Background

Education

Professional societies, memberships, committees

• Editorial Board Member of the Elsevier journal 'Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment' (1995-2003), and of 'Nutrient Cycling in Agro-ecosystems' (2006-present)
• WOTRO Evaluation Committee Member (1998-99)
• Member Scientific Advisory Board of Stichting Onderzoek Wereldvoedselvraagstuk (SOW-Free University, Amsterdam)
• Member of the Scientific and Technical Committee of West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD)
• Author of children's books De Prijs van Poep (The price of dung), Volle Buiken (Full Bellies), Gooi maar weg! (Just throw it away!), and Een Ronde Tafel in het Regenwoud (A Round Table in the Rainforest) with Rindert Kromhout, Leopold/KIT/Novib, 2001, 2004, 2005
• Member of the Dutch Senate for the Socialist Party (SP) (2007-present)

I started my career at ITC (1983/4), where I was a member of a team performing a soil survey and land evaluation of two provinces in Aceh (Indonesia). Afterwards, I joined Stiboka in Wageningen, which later on became DLO-Winand Staring Centre for Integrated Land, Soil and Water Research, and is now known as Alterra. Between 1984 and 1988, I worked in several West African countries and in Kenya (2.5 years) in the field of soil survey for sustainable use of wetlands, and on the development of a framework for soil-specific fertilizer recommendations respectively.

Later on, I was Head of Section of Development Cooperation at DLO-Winand Staring Centre, programme leader 'North-South' for all DLO institutes, and member of a task force 'internationalisering' in Wageningen University and Research Centre. In this capacity, I developed a large multi-year interdisciplinary research programme for the Wageningen-based Graduate Schools (INREF), and was the Wageningen representative at the annual meetings of the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). In 1998, I was appointed professor of Soil Inventorization and Land Evaluation at Wageningen University. In September 2004, twenty years after I left, I joined ITC again as a 2 days/week Professor in Sustainable Agriculture. The rest of my time I spend in the Dutch Senate, as a writer of children's books, and occasionally as a free-lance consultant for organizations such as World Bank and FAO.

Activities in research

So far, I have seen seven PhD students through (at Wageningen UR), and have 6 more who are currently doing their research. Those who have completed are:

Currently, I am member of the Wageningen-coordinated Graduate School for Production Ecology & Resource Conservation, and leader of the ITC Research Programme on Food Security and Environmental Sustainability (FSES).

Activities in education

I occasionally lecture in different Modules of the NRM programme. I am also responsible for the review and re-building of the NRM MSc Programme, which underwent a major overhaul in 2007.

Publications

ISI Journal Articles

Cambule, A.H., Rossiter, D.G., Stoorvogel, J.J. and Smaling, E.M.A. (2012) Building a near infrared spectral library for soil organic carbon estimation in the Limpopo national park, Mozambique. In: Geoderma : an international journal of soil science, 183-184 (2012) Full text | Full text

Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, de Bie, C.A.J.M., Ali, A., Smaling, E.M.A. and ... [et al.] (2012) Mapping the irrigated rice cropping patterns of the Mekong delta, Vietnam, through hyper - temporal SPOT NDVI image analysis. In: International journal of remote sensing, 33 (2012)2 pp. 415-434. Full text | Full text

Laborte, A.G., de Bie, C.A.J.M., Smaling, E.M.A. and ... [et al.] (2012) Rice yields and yield gaps in Southeast Asia : past trends and future outlook. In: European journal of agronomy, 36(2012)1, pp. 9-20. Full text | Full text

Dutta, R., Smaling, E.M.A., Bhagat, R.M., Tolpekin, V.A. and Stein, A. (2011) Analysis of factors that determine tea productivity in Northeastern India : a combined statistical and modelling approach. In: Experimental Agriculture, (2011)IN PRESS, 21 p. Full text | Full text

de Bie, C.A.J.M., Khan, M.R., Smakhtin, V.U., Venus, V., Weir, M.J.C. and Smaling, E.M.A. (2011) Analysis of multi - temporal SPOT NDVI images for small - scale land - use mapping. In: International journal of remote sensing, 32 (2011)21 pp. 6673-6693. Full text | Full text

