Mission Soil Ambassadors are dedicated advocates for soil health, selected for their outstanding contributions in areas such as sustainable agriculture and business, biodiversity, soil conservation, and scientific and environmental communication. They help raise awareness about soil health, improve soil literacy across society, and promote environmental sustainability – primarily at local level. Coming from diverse backgrounds, Ambassadors support the goals of the Mission Soil by fostering collaboration, encouraging action to protect and restore soil, and engaging with communities and networks. Through public outreach, education, and peer-to-peer learning, they connect stakeholders, initiatives, and communities, helping to build a more resilient future for Europe’s soil. The Mission Soