This Soil Portal contributes to a thematic data infrastructure for soils in Europe. It presents data and information regarding soils at European level. It connects to activities within JRC concerning soil (JRC SOIL Action). It serves also as a vehicle to promote the activities of the European Soil Bureau Network. Spatial data collection and processing within this infrastructure is performed according to emerging ideas behind the INSPIRE (Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe) initiative.

More then 20 years of collaboration between European soil scientists has resulted in the publication by the European Commission of the first ever "Soil Atlas of Europe". Based on soil data and information collected within the European Soil Information System (EUSIS) developed by the Joint Research Centre, the atlas illustrates in 128 pages of maps, tables, figures and graphs, the richness of European soil resources and the need for their sustainable management. The Atlas compiles existing information on different soil types in easily understandable maps covering the entire European Union and bordering countries.

The European Soil Bureau Network (ESBN), located at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, Ispra(I), was created in 1996 as a network of national soil science institutions. The ESBN at the JRC is operated by staff members of the Land Management Unit (LMU). Its main tasks are to collect, harmonise, organise and distribute soil information for Europe. This section describes the history, background and current work programme of the network. The European Soil Bureau is a Network of "Centres of Excellence". In general terms, therefore, the role the ESBN Project at the JRC is twofold - to perform a co-ordination activity by hosting the Secretariat of the ESBN and to provide a central source for information relevant to the work of the European Commission. The ESBN is experiencing a surge in the demand for soil information in Europe, for addressing a number of environmental problems and questions. These include: leaching of agrochemicals, deposition of heavy metals, disposal of waste (agricultural, domestic and industrial), degradation of soil structure (through loss of organic matter, salinisation and subsoil compaction), risk of erosion (by water and wind), immobilisation of radionuclides, supply of water at catchment level, assessing the suitability (and sustainability) for traditional and alternative crops, and estimation of soil stability.

The purpose of ISCO is to advocate for the sustainable, productive, and efficient use of soil and water resources. It does so through improved understanding of natural resource management issues and enhanced communication among participants in its meetings and with others with similar concerns and commitments. A primary feature of ISCO is the rather "informal" structure whereby no official "Constitution," "Bylaws," or membership fees are formulated or enacted. The primary responsibility for the Organization resides with the country, institutions, and individuals (including the chief host designated as the current "President") who host and organize the meetings. ISCO has thrived and continues to grow with this format.

The Confederation is a regional member of the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS), with the goal to foster all branches of soil science and their application, as well as to support soil scientists in their professional activities. Moreover, the Confederation will facilitate information for politics and decision making and for the broad public, especially in view of a future sustainable use of natural resources, in particular soil and land. – Specific activities of the Confederation will be the organisation of meetings, conferences and congresses and the publication of scientific and other material, as well as the co-operation with other scientific organisations. Most important is the organisation of the EUROSOIL Conference, an event which is well known also outside Europe, and which is organised every four years in another European country.

The European Society for Soil Conservation was founded on 4th November 1988 to promote soundly based policies of soil conservation in its broadest sense throughout the countries of Europe. The ESSC pursues its aims by: supporting research on soil degradation, soil erosion, and soil conservation; providing a network for the exchange of knowledge about soil degradation processes and soil conservation research and practices; producing publications about major questions of soil conservation; consulting administration and policy makers on soil conservation issues.

The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) is the global union of soil scientists. The objectives of the IUSS are to foster all branches of the soil sciences and their applications, and to give support to soil scientists in the pursuit of their activities.