Murungweni, C., van Wijk, M.T., Andersson, J.A., Smaling, E.M.A. and ... [et al.] (2011) Application of fuzzy cognitive mapping in livelihood vulnerability analysis. In: Ecology and society : a journal of integrative science for resilience and sustainability : open access, 16 (2011)4art. no. 8 , 16 p. Full text | Full text

Khan, M.R., de Bie, C.A.J.M., van Keulen, H., Smaling, E.M.A. and Real, R. (2010) Disaggregating and mapping crop statistics using hypertemporal remote sensing. In: International journal of applied earth observation and geoinformation : JAG, 12 (2010)1 pp. 36-46. Full text | Full text

Dutta, R., Stein, A., Smaling, E.M.A. and ... [et al.] (2010) Effects of plant age and environmental and management factors on tea yield in Northeast India. In: Agronomy journal, 102 (2010)4 pp. 1290-1301. Full text

Vanlauwe, B., Bationo, A., Chianu, J., Giller, K.E., Merckx, R., Mokwunye, U., Ohiokpehai, O., Pypers, P., Tabo, R., Shepherd, K.D., Smaling, E.M.A. and ... [et al.] (2010) Integrated soil fertility management : operational definition and consequences for implementation and dissemination. In: Outlook on Agriculture, 39(2010)1, pp. 17-24. Full text

Reij, C.P. and Smaling, E.M.A. (2008) Analyzing successes in agriculture and land management in Sub-Saharan Africa: Is macro-level gloom obscuring positive micro-level change?. In: Land use policy, 25 (2008)3 pp. 410-420. Full text | Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. and ... [et al.] (2008) From forest to waste : assessment of the Brazilian soybean chain, using nitrogen as a marker. In: Agriculture, ecosystems and environment, 128 (2008)3 pp. 185-197. Full text | Full text

Lesschen, J.P., Stoorvogel, J.J., Smaling, E.M.A., Heuvelink, G.B.M. and Veldkamp, A. (2007) A spatially explicit methodology to quantify soil nutrient balances and their uncertainties at the national level. In: Nutrient cycling in agroecosystems, 78(2007)2, pp. 111-131. Full text | Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. and Dixon, J. (2006) Adding a soil fertility dimension to the global farming systems approach, with cases from Africa. In: Agriculture, ecosystems and environment, 116 (2006)1-2 pp. 15-26. Full text | Full text

Samaké, O., Stomph, T.J., Kropff, M.J. and Smaling, E.M.A. (2006) Integrated pearl millet management in the Sahel : effects of legume rotation and fallow management on productivity and Striga hermonthica infestation. In: Plant and Soil, 286(2006)1-2, pp. 245-257. Full text | Full text

Kanmegne, J., Smaling, E.M.A. and ... [et al.] (2006) Nutrient flows in smallholder production systems in the humid forest zone of Southern Cameroon. In: Nutrient cycling in agroecosystems, 76(2006)2-3, pp 233-248. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (2006) Nutrient management in tropical agroecosystems : editorial. In: Agriculture, ecosystems and environment, 116 (2006)1-2 pp. 1-3. Full text | Full text

Samaké, O., Smaling, E.M.A., Kropff, M.J., Stomph, T.J. and Kodio, A. (2005) Effects of cultivation practices on spatial variation of soil fertility and millet yields in the Sahel of Mali. In: Agriculture, ecosystems and environment, 109 (2005)3-4 pp. 335-345. Full text

Koning, N. and Smaling, E.M.A. (2005) Environmental crisis of "lie of the land" ? : the debate on soil degradation in Africa. In: Land use policy, 22 (2005)1 pp. 3-11. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. and Toulmin, C. (2000) The itinerary of soil nutrients in Africa : destination anywhere. In: Outlook on agriculture, 29(2000)3, pp. 193-200. Full text

Deugd, M., Röling, N. and Smaling, E.M.A. (1998) A new praxeology for integrated nutrient management, facilitating innovation with and by farmers. In: Agriculture, ecosystems and environment, 71 (1998)2-3 pp. 269-283. Full text

Lynam, J.K., Nandwa, S.M. and Smaling, E.M.A. (1998) Nutrient balances as indicators of productivity and substainability in Sub-Saharan African agriculture : Papers Presented during the conference "Soil Fertility Management in Sub-Saharan Africa" held in Nairobi, Kenya, February 1997 : Introduction : editorial. In: Agriculture, ecosystems and environment, 71 (1998)1-3 pp. 1-4. Full text | Full text

Stoorvogel, J.J. and Smaling, E.M.A. (1998) Research on soil fertility decline in tropical environments : integration of spatial scales. In: Nutrient cycling in agroecosystems, 50(1998)1-3, pp. 151-158.

Smaling, E.M.A., Fresco, L.O. and de Jager, A. (1996) Classifying, monitoring and improving soil nutrient stocks and flows in African agriculture. In: Ambio : a journal of the human environment, 25 (1996)8 pp. 492-496. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. and Braun, A.R. (1996) Soil fertility research in Sub - Saharan Africa : new dimensions, new challenges. In: Communications in soil science and plant analysis, 27(1996)3-4, pp. 365-386. Full text

Stoorvogel, J.J., Smaling, E.M.A. and Janssen, B.H. (1993) Calculating soil nutrient balances in Africa at different scales : I supra - national scale. In: Fertilizer Research, 35(1993)3, pp. 227-235. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A., Stoorvogel, J.J. and Windmeijer, P.N. (1993) Calculating soil nutrient balances in Africa at different scales : II district scales. In: Fertilizer Research, 35(1993)3, pp. 237-250. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. and Janssen, B.H. (1993) Calibration of QUEFTS : a model predicting nutrient uptake and yields from chemical soil fertility indices. In: Geoderma : an international journal of soil science, 59 (1993)1-4 pp. 21-44.

Smaling, E.M.A. and Fresco, L.O. (1993) A decision - support model for monitoring nutrient balances under agricultural land use NUTMON. In: Geoderma : an international journal of soil science, 60 (1993)1-4 pp. 235-256. Full text

Hakkeling, R.T.A., Diatta, S. and Smaling, E.M.A. (1993) Response of upland rice to soil and hydrological conditions on a footslope in central Ivory coast. In: Geoderma : an international journal of soil science, 59 (1993)1-4 pp. 45-56.

Smaling, E.M.A. and Bouma, J. (1992) Bypass flow and leaching of nitrogen in a Kenyan vertisol at the onset of the growing season. In: Soil use and management : an international journal for the British Society of Soil Science, 8 (1992)1 pp. 44-47. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. and ... [et al.] (1992) Yield response of maize to fertilizers and manure under different agro - ecological conditions in Kenya. In: Agriculture, ecosystems and environment, 41 (1992)3 pp. 241-252. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A., Stein, A. and Sloot, P.H.M. (1991) A statistical analysis of the influence of Striga hermonthica on maize yields in fertilizer trials in Southwestern Kenya. In: Plant and soil, 138(1991).

Janssen, B.H., Guiking, F.C.T., van der Eijk, D., Smaling, E.M.A. and ... [et al.] (1990) A system for quantitative evaluation of the fertility of tropical soils, QUEFTS. In: Geoderma : an international journal of soil science, 46 (1990)4 pp. 299-318. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. and van de Weg, R.F. (1990) Using soil and climate maps and associated data sets to select sites for fertilizer trials in Kenya. In: Agriculture, ecosystems and environment, 31 (1990)3 pp. 263-274. Full text

Book Chapters

Smaling, E.M.A. and ... [et al.] (2012) Where do we stand 20 years after the assessment of soil nutrient balances in sub - Saharan Africa. In: World soil resources and food security / R. Lal, , B.A. Stewart. - Boca Raton : CRC, 2012. - 560 p. ; 24 cm. - (Advances in soil science : series) ISBN 978-1-4398-4450-2. pp. 499-537. Full text

Kanté, S., Smaling, E.M.A. and van Keulen, H. (2007) Nutrient balances for different farm types in Southern Mali. In: Advances in integrated soil fertility management in sub-Saharan Africa: challenges and opportunities. / ed. by A. Bationo et al. (Eds). Dordrecht : Springer, 2007. ISBN 978-1-4020-5759-5 pp. 557-566. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A., Stoorvogel, J.J. and de Jager, A. (2002) Decision making on integrated nutrient management through the eyes of the scientist, the land - user and the policy maker. In: Integrated plant nutrient management in Sub-Saharan Africa / ed. by B. Vanlauwe, J. Diels, N. Sanginga and R. Merckx. Wallingford; CAB International, 2002. pp. 265-283.

Smaling, E.M.A., Nandwa, S.M. and Janssen, B.H. (1997) Soil fertility in Africa is at stake. In: Replenishing soil fertility in Africa. / ed. by R.J. Buresh, P.A. Sanchez and F. Calhoun. Madison, Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), 1997. pp. 47-61 (SSSA Special Publication ; 51).

Monographs/Edited Books

Oenema, O. (editor) , Janssen, B.H. (editor) , Smaling, E.M.A. (editor) and ... [et al.] (2006) Nutrient management in tropical ecosystems : special issue of: Agriculture, ecosystems and environment, 116(2006)1 - 2. 2006. Full text

PhD Theses

Khan, M.R., Smaling, E.M.A. (Promotor) , van Keulen, H. (Promotor) and de Bie, C.A.J.M. (assistant promotor)  (2011) Crops from space : improved earth observation capacity to map crop areas and to quantify production. Enschede, University of Twente Faculty of Geo-Information and Earth Observation ITC, 2011. ITC Dissertation 180, ISBN: 978-90-6164-301-2. Full text

Dutta, R., Stein, A. (Promotor) , Smaling, E.M.A. (Promotor) and Bhagat, R.M. (assistant promotor)  (2011) A spatio - temporal analysis of tea productivity and quality in North - East India. Enschede, University of Twente Faculty of Geo-Information and Earth Observation ITC, 2011. ITC Dissertation 182, ISBN: 978-90-6164-304-3. Full text

Murungweni, C., Giller, K.E. (Promotor) and Smaling, E.M.A. (Promotor)  (2011) Vulnerability and resilience of competing land - based livelihoods in south eastern Zimbabwe. Wageningen, Wageningen University, 2011. ISBN: 978-90-8585-979-6.

Sedogo, L.G., Smaling, E.M.A. (Promotor) , Skidmore, A.K. (Promotor) and Groten, S.M.E. (Promotor)  (2002) Integration of local participatory and regional planning for resources management using remote sensing and GIS. Wageningen, Wageningen University, 2002. ITC Dissertation 92, ISBN: 90-5808-751-4. Full text

Conference Proceedings (full papers)

Smaling, E.M.A. (2007) Fertilizers and the environment : friends or Foes?. In: Proceedings African fertilizer summit, Abuja, Nigeria June 9-13, 2006. Muscle Shoals, IFDC, 2007 (Special publication IFDC - SP 39). ISBN 978-0-88-90-159-8. pp. 54-56.

Bationo, A., Hartemink, A.E., Lungu, O., Naimi, M., Okoth, P.F., Smaling, E.M.A. and ... [et al.] (2007) Linkages of Africa's fertilizer sector to soil, environment and water resources. In: Proceedings African fertilizer summit, Abuja, Nigeria June 9-13, 2006. Muscle Shoals, IFDC, 2007 (Special publication IFDC - SP 39). ISBN 978-0-88-90-159-8. pp. 144.

