SPAC established the ISSPA in 1988 to provide an international scientific forum on laboratory analytical methods, soil fertility research, and plant nutrient management.

Past symposiums have focused on specific macro and micro nutrients as well as innovative laboratory methods and technical workshops and proceeding published as a special addition in the journal "Communications in Soil and Plant Analysis".

SPAC has collaborated with Australasian Soil and Plant Analysis Council (ASPAC) in the south pacific and Agri-Laboratory Association of Southern Africa (AgriLASA) in organizing symposiums and future symposiums are organized by the International Governance Council (IGC) with these groups. Since its inception, sixteen symposiums have been held, in ten countries, on five continents.