Mexico, 2022
The 6th International Soil Classification Congress (ISCC 2020+2) was held in Mexico from 25 March to 1 April 2022 after being postponed due to COVID-19. The field workshop took place from Cuatro Ciénegas to Querétaro between 25–29 March 2022, followed by the main congress at UNAM Juriquilla. The event was organized under Commission 1.4 of the International Union of Soil Sciences to advance global soil classification systems. Scientists, students, and professionals from multiple countries participated in field excursions, technical sessions, and classification discussions. The workshop emphasized soils in arid, semiarid, and subhumid climates and their conservation under global environmental change. Participants examined diverse landscapes across the Sierra Madre Oriental, observing strong climatic and topographic gradients affecting soil formation. Field studies included soil sampling, micromorphology, mineralogical analysis, and preparation of soil monoliths and profile descriptions. Discussions focused on improving soil classification as a tool for communication, land management, and climate-change mitigation. Additional workshops and training courses on soil quality indicators and soil classification were conducted after the congress. The congress was considered a successful in-person international soil science event despite pandemic challenges and strengthened collaboration within the global soil science community.