Scientific and Professional Publications

Smaling, E.M.A. (2011) Duurzame landbouw op wereldschaal in kort bestek. In: Insights : Chemical, Augustus 2011, pp. 10-13. Full text

de Steenhuijsen Piters, B. and Smaling, E.M.A. (2011) Leer Oost - Afrika zelf voedsel verbouwen. In: Volkskrant : section Opinie, 21 July 2011, pp. 27. Full text | Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (2011) NFP - student is meer dan een Facebook - silhouet. In: Transfermagazine.nl : nieuwssite van Transfer : het onafhankelijke vakblad voor internationalisering in het hoger onderwijs en onderzoek : de actuele kwesties. Full text | Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (2011) Prof op het Binnenhof : Eric Smaling over expertise op het terrein van voedselzekerheid. In: Vice Versa, 11 October 2011 online, 3 p. Full text | Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (2010) Help ! de hulp helpt. Of niet?. In: The broker : connecting worlds of knowledge, online (2010)18 February Full text | Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (2010) Knowledge in Africa : subjects, scales, stakeholders, structures, successes. In: The broker : connecting worlds of knowledge, online (2010)14 June Full text | Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. and Polderman, H. (2010) Meer melk mag, minder mest moet : de spagaat van de melkveehouder. In: SPIL, 265-268(2010), pp. 31. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (2010) Priorities for agricultural development in Africa. In: The broker : connecting worlds of knowledge, online (2010)3 November Full text | Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (2010) Wie haalt de kou uit de lucht : opinions. In: Faces : Magazine of asset, accounting and finance, 11(2010)3, pp. 27. Full text

Kant, A., Jansen, P. and Smaling, E.M.A. (2009) Een beter milieu begint in Den Haag. In: NRC Handelsblad, Opinie, 30 November 2009. Full text | Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. and Koning, N. (2009) EU kan Afrika helpen met voedselcrisis. In: ViceVersa : vakblad voor ontwikkelingssamenwerking, (2009)augustus, pp.8-9. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (2009) Geld voor verbreding moet snel komen. In: Agrarisch dagblad, (2009)3 Augustus, 1 p. Full text | Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (2009) Polderen over natuur vergt goede aanpak. In: Agrarisch dagblad, (2009)20 januari, p. 2. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (2008) Arme gronden, lege monden : moet Africa linksaf of rechtsaf?. In: Bodem, 18(2008)6, pp. 30-32. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (interviewee)  (2008) En toch is de Keniaan vredelievend. In: Twentsche courant Tubantia op Zondag, 13 januari 2008. p. 13. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (2008) Landbouw EU blijft verstorend voor markt. In: Het Financieële Dagblad, 22 juli 2008. Full text

van Velzen, K. and Smaling, E.M.A. (2008) Vrije wereldmarkt voor agrarische producten zal altijd utopie blijven. In: Agrarisch dagblad, 7 augustus 2008. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (2008) Vrijhandel werkt niet goed in de landbouw. In: De Volkskrant, 6 augustus 2008. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (2006) Fertilizer use and the environment in Africa : friends or foes? backgroundpaper : African fertilizer summit : nourish the soil, feed the continent, 9-13 June 2006, Abuja, Nigeria.. Abuja, 2006. Full text | Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (2005) Agriculture and the nitrogen cycle - by A.R. Mosier, J. Keith Syers and J.R. Freney, (eds.) - by Island Press, 2004 : book review. In: Natural resources forum : a United Nations sustainable development journal, 29 (2005)3 pp. 264-266. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (2005) Harvest for the world : inaugural address by Eric Smaling, professor of sustainable agriculture on Wednesday 2 November 2005, ITC Enschede,The Netherlands. Enschede, ITC, 2005. ISBN: 90-6164-243-4. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (2005) Soil fertility decline in the tropics : with case studies on plantations - by A.E. Hartemink. - Wallinford, CABI, 2003. : book review. In: Agriculture, ecosystems and environment, 105 (2005)3 pp. 555-559. Full text

