Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Societies are working to create meaningful change in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). We know we must do more across our scientific community for strength, creativity, and innovation in science. The information below supplies background on current efforts connected to our Annual Meeting.

We are committed to providing an experience where diversity is celebrated, everyone feels respected, and has a sense of belonging. We strongly prohibit any form of harassment or discrimination. If you’ve experienced any inappropriate conduct, please share with us. All reports will be held in the strictest of confidence and only aggregated in an overview report to the Society leadership.

View the ASA, CSSA, SSSA Presidents Letter and the Societies Code of Conduct.

To learn more about Society-wide actions including DEI discussion board, policies, sessions that focus on DEI at the Annual Meetings, and more, please visit:

https://www.soils.org/diversity
https://www.crops.org/diversity
https://www.agronomy.org/diversity

Current Efforts

The Annual Meeting averages 4,000 attendees from 60 countries; anyone in the world with an interest in agronomic, crop, and/or soil sciences is invited to register and attend.

  • Everyone in the world is invited.
  • Anyone can submit a scientific abstract, including both in-person and/or virtual presentation, and most are accepted!
  • The Societies aim to be inclusive and give everyone an opportunity to gain professional recognition and presentation experience, all while expanding your CV/vita, sharing information for all to succeed, and fostering collaborations with your peers.
  • We work with our Annual Meeting city, venue, and contractor partners on collaborative DEI efforts.
  • We design our Meeting with DEI in mind: gender-neutral bathrooms, lactation area, ADA indicator option at time of registration, accessible rooms, pronoun ribbons, inclusive language, diversity in programming and in presenters, etc.

Sustainability 

The Societies are committed to modeling sustainability at our Annual Meeting.  We implement a variety of practices to minimize the conference’s environmental footprint and maximize our positive impact or “handprint.”

Current Efforts

Waste

  • We offer and promote a conference app.
  • We order recycle bins in areas that recycle.
  • We ask presenters to utilize electronic distribution.
  • We use electronic methods for our marketing and on-site communications.
  • We recycle and/or reuse event supplies whenever possible.
  • We offer and encourage online registration.
  • We re-use or recycle floral decorations and plants and request they be local.
  • We use crates to package our freight when shipping, rather than individual packing/bubble wrap.

Purchasing

  • We do not give attendees a bag or swag at registration. We package purchases in reusable bags.
  • We give awards in electronic format instead of using plaques.
  • We use recycled materials for our lanyards and our name badge holders are biodegradable.

Food & Dining

  • We use reusable plates and utensils at special and ticketed event meals; we use zero Styrofoam. 
  • We select buffet-style menus when possible to reduce waste from plated food.
  • Leftover food is asked to be donated as is possible, but typically our ordering is close to no waste.
  • We select some of the same menu options across meals to keep over-ordering to a minimum.
  • We ask for and order local and organic when possible.
  • When possible we use water pitchers and bubblers to help preserve water and eliminate bottle waste.

Partners & Community

  • We select conference hotels that are in close proximity to where the conference is and invest in the communities hosting us via donations of time and money to local food banks.
  • We work with partners who share our commitment to sustainability.

Future Goals

Waste

• Reduce the number of signs made.
• Reduce the amount of printed and shipped material.
• Review our swag and handout policies and ensure necessary materials are sustainably sourced.
 

Purchasing

• Establish a carbon offset policy to retire enough carbon offsets to mitigate all estimated emissions associated with travel to and from the conference and on-site energy use.
• Evaluate the purchase of Water Restoration Certificates to cover the estimated water usage of conference attendees.
• Make all conference materials with sustainable materials and ink.
 

Food & Dining

• Introduce concepts such as “Meatless Monday” for special and ticketed menus.
• Learn more about environmentally and socially responsible food products and order them to the greatest practical extent.
• Request reusable/recyclable cups at water stations.
 

Partners & Community

• Choose host cities, convention centers, and hotels that align with our sustainability efforts and, when possible, give favor to those that have sustainability certification.
• Give preference to cities that offer public transportation, especially to/from airports.
• Work with hotels and convention centers to donate leftover food in states and cities that allow it.
• Add “Sustainability Partner” as a sponsorship offering.
• Educate exhibitors on how to be more sustainable.
 
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How You Can Help

All attendees have a role to play in improving the sustainability of the conference. 

You can help by:

  • Taking advantage of public transportation options, especially to/from the airport where offered.
  • Bringing and use your own water bottle.
  • Choosing plant-based foods (even just one day of the conference) to support the creation of ecologically sound food systems.
  • Utilize electronic distribution; if you must print, print double-sided on 100% post-consumer recycled, agricultural residue and/or FSC certified content paper.
  • Placing any materials you wish to discard in the appropriate collection receptacle.
  • Taking advantage of your hotel’s green housekeeping program. If they do not have one, request that they begin providing one. 
  • Shutting off all lights and turning off the air-conditioning warmer in your hotel room before leaving each day.