climate change and unsustainable soil
management practices partially resulting from the rapid economic development andurbanization characterizing some countries in the region. Thus, maintaining and improving soil
health are crucial to have sufficient food source for the population in the future.
ESAFS is dedicated to the exchange of recent advances in soil science in the East and Southeast
Asian regions. The conference provides a platform for interaction among scientists, academician,consultants, and policy makers, who are responsible for the research and technology transfer ofsoil science, fertilizer management, and plant nutrition. ESAFS 2022 will also pave the way forexperts to initiate strategic discussion and promote multilateral cooperation between countries
by leveraging their research strength to address global concerns. With the end goal of achieving
sustainable development goals, let us work together to identify ways of ensuring sustainable
management are being adopted in our countries with the rapid economic development andurbanization.

22.

Organizing Committee

The chairman of ESAFS 2022 is Dr. Rosazlin Abdullah (Universiti Malaya), vice-chairman Dr. Wan
Rasidah Kadir (MSSS) and Secretary General Dr. Siti Jariani Jani (Universiti Malaya). The memberof International Advisory Committee were Prof. Dr. Laura Berthe Reyes Sánchez (IUSS President),
Prof. Dr. Takashi Kosaki (Past President IUSS), Prof. Dr. Nanthi Bolan (Professor, University ofNewcastle) and Prof. Dr. Shamsuddin Jusop (Fellow MSSS).
The members of International Scientific Committee were Yu-Min Tzou (Chinese Society of Soiland Fertilizer Sciences (Taiwan), Ashok K. Patra (Indian Society of Soil Science), Budi Mulyanto(Indonesian Society of Soil Science), Keishi Senoo (Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant
Nutrition), Yongseon Zhang (Korean Society of Soil Science and Fertilizers), Keshav Raj Adhikari(Nepalese Society of Soil Science), Nenita E. dela Cruz (Philippine Society of Soil Science andTechnology), Pofayakon Limtong (Soil and Fertilizer Society of Thailand), S.M. Imamul Huq (SoilScience Society of Bangladesh), Zhang Jiabao (Soil Science Society of China), Orchurbat
BATKHISHIG (Soil Science Society of Mongolia), Udaya Vitharana (Soil Science Society of Sri
Lanka), Tran Minh Tien (Vietnam Society of Soil Science), Rosazlin Abdullah (Malaysian Societyof Soil Science)
The members of Local Organizing Committee were Prof. Mohamad Suffian Mohamad Annuar(Universiti Malaya), Prof. Dr. Che Fauziah Ishak (MSSS), Dr. Adibah Mohamad Amin (UniversitiPutra Malaysia), Dr. Lau Beng Fye (Universiti Malaya), Dr. Ali Tan Kee Zuan (Universiti PutraMalaysia), Ms. Nur Hafiza Abdul Halim (MSSS), Dr. Samsuri Abd. Wahid (Universiti PutraMalaysia), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rozainah Mohamad Zakaria (Universiti Malaya), Dr. Jamilah Syafawati
Yaacob (Universiti Malaya), Dr. Muhammad Firdaus Sulaiman (Universiti Putra Malaysia), Dr.
Arina Shairah Abdul Sukor (Universiti Putra Malaysia), Dr. Adibah Mohamad Amin (UniversitiPutra Malaysia), Mr. Pravin Vejan (Universiti Malaya), Dr. Pozi Milow (Universiti Malaya), Mr.
Shaharudin Bakar (Petronas Chemical Group Berhad), Mr. Amir Yasak ( ESPEK RISDA), Mdm.
Rozita Ahmad, (Forest Research Institute Malaysia), Ms Noor Sharina Mohd Rosli (UniversitiMalaya), Dr. Wan Asrina Wan Yahya (Universiti Putra Malaysia),Dr. Nur Qursyna Boll Kassim(Univeristi Teknologi MARA), Mdm. Nurziana Zin Zawawi (Malaysian Development and ResearchInstitute), Prof. Ling Tau Chuan (Universiti Malaya), Dr. Jeyanny Vijayanathan (Forest ResearchInstitute Malaysia), Ms. Norizan (Universiti Malaya), Mr. Aaronn Avit Ajeng (Universiti Malaya),
Mr. Muhammad Zamir Abdul Rasid (Malaysian Development and Research Institute), Dr. Ahmad
Farid Abu Bakar (Universiti Malaya), Mr. Fazrul Edlin Saleh ( Department of Agriculture) , Mr. Wan
Mohd Rusydan Wan Ibrahim (Department of Agriculture), Ms. Nur Saadah Abdul Halim(Universiti Malaya), Dr. Arpah Abu (Universiti Malaya), Dr. Vijiandran Juva Rajah (UnitedPlantation) and Mr. Tang Tze Piew (MSSS).

