What ISRIC - World Soil Information does

ISRIC - World Soil Information is an independent, science-based foundation under Dutch law, established in 1966 in Utrecht (now headquartered on the Wageningen Campus) and operating as the globally accredited World Data Centre for Soils under the ISC World Data System since 1989. The organization functions as the global reference centre for soil data and knowledge, providing quality-assessed soil information, physical collections, and standards to support research, policymaking, and sustainable land management.

ISRIC's core products are built around two flagship data assets: WoSIS, a centralized global soil profile database (~230,000 geo-referenced profiles from 174 countries, 900,000+ soil layers, 6M+ soil records) using FAIR data principles and ISO28258 standards on PostgreSQL-backed spatial data infrastructure; and SoilGrids, a machine learning-based global digital soil mapping system producing 250m-resolution gridded maps of soil properties (pH, organic carbon, bulk density, texture, water content) for six standard depth intervals. Supporting products include the World Soil Reference Collection (1,100+ monoliths from 82 countries), the World Soil Library (27,000+ records), the World Soil Museum, the ISRIC Data Hub, the Soil Information Knowledge Portal, the ISRIC Academy, and tools such as the ODK-based Soil Description DevTool and the WATDEV decision-support toolbox.

ISRIC is grant-funded and offers open-access data as a global public good, with no public pricing. Revenue flows from project-based funding, EU grants (Horizon Europe, DeSIRA), government donors, and strategic partnerships with organizations such as FAO, JRC/EC, CGIAR, UNESCO, UNCCD, WOCAT, OGC, and GRA. Its customer base spans the international research community, national governments and agricultural research institutes, international development organizations, and agri-businesses, with a coordinated focus on national soil information systems in Africa and other developing regions.

Name

ISRIC - World Soil Information

Legal name

Stichting International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC)

Website

https://isric.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ISRIC - World Soil Information is a Dutch non-profit foundation operating as the World Data Centre for Soils, providing quality-assessed global soil data, digital soil maps (WoSIS, SoilGrids), and standards to researchers, policymakers, development organizations, and agri-businesses worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wageningen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Project-based funding: ISRIC operates as an independent foundation funded primarily through international development projects, research grants, and institutional partnerships. Major funding sources include EU-funded projects (Horizon Europe, DeSIRA), government donors, and contributions from partner organizations.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ISRIC is an independent international non-profit foundation that operates as the World Data Centre for Soils, providing globally consistent, quality-assessed soil information through flagship databases (WoSIS and SoilGrids), the World Soil Reference Collection, the ISRIC Data Hub, and capacity-building/training services for governments, researchers, and development organizations.

Product overview

ISRIC operates as a data and knowledge organization offering a portfolio of interconnected soil information products and services. The core offerings include WoSIS (World Soil Information Service)—a centralised global soil database with ~230,000 geo-referenced profiles—and SoilGrids—a machine learning-powered global digital soil mapping system producing gridded soil property maps at 250m resolution. These flagship products are supported by physical collections including the World Soil Reference Collection (1,100+ soil monoliths) and the World Soil Museum, alongside the World Soil Library of Maps and Reports (27,000+ records). Cross-cutting platforms include the Soil Information Knowledge Portal (tools and guidance), the ISRIC Data Hub (GIS data repository), and the Africa Soil Information Community of Practice for capacity building. The organization also provides field tools like the Soil Description DevTool and decision-support products like the WATDEV Toolbox. All products serve the mission of advancing soil awareness and providing quality-assessed soil information for sustainable land management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SoilGrids SoilGrids is a globally consistent, fine-resolution digital soil mapping system that predicts soil properties and classes at 250m resolution using state-of-the-art machine learning, serving researchers, modelers, and land managers worldwide.
• WoSIS (World Soil Information Service) WoSIS is a centralized database that hosts quality-assessed, standardized soil profile data shared by multiple data providers globally, serving soil scientists, researchers, and policy analysts.
• World Soil Reference Collection A unique collection of physical soil monoliths representing the world's major soil types, used for soil identification, training, and reference purposes by researchers, students, and visiting experts.
• World Soil Museum A physical museum showcasing the World Soil Reference Collection, offering guided tours and educational programs for students, researchers, and members of the public to learn about global soils.
• World Soil Library of Maps and Reports A specialized library holding more than 27,000 maps and reports documenting global soil resources, available to researchers, students, and soil professionals.
• ISRIC Data Hub An open-access GIS data hub that hosts ISRIC's geospatial soil data products and software tools, providing web map services and download access for global users.
• Soil Information Knowledge Portal A knowledge portal offering tools, guidance, and step-by-step support to countries and institutions seeking to develop or improve national soil information systems.
• World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) The international standard for soil classification, endorsed by the International Union of Soil Sciences, providing a unified framework for naming and classifying soils worldwide.
• WATDEV Toolbox A decision-support toolbox developed within the WATDEV project that addresses land and water management challenges in North Africa through soil and water management modeling.
• Soil Description DevTool A multi-platform mobile application supporting standardized soil profile description and classification in the field, based on the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB).
• ISRIC Academy A training and capacity-building platform that provides educational resources, workshops, and courses to strengthen skills in soil information systems globally.