Albers, M.A., van Beek, C.G.G., Ferguson, W., de Klerk, L.G., Komarsa, Rusli, N., Zarkoni, M., Smaling, E.M.A. and de Vos, J.H. (1984) Land evaluation for agricultural use of Aceh Utara and Aceh Tengah DPA III, Sumatra Indonesia Vol. 1. report and Vol. II appendices : e-book. Enschede, International Institute for Aerial Survey and Earth Sciences (ITC), 1984. Full text | Full text

Presentations

Beerda, E. and Smaling, E.M.A. (interviewee)  (2011) Alternatieve poepkar moet ons van een fosfaatcrisis redden. In: Experiment NL : wetenschap in Nederland : deel 4. - Den Haag : NWO, 2011. - 220 p. ; 24 cm. pp. 16-17. Full text

Jochems, G. (presentor) , Blok, T. (presentor) and Smaling, E.M.A. (interviewee)  (2011) Honger in de Hoorn van Afrika : part of Villa VPRO, 28 juli 2011. Hilversum, VPRO, 2011. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (featuring)  (2011) Labyrint, 18 januari 2011 : eindig fosfor. Hilversum, VPRO, 2011. Full text

Van der Wielen, P. (interviewer) , Hallensleben, I. (interviewer) , Smaling, E.M.A. (interviewee) and de Bie, C.A.J.M. (interviewee)  (2011) Landbouw vanuit de lucht : part of Labyrint, 27 februari 2011. VPRO, NTR, 2011. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (interviewee)  (2011) Lunch, 22 juli 2011 : hoe kunnen we de voedselcrisis in Oost - Afrika nou echt oplossen. NCRV, 2011. Full text

Ali, A., de Bie, C.A.J.M., Hammad, A. and Smaling, E.M.A. (2011) Mapping land cover gradients using hypertemporal NDVI imagery : abstract. In: Spatial statistics 2011 : mapping global change, abstracts for the conference, 23-25 March, 2011, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands / editor A. Stein, , E. Pebesma, , G.B.M. Heuvelink. - Enschede : University of Twente Faculty of Geo-Information and Earth Observation ITC, 2011. 1 p. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (2010) Global N flows in soybean : the road from pampa to toilet : powerpoint. Presented at El Suelo : pilar de la agroindustria en la pampa Argentina : XXII congreso Argentino de la Ciencia del Suelo Rosario, Argentina, 31 May-4 June 2010. 81 slides. Full text

Khan, M.R., de Bie, C.A.J.M. and Smaling, E.M.A. (2010) Remote sensing and GIS based analysis for mapping agronomic land use : abstract. In: Proceedings of Agro2010 : the XIth ESA congress, Montpellier, France, August 29th - September 3rd, 2010. Montpellier : Agropolis, 2010. ISBN 978-2-909613-01-7. pp. 924-925. Full text

Laborte, A.G., de Bie, C.A.J.M., Smaling, E.M.A. and ... [et al.] (2010) Rice yields and yield gap in Southeast Asia : past trends and future outlook : abstract. In: Proceedings of Agro2010 : the XIth ESA congress, Montpellier, France, August 29th - September 3rd, 2010. Montpellier : Agropolis, 2010. ISBN 978-2-909613-01-7. pp. 331-332. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (2010) Sustainable agriculture with a focus on tea production systems and soil fertility management. Presented at the Tocklai Tea Centenary Conference, 10-11 May 2010, New Dehli, India. Full text

Smaling, E.M.A. (2010) Two models for the price of one : NUTMON and QUEFTS: powerpoint. Presented at El Suelo : pilar de la agroindustria en la pampa Argentina : XXII congreso Argentino de la Ciencia del Suelo Rosario, Argentina, 31 May-4 June 2010. 30 slides. Full text

Bationo, A., Hartemink, A.E., Lungu, O., Naimi, M., Okoth, P.F., Smaling, E.M.A. and ... [et al.] (2007) African soils : their productivity and profitability of fertilizer use : abstract. In: Proceedings African fertilizer summit, Abuja, Nigeria June 9-13, 2006. Muscle Shoals, IFDC, 2007 (Special publication IFDC - SP 39). ISBN 978-0-88-90-159-8. pp. 171.