33. Participation and Sponsor
The event was attended by 242 participants and invited speakers comprising experts, researchersand entrepreneurs from Malaysia as well as from international delegates with 235 attending
physical and 7 virtual. Participants from 21 countries registered for ESAFS 2022, including 141
participants from Malaysia and others countries Taiwan, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, India,Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Thailand, Nepal, USA, Vietnam, Nigeria, Palestine,
Mexico, Hong Kong, Egypt, Mongolia and Italy.
This conference was sponsored by Malaysian Convention & Exhibition Bureau, IUSS Stimulus
Fund and 10 Instrumentation or Fertilizer companies.
4. Scientific and Technical programme
The Scientific and Technical Committee has successfully conducted the oral and poster sessions
on the 23rd and 24th of August 2022. There were about 10 oral sessions and about 12 poster
sessions which had covered a huge range of interesting topics.
The theme of the conference is 'Our Soils Our Future'. The scientific and technical programme
was divided into eleven sub themes as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

Soil Education and Public AwarenessEmerging Soil Contaminants
Soil Information and Digital Mapping
Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition
Soil Ecology and Soil Quality
Soil and Water Management
Land Use and Climate Change
Soil Degradation and Remediation
Forest Soils
Paddy soils
Recent Advances in Soil Research

We had the honor of having Prof. Dr. Laura Bertha Reyes Sánchez, the IUSS President to deliver
her welcoming speech. In her inspiring speech, Prof. Dr. Laura highlighted the importance ofbridging the research gap in soil science research by having more close knitted international
research collaboration among soil scientists especially Asian countries. She also lauded theimmerse and continuous support by all 14 ESAFS countries in participating in ESAFS 2022 despite
the situation post-covid-19. This is followed by the opening Speech by YB Datuk Dr. Nik
Muhammad Zawawi Bin Haji Salleh, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries II,Malaysia. In his speech, he thanked the presidents of all 14 ESAFS countries soil science societies
for their presence and interest in developing soil science advancements.

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As for the keynote speech session, Dato' Haslina Binti Abdul Hamid Secretary General, Ministryof Agriculture and Food Industries, Malaysia gave a comprehensive speech on the National
Agrofood Policy 2021-2030 (NAP 2.0). She detailed the current challenges of Malaysia's agrofood
sector, among which is the lack of natural resources compared to the population growth rate,
the effects of climate change, the sustainability of the sector as well as the findings of acomparative study of strategies and good agricultural practices in Australia, the Netherlands,
China, Thailand and Vietnam. This is followed by the next keynote speaker, Dr Shamshuddin
Jusop, who gave an elaborated technical speech on the "Changing Landscapes in Southeast Asia:
Impact on Soil and Agriculture". Next, we had an interesting speech on Sustainable Land
Management Strategies to Combat the Climate Change by Prof. Dr. Kazuyuki Inubushi from Tokyo
University of Agriculture, Japan. In his speech, he highlighted that sustainable soil and land use
managements are essential to keep healthy life on the earth. Then, we had thought provoking
speech on the Future Perspectives of Soil Science and Its Threats by Prof. Dr. Ir. Dian Fiantis fromUniversitas Andalas, Padang, Indonesia. She stressed to the audience of the dire need to address
climate-smart agriculture, which aids in mitigating and adapting to climate change.
During the closing ceremony, we were honored to have Mr. Ronald Vargas, the Secretary of
Global Soil Partnership, FAO to deliver his astute and enriching talk entitled Soil Science Towards
2030. In his speech, he delivered a rousing call to all stakeholders on soil and that Global Soil
Partnership (GSP) partners should join forces towards healthy soils with one solid voice. The
scientific session of the conference came to an end with the closing remarks by MSSS President,
Dr. Rosazlin Abdullah who thanked all the participants for their great contribution to soil science
research and support to ESAFS 2022.
Oral presentations were carried in three different modes which were oral, video and live
conferencing. Hardcopies of Abstract Book of ESAFS 2022 were printed and distributed toparticipants.
During oral session, country report has been presented by the President and/or representativeof ESAFS member societies.
Attendee of member societies
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Dr. Rosazlin Abdullah (President of ESAFS; President, Malaysian Society of Soil Science)Prof. Dr. Shamim Al Mamun (Representative, Soil Science Society of Bangladesh)
Prof. Dr. Jing Che (Representative, Soil Science Society of China)
Prof. Dr. Budi Mulyanto (President, Indonesian Soil Science Society)Prof. Dr. Junta Yanai (Representative, Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant
Nutrition)
Prof. Dr. Pil Joo Kim (President, Korean Society of Soil Science and Fertilizer)
Prof. Dr. Dipak Ranjan Biswas (President, Indian Society of Soil Science)Prof. Dr. Keshav R Adhikari (President, Nepalese Society of Soil Science)Prof. Dr. Artemio A. Martin Jr. (President, Philippine Society of Soil Science andTechnology)
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10.
11.
12.
13.

