José María García-Mina Freire, Full Professor of Chemistry Agricultural and Soil Science at the University of Navarra, has been appointed vice-president of the International Humic Substances Society (IHSS). This institution is made up of 900 senior and junior members (students of doctorate) from 34 countries.

The election of the professor of the School of Sciences García-Mina by the members of this society took place at its last congress, held in Varna (Bulgaria).

The IHSS - founded in Denver (Colorado, USA) in 1981 - has as goal the impulse of the research on the organic subject in soil and water, and its role in the balance of natural and anthropic (human-modified) ecosystems. "Specifically," explains Professor Garcia-Mina, scientific advisor to group Roullier-Timac Agro, "we are focusing on humus and a fraction of organic substances that make it up, called humic substances.

Humic substances and crop yields

Jose Mª Garcia-Mina also directs a group of research at the University of Navarra (group BACh) which, among other topics, studies the structure Chemistry and biological activity of humic substances, as well as their potential to improve soil quality and crop yields. All this in the context of sustainable agriculture.