Quantifiable outcome

• About 230,000 geo-referenced soil profiles from 174 countries accessible through WoSIS
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.

• WATDEV Project ConsortiumstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026ISRIC participated in the Climate Smart WATer Management and Sustainable DEVelopment for Food and Agriculture in East Africa (WATDEV) project. Consortium included CIHEAM Bari, ASARECA, KALRO, Ethiopia's Water and Land Resources Centre, Sudan's Water Research Centre, Heliopolis University, and others. Funded by EU's DeSIRA Initiative.
• Coalition for Soil Information Systems in Africa (C4SISA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2024ISRIC is a partner in C4SISA, a collaborative initiative managed by FARA and endorsed by the African Union aimed at strengthening national soil information systems across Africa. Implementation agreement signed on 31 October during the 15th Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security.
• DeSIRA-LSC-IS Project PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Land, Soil and Crop Information Services to support Climate-Smart Agriculture project. Implementing organisations: Wageningen Research, ISRIC, ILRI/CCAFS. National partners: Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB). Funded by EU DeSIRA, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017ISRIC joined the GRA in 2017. The GRA brings together experts and institutions from around the world to advance research and develop technologies and practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.
• European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Since 2000, ISRIC has worked with JRC to develop harmonized soil data and improve soil information systems across Europe, including the establishment of the European Digital Archive of Soil Maps (EUDASM).
• Wageningen University & Research (WUR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWUR provides a range of operational support services to ISRIC. ISRIC supports a special professorship at Wageningen University for pedometrics and digital soil mapping. Staff collaborate on applied research projects, and ISRIC regularly hosts WUR students, staff, and international visitors for educational programmes. Formal cooperation agreement exists.
• Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISRIC and FAO have maintained a close relationship for over six decades. This collaboration contributed to developing global soil information products such as the Soil Map of the World, Soil and Terrain databases (SOTER), and Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD). ISRIC participates actively in the Global Soil Partnership facilitated by FAO.
• Consortium of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISRIC contributes to several CGIAR initiatives focused on food security, climate resilience, and sustainable development in dryland regions, working alongside leading research institutions.
• International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemorandum of understanding to jointly advance availability of soil information and improve soil fertility management. Collaboration focuses on developing agricultural decision-support systems and strengthening soil data across multiple regions in Africa.
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerISRIC partners with UNESCO to promote soil knowledge and literacy within its global network of Biosphere Reserves and Geoparks.
• World Data System (WDS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs the World Data Centre for Soils, ISRIC is a member of the WDS of the International Science Council (ISC), contributing to global efforts in data stewardship and accessibility.
• Global Soil Partnership (GSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGSP brings together international, regional, and national organizations working in soil protection and sustainable management. ISRIC contributes to the Global Soil Information System (GLOSIS), Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN), and International Network of Soil Information Institutions (INSII).
• World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerISRIC is a consortium member and active partner of WOCAT, a global network dedicated to sustainable land management.
• Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC)strategicTechnology or IntegrationISRIC is a member of OGC, a global consortium of 450 organizations dedicated to developing and maintaining open standards in geoinformatics. ISRIC actively contributes to creating these standards and applies them in its web-based soil information services.
• International Soil Carbon Network (ISCN)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerISRIC and ISCN have a formal data-sharing agreement. Together they provide the global soil community with quality-assessed soil data, supporting research on soil carbon and climate change.
• United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerISRIC is a registered civil society organisation (CSO) accredited to the Conference of the Parties of the UNCCD. As part of this role, ISRIC supports the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Target Setting Programme.
• Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition (GODAN)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerISRIC supports GODAN's mission to promote open access to agricultural data, helping to drive innovation, transparency, and sustainable development in food systems.
• Resource WatchstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource Watch is a global partnership of public, private, and civil society organizations convened by World Resources Institute that provides trusted and timely data on the planet's pulse to support a more sustainable future.
• International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISRIC chairs and participates in various IUSS working groups: World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB), Soil Information Standards, Digital Soil Mapping, and Global Soil Map.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• World Resources Institute (WRI): WRI is a global non-profit research organization that produces authoritative environmental datasets (e.g., Resource Watch) for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. Its funding model, governance structure, and global data-for-impact mission make it a strong structural analog to ISRIC.
• CGIAR: CGIAR is a global non-profit agricultural research consortium with a comparable mission of producing and sharing public-good agricultural data and knowledge for development outcomes. Like ISRIC, it operates as a multi-center research network funded by governments and foundations, and ISRIC is an active data contributor to its dryland and climate-resilience initiatives.
• European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC): The JRC operates the European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC) and has co-developed harmonized soil data and the European Digital Archive of Soil Maps (EUDASM) with ISRIC since 2000. It is the closest direct peer in soil data infrastructure and standardization at regional level.
• Landcare Research (Manaaki Whenua): New Zealand's Crown Research Institute for environmental and soil science, operating a national soil database and physical soil reference collection with a global research mandate. It is the closest national-level peer to ISRIC in terms of integrated soil reference, data, and research delivery.