5.

Prof. Dr. Udaya W.A. Vitharana (President, Soil Science Society of Sri Lanka)
Prof. Dr. Audthasit Wongmaneeroj (Representative, Soil and Fertilizer Society of Thailand)Prof. Dr. Nguyen The Hung (Representative, Vietnam Society of Soil Science)
Asst. Prof. Dr. Davaadorj Davaasuren (Representative, Soil Siennce Society of Mongolia)
Pre and Post conference tour

Pre-conference tour was held on 22nd August 2022. A total of 21 participants includinginternational delegates joined the tour. The half day educational trip was designed to expose theuniqueness of Malaysian aboriginal culture from Carey Island, Selangor and experience thewedding and welcoming tradition ceremony and the sculpture specialty at Mah Meri CulturalVillage. The delegates were welcomed with traditional dance and ceremony where every
participant get their headdress made by leaf origami. The tour includes making leaf origami,visiting Mah Meri and UNESCO galleries, and all participant was given the opportunity to try andexperience the traditional costume dance together with the wedding ceremony. The tour ended
with a wonderful lunch where traditional foods were served to the participant
A post-conference tour for participants was held on 25-26 August 2022. A total of 49 participants
including the international delegates joined the tour. All participants were given a tour bulletin
during the visit as a basic introduction of the trip. The 2 days 1 night post conference tour toCameron Highlands, Pahang was arranged stimulate and encourage a lively exchange ofknowledge and experience among soil scientists on the uniqueness of environment of thiscountry. The tour started with a visit to Geological Museum in Ipoh, Kinta District, Perak,Malaysia.The museum brings together a diverse and unique collection of fossils, rocks, minerals,
precious and semi-precious gemstone from within the country. This tour continued with a pedon
visit in Teringkap, Cameron Highland, Pahang, Malaysia where the morphology, properties andsoil classification were determined based on the soil profile description and laboratory data of
the soil pedons. On the second day of tour, all participant visited the Boh Tea Plantation where
the soil management and practices as well as crop suitability were also discussed. Finally, thetour ended with visit and Agro Technology Park, MARDI Cameron Highlands which have researchdemonstration plots and gardens that includes English, Edible, Wild Orchid, Nepenthes, Roses,
50 types of Flower, Herbs and Pets garden. Before heading back to Kuala Lumpur, the participantalso gets an opportunity to buy the strawberry and visited the local market for souvenir.
6.

