News
date: 18/10/2023
Mission Soil Platform
We are thrilled to announce the much-anticipated launch of the Mission Soil Platform! The Mission Soil Platform is your go-to place to find out about the Mission Soil and how you can get involved. It helps spread the Mission's goals and related research activities, encourages teamwork among projects funded by the Mission, and raises awareness about soil’s importance, the challenges it faces and the latest solutions.
Learn more about the Mission Soil funded projects and funding opportunities. Stay up to date with the latest news and be the first to know about upcoming events dedicated to soil health. Browse our constantly updated Resource Library to find useful resources related to soil health.
Are you organising an event related to soil health? Submit your event through the Mission Soil Platform and share it with the largest soil health community in Europe!
#MissionSoil photo competition has now closed!
Thank you very much for taking part in the Mission Soil photo competition and showing us your passion for soil! We are currently assessing all submissions. The 12 best photos will be displayed at the European Mission Soil Week on 21-23 November 2023 in Madrid and featured in a calendar. The photographers of the three best photos will win a trip to the European Mission Soil Week in Madrid, including transport and a two-night hotel stay. Prizes will also be awarded to the other nine photographers whose photos will be featured in the exhibition.
EU Missions make strides towards a greener and healthier Europe
The European Commission through an official assessment has concluded that the EU Missions in Horizon Europe are on course to meet their ambitious 2030 targets in areas crucial for Europe's future, including soil health, climate adaptation, cancer patient care, preserving water ecosystems and urban climate neutrality. In a Communication on the EU Missions, the Commission highlights the EU Missions’ achievements and addresses the main challenges they are facing. In its assessment, the Commission also proposes an increase in funding to 11% of the Horizon Europe budget, totalling over €3 billion for the period 2024–2027. The Communication also announces the preparations for a new EU Mission on the New European Bauhaus.
The positive assessment says that the Mission Soil is in line with its objectives, including defining strategies for soil decontamination and regeneration and developing new business models for soil-friendly and climate-neutral value chains. Furthermore, the EIB, in cooperation with InvestEU, is developing a large-scale soil investment pipeline to mobilise additional financial resources. By supporting carbon farming, the Mission Soil is also promoting cost-competitive tools for monitoring, reporting and verifying soil carbon removals.
In addition, the first Living Labs under the Mission will start in 2024, leading to more than 200 test sites for local experimentation in urban and rural areas. The Mission has become an important flagship for international cooperation with the Global Soil Partnership, the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate initiative and with international R&I partners such as Japan, the USA, Canada and African countries.
To discover more:
Land and Soil Management Award 2024 – apply by 15 January 2024!
The Land and Soil Management Award 2024 is now accepting applications! This prestigious award recognises outstanding efforts in land and soil management, focusing on practices that combat soil threats, such as degradation, erosion, contamination and more. Farmers, landowners, land managers and groups of farmers are encouraged to apply on their own or in collaboration with research institutes, universities and private companies. By participating, you not only stand a chance to win €5 000 but also to showcase your work as a model of excellence at European level. The jury includes a panel of esteemed members, including Kerstin Rosenow, Head of Unit Research and Innovation at DG Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission. Don't miss this opportunity to promote sustainable land and soil protection. Apply now and make a difference!
Learn more about the Soil and Land Management Award.
Updates from funded projects
New open call of the HuMUS project
HuMUS has launched an open call with the aim of fostering new spaces of dialogue. A total of €600 000 will be allocated to fund 20 pilot projects. The projects should help municipalities and regions across Europe to better share their experiences. Their aim is to create spaces for dialogue on soil health issues and promote the co-implementation of solutions to societal challenges. The call is open to public authorities at local and regional levels, associations of land managers (e.g., farmers associations), civil society organisations and research institutions throughout Europe. In addition to the funding, HuMUS will provide coaching, mentoring and advice to support like-minded initiatives and contribute to raising awareness about the value of soil.
PREPSOIL realised new guidelines on establishing Soil Health National Hubs
PREPSOIL has published a set of guidelines on how to establish Soil Health National Hubs (SHNH). SHNHs are fora that bring together relevant stakeholders in a Member State to discuss topics related to soil health. Some of the key tasks of the SHNH are defining and expressing a common national position on soil management, contributing to and learning from ongoing soil research, and ensuring that national and regional soil needs are in line with the activities and projects of the Mission Soil.
SOLO project published multilingual collection of articles on soil biodiversity
To translate knowledge on soils to a wider audience, SOLO’s project coordinator iDiv has produced a multilingual collection of children’s articles on soil biodiversity. This collaborative endeavour brings together the expertise of more than 50 scientists and young reviewers spanning the globe. Augmenting this reach, ecologists have lent their support by translating these insightful articles into different languages. The project is on the lookout for volunteer translators who would help spread the word about the importance of soil biodiversity.
NBSOIL is helping to unleash the potential of soil-sensing using drones
The Institute of Aviation (ILOT) has gathered high-resolution data from bare soil in Żelisławki, Poland, using a drone. The information will be used to study soil parameters and their relationship with on-site data. Their tasks were done under the soil-sensing and mapping work package of the NBSOIL project. The aim is to develop algorithms for various applications, including fertilisation, flower detection, disease identification and crop variability. The ILOT team also has plans to collect data in other areas of Poland and Austria.
BENCHMARKS co-organised three stakeholder workshops on soil health across Europe
The workshops have covered the issue of soil degradation and its impact on sustainable land management. Drawing together participants from diverse backgrounds, including farmers, private and public sector stakeholders, educators and concerned citizens, these events have offered a unique platform for collectively addressing soil health challenges. The workshops have targeted stakeholders in different countries, like Austria, Finland, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland.