Alliance Of Crop, Soil And Environmental Science Societies

What Alliance Of Crop, Soil And Environmental Science Societies does

The Alliance of Crop, Soil and Environmental Science Societies (ACSESS) is a Madison, Wisconsin-based nonprofit coalition that provides management and administrative infrastructure for three independent scientific societies — the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) — together with the Agronomic Science Foundation (ASF), which was itself established in 1968. The organization collectively serves more than 7,900 members and 13,000 certified professionals across agronomic, crop, soil, and environmental sciences, reaching audiences in over 90 countries through webinars and global events such as the 4,000+-attendee CANVAS annual conference.

The product portfolio is anchored on three pillars: scientific publishing (13 peer-reviewed journals — including flagship titles Agronomy Journal, Crop Science, and the Soil Science Society of America Journal — plus more than 330 book titles, all distributed through the Wiley Online Library); professional certification (the Certified Crop Adviser / Certified Professional Agronomist program and the Certified Professional Soil Scientist / Associate Professional Soil Scientist program, which function as industry benchmarks); and continuing education (an Online Classroom with 300+ courses, the Foundations of Applied Agronomy self-paced training, the Field, Lab, Earth podcast, CSA News and Crops & Soils magazines, and the Science Societies Career Center job board). Supporting technology stacks include ScholarOne Manuscripts for peer-review workflows and integrations with Dryad for data archiving.

The business model combines tiered recurring membership dues (Professional $150–$260, Emeritus $80–$135, Graduate Student $60, Undergraduate Student $40, plus corporate tiers), recurring certification fees and CEU-driven renewal revenue, journal publication fees and page charges (waived for members in flagship journals), Wiley-mediated institutional subscriptions, advertising and sponsorship packages (e.g., Yara North America nitrogen-management webinars), paid online classroom subscriptions and individual webinar purchases ($65 per webinar for non-members), and event registration with a $300 member discount. Free three-month trial memberships serve as a top-of-funnel acquisition lever, and the ASF supplements operating revenue with philanthropic distributions exceeding $545,000 in 2025 for scholarships, fellowships, and research support.

Name

Alliance Of Crop, Soil And Environmental Science Societies

Legal name

Alliance of Crop, Soil and Environmental Science Societies

Website

https://sciencesocieties.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Alliance of Crop, Soil and Environmental Science Societies is a Madison, Wisconsin-based nonprofit coalition managing three scientific societies (ASA, CSSA, SSSA) and the Agronomic Science Foundation. It serves 7,900+ members and 13,000+ certified professionals via journals, certifications, and continuing education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Scientific Society Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental, Health & Safety / Sustainability (EHS, Environmental Compliance CE) (EDAAALAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental Data Management Platforms (EHS/EMS, LIMS, ELN, Compliance Data Hubs) (EUAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Scientific society membership
• Peer reviewed publishing
• Professional certification programs
• Agronomy continuing education
• Agricultural conference events

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees with tiered pricing: Professional ($150-$260 depending on number of societies), Emeritus ($80-$135), Graduate Student ($60), Undergraduate Student ($40), and Corporate membership options. Members receive journal access, meeting discounts, scholarships, awards, and networking opportunities.
2. Journal and Book Publishing: Thirteen peer-reviewed scientific journals including six gold open access journals, plus comprehensive book library. Revenue from publication fees, page charges (with member discounts), transformational agreements with institutions, and book sales. Members receive free digital access to books.
3. Certification Programs: CCA and CPSS certification programs generate revenue through exam fees, certification renewals, and specialty certifications (e.g., Organic Specialty). Certified professionals maintain credentials through CEU requirements.
4. Educational Content and Webinars: Online Classroom subscription service (12-month access), individual course purchases, live webinars (free for members, $65 for non-members), podcast CEU quizzes, and Foundations of Applied Agronomy training program. Over 300 courses available.
5. Events and Conferences: CANVAS annual meeting registration fees, Sustainable Agronomy Conference, specialized meetings, and undergraduate programs. Includes exhibitor and sponsor revenue from business engagement opportunities.
6. Advertising and Sponsorship: Advertising opportunities across publications including CSA News, Crops & Soils magazine, and digital platforms. Corporate membership and sponsorship packages for events and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ACSESS is a coalition of three scientific societies (ASA, CSSA, SSSA) plus the Agronomic Science Foundation that provides individual professional memberships, peer-reviewed journal and book publishing, benchmark certifications (CCA, CPSS), and continuing education programs to agronomic, crop, soil, and environmental science professionals worldwide.

Product overview

Alliance Of Crop, Soil And Environmental Science Societies (ACSESS) is a coalition of three scientific societies (ASA, CSSA, SSSA) serving over 7,900 members and 13,000 certified professionals. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio centered on scientific publishing (13 peer-reviewed journals and 330+ books), professional certifications (CCA, CPSS), and education (Online Classroom, Foundations of Applied Agronomy, Decode 6). Key products include CANVAS (annual conference), CSA News and Crops & Soils magazines, the Field, Lab, Earth podcast, and the Science Societies Career Center. The recent 'Dig In, Do Good' campaign adds a workforce development platform. All content is delivered through the Wiley Online Library, with manuscript submissions via ScholarOne Manuscripts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CANVAS: Annual meeting/conference bringing together thousands of scientific innovators for global agricultural resilience
• Agronomic Science Foundation (ASF)
• Certified Crop Adviser (CCA)
• CSA News
• Field, Lab, Earth Podcast
• Decode 6

Products and services

• CANVAS Annual Conference Premier annual global agronomy conference bringing together 4,000+ scientific innovators for four days focused on agricultural resilience, featuring speakers, student programs, tours, workshops, and CEUs.
• CSA News Magazine Official monthly magazine highlighting society members, science policy, careers, education, and journal news, automatically distributed to members.
• Crops & Soils Magazine Magazine for certified professionals focusing on solutions to daily challenges in agronomy and soil science, featuring self-study CEU articles and quizzes.
• Field, Lab, Earth Podcast Podcast covering advances in agronomy, crop, soil, and environmental sciences, featuring author interviews and CEU quizzes for certified professionals.
• Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) Program Professional certification program administered by ASA that benchmarks professionalism in agronomic advising, including CCA and Certified Professional Agronomist (CPAg) credentials with ongoing CEU requirements.
• Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSS) Program SSSA certification program including CPSS and Associate Professional Soil Scientist (APSS) designations that set standards for knowledge, skills, and conduct in soil science and soil classification.
• Peer-Reviewed Scientific Journals Portfolio of 13 peer-reviewed scientific journals including Agronomy Journal, Crop Science, Soil Science Society of America Journal, Journal of Environmental Quality, The Plant Genome, and six gold open access titles.
• Online Library (Wiley) Digital library hosted by Wiley containing all 13 journals, archives, and books published by ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, accessible to members and institutional subscribers worldwide.
• Online Classroom Online collection of recorded webinars, articles, podcasts, and training resources providing CEUs for certified professionals, with over 300 free and paid courses via 12-month subscription.
• Foundations of Applied Agronomy Self-paced online training program preparing learners for the International Certified Crop Adviser Exam and building expertise in production agriculture, consulting, and conservation.
• Decode 6 Free online resource covering soil carbon markets, ecosystem services, and sustainable agriculture topics for professionals and the public.
• Science Societies Career Center Premier job resource for agricultural, soil, and environmental professionals offering job postings, resume review, career coaching, and custom job alerts.
• Agronomic Science Foundation (ASF) Foundation that raises, invests, and distributes funds for the benefit of members, students, and future contributors, distributing over $545,000 in 2025 to support scholarships, international exchanges, and mentorship programs.
• Sustainable Agronomy Conference Four-day virtual conference covering nutrient management, resilient agricultural systems, AI/data/precision agronomy, and economics of adoption with CEUs available.
• Drought Resilience Calculator Free web application that processes local soil and weather data to help farmers and advisers visualize how soil health practices improve water availability during drought periods.
• Book Library Over 330 print and electronic titles including peer-reviewed textbooks, professional guides, and reference books on agricultural, crop, soil, and environmental science topics.
• Dig In, Do Good Career Platform Mobile-first workforce development website offering career profiles, interactive career quiz, and college database connecting students with agronomy, crop, and soil science programs.
• North American Proficiency Testing (NAPT) Program Quality control and quality assurance program for agricultural and environmental laboratories through quarterly blind and double-blind statistical evaluation of soil, plant, and water samples.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6% projected growth in demand for agricultural scientists from 2024 to 2034
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NAPB (National Association of Plant Breeders)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner alliance with ASF where NAPB funds are stewarded, managed, and administered through ASF's infrastructure. NAPB maintains its distinct professional identity while benefiting from ASF's administrative support.
• WileycoreTechnology or IntegrationPublishing partner hosting 13 peer-reviewed journals and comprehensive book library on Wiley Online Library platform. Reaches millions of readers worldwide.
• ARA (Agricultural Retailers Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting the CCA program to ensure farmers can get sound advice.
• Field to MarketminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting the CCA program through industry collaboration.
• NACD (National Association of Conservation Districts)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting the CCA program to ensure farmers can get sound advice.
• CTIC (Center for Technology Innovation)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting the CCA program through technology innovation collaboration.
• SSSA and Soil Science Society of ChinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational co-development partnership between SSSA and Soil Science Society of China (SSSC) for joint webinars and symposia.
• Yara North AmericaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting educational webinars on nitrogen management and sustainability topics.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• British Society of Soil Science: UK-based peer society offering peer-reviewed soil science journals, professional accreditation, and member services comparable to SSSA but focused on the UK and European market.
• Soil Science Society of China: China-based national soil science society and explicit SSSA partner for joint webinars and symposia; offers peer-reviewed soil science publications and serves a comparable professional membership base in the Chinese market.

Direct peers

• Ecological Society of America: Nonprofit ecological science society with peer-reviewed journals (Ecology, Ecological Applications), annual meetings, sections, and member certifications overlapping significantly with the Alliance's community/certification model.
• Soil and Water Conservation Society: Nonprofit professional society focused on soil and water conservation, operating with the same member-based model, peer-reviewed publications, certification-adjacent programs, and an annual conference similar to ACSESS.
• American Society for Horticultural Science: Crop/plant science society with peer-reviewed journals (HortScience, JASHS), member programs, and professional conferences — closely comparable in subject domain (crop production science) and society structure.
• American Society of Plant Biologists: Plant science nonprofit society with peer-reviewed journals, member-driven certification/education programs, and an annual conference — directly comparable in mission, revenue structure, and target audience to ASA/CSSA.

Broad incumbents

• American Chemical Society: Largest US scientific society with deeply comparable membership, peer-reviewed journals, certification, and conference products, but operating across all chemistry subfields rather than specializing in agronomy/soil.
• American Geophysical Union: Nonprofit Earth and environmental science society with peer-reviewed journals, large annual conference, and member programs overlapping on the environmental science side of the Alliance's mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ASA_CSSA_SSSA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ScienceSocieties
• Facebookfacebook.com/asa.cssa.sssa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crops-soils-agronomy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alliance Of Crop, Soil And Environmental Science Societies