Next host of ESAFS Conference

Chairman informed that the Vietnam Soil Science Society has proposed for hosting the 16 th ESAFS
in November 2024. Members accepted the nomination and requested President’srepresentative, Prof. Dr. Nguyen The Hung to present the society’s preparations to be the next
host. After his presentation, the proposal of the Vietnam Society of Soil Science to host the 16thInternational Conference of ESAFS in November, 2024 was approved in the business meeting.
After the approval of the 16th ESAFS in 2024, chairman explained the potential willingness of theNepalese Society of Soil Science from Prof. Dr. Keshav R Adhikari and Japanese Society of Soil
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Science and Plant Nutrition from Prof. Dr. Junta Yanai for the future host of ESAFS. Prof. Dr. Junta
Yanai presents the society’s preparation to host 17th International Conference of ESAFS in 2027
in conjunction with 100th Anniversary of Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition.
Nepalese Society of Soil Science will present the proposal in the next business meeting. It wasapproved that both Nepalese Society of Soil Science and Japanese Society of Soil Science andPlant Nutrition become potential candidates to host the 17 th ESAFS. The host will be finallydetermined at the business meeting of the 16th ESAFS. ESAFS Members agreed the 17th ESAFS
will be organized in odd year which is year 2027 so that does not overlap with WCSS, which will
be held every four even years.
7.

Election of ESAFS Award

Chairman called for nominations from member societies for the ESAFS Award 2022 by email
message. Chairman informed that we received 3 nominees from Chinese Society of Soil andFertilizer Sciences, Soil Science Society of China and Malaysian Society of Soil Science, namely,
Prof. Dr. Zeng‐Yei Hseu, Prof. Dr. Renfang Shen and Prof. Dr. Shamshuddin Jusop, 3 respectively.
Members accepted all nominations and chairman present the candidate backgrounds. Secretballot was conducted and Prof. Dr. Shamshuddin Jusop was elected as the recipient of 8 th ESAFSAward 2022 according to the voting result. This award was presented to Dr. Shamshuddin Jusop
at the banquet on 23rd August 2022.
8.

Other businessDuring the Business Meeting, ESAFS Members had a fruitful discussion in the goal of encouraging
collaboration and networking among the ESAFS countries. Prof. Dr. Masanori Saito,
Representative of the ESAFS Support Office, briefly introduced the homepage on the website ofESAFS: https://www.esafs-support.com/, and called members in offering information from all
member societies

79.

Photos during ESAFS 2022 (copyright photo- ESAFS2022)

Link : https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_TA9vqOuD9xuPtjWaHO2XiU7tCq7E0mc

The Arrival of Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries II,YB Datuk Dr. Nik Muhammad Zawawi bin Haji Salleh

Opening speech by YB Datuk Dr. Nik Muhammad Zawawi bin Haji Salleh,Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries, Malaysia

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Welcoming speech by Prof. Dr. Laura Bertha Reyes Sánchez, the IUSS President during theOpening Ceremony of ESAFS 2022

A token of appreciation by YB Datuk Dr. Nik Muhammad Zawawi Bin Haji Salleh, Deputy
Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries II, Malaysia to IUSS President, Prof. Dr. Laura BerthaReyes Sánchez during the opening ceremony of ESAFS 2022.

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Keynote Speeches by Dr Shamshuddin Jusop

Keynote Speeches by Prof. Dr. Kazuyuki Inubushi

10ESAFS 2022 Chairperson, Dr Rosazlin and IUSS President, Prof. Dr. Laura Bertha Reyes Sánchez
together with 14 ESAFS country presidents

ESAFS 2022 Group Picture with all participants during ESAFS 2022 opening ceremony.

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During Oral Session of ESAFS 2022

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Mr Ronald Vargas, the Secretary of Global Soil Partnership, FAO delivering his talk entitled SoilScience Towards 2030 during the closing ceremony of ESAFS 2022

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Media Coverage in local television

Dinner and Cultural Show

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President and/or representative of ESAFS member societies
from East and South East Asia Countries

During ESAFS 2022 Business Meeting15

ESAFS 2022 Business Meeting16Organizing Committee ESAFS 2022

ESAFS 2022 Group Picture with all participants during ESAFS 2022 closing

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Prof. Dr. Takashi Kosaki (Past President IUSS), , Dr Rosazlin Abdullah (Chairperson ESAFS 2022) ,Prof. Dr. Laura Berthe Reyes Sánchez (IUSS President), and Prof. Dr. Shamsuddin Jusop(recipient ESAFS Award)

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Pre Conference Tour

Geological Museum, Perak, MalaysiaSoil profile description at Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia
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Post Conference Tour

Teh Boh Plantation, Cameron Highlands , Pahang, Malaysia

Agro Technology Park MARDI Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia

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