Emerging players

• Indigo Ag: Indigo Ag is an agricultural technology company with a soil-health and microbial-products business that relies heavily on proprietary soil data and agronomic analytics. It represents an emerging commercial competitor that captures soil information at field scale for buyer-facing carbon and grain marketplaces.
• OneSoil: OneSoil is a commercial digital soil mapping and precision agriculture platform that provides field-level soil property maps and agronomic recommendations. It overlaps with SoilGrids' soil-property mapping but operates as a for-profit service targeting individual farmers and agribusinesses.
• Taranis: Taranis is a precision agriculture company that combines high-resolution aerial imagery, AI, and field-level soil and crop data to support agronomic decisions. It overlaps with ISRIC's soil-and-land decision-support mission but serves commercial ag retailers and growers with proprietary datasets.

Broad incumbents

• Climate FieldView (Bayer): Bayer's Climate FieldView is a large, well-capitalized commercial precision agriculture platform that ingests farm-level soil, yield, and satellite data at field scale globally. It overlaps ISRIC's soil-data value proposition for agricultural decision-making but with a commercial farmer-facing model and much larger capital base.

Others

• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): FAO is a UN specialized agency with a global mandate on soils, food security, and land, and has co-developed flagship soil products (HWSD, SOTER, Soil Map of the World) with ISRIC for over 60 years. It is best characterized as a mandate partner and upstream policy actor rather than a direct operational competitor.

Regional players

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): The US federal agency responsible for the National Cooperative Soil Survey and Web Soil Survey, providing authoritative national soil mapping and classification comparable to ISRIC's SoilGrids and WoSIS. It operates primarily in the United States and serves as the regional analog to ISRIC's global role.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ISRICorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ISRICorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/isric---world-soil-information

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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