- Committee for study of the microbiome associated with soils 

Soil is considered one of the most diverse habitats on the planet, far outpacing the number and diversity of organisms in other habitats. Although soil organisms represent only a small fraction of the total soil, their presence and activity are essential in the formation and modification of the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil. Many soil processes, particularly those related to nutrient cycling and organic matter mineralization, are controlled by the soil biota. These processes are essential for the correct functioning of soils and realization of vital ecosystem services, such as buffering and filtering of nutrients and water, and providing the basis for plant production. Studying aspects involved with the structure, composition and function of microbial communities in soil is fundamental to understanding the resilience based on impacts of natural origin, and the alterations caused by global changes and anthropogenic activities. It needs to be known, for example, how environmental perturbations select specific microbial populations or how new communities are formed from changes occurring in the soil. The study of diversity, characterization of microorganisms and environmental factors affecting the expression of its capabilities can be used to answer such questions. Despite the growing number of studies in these environments, little is known about the extent of diversity and the functional role of the microbiome of Brazilian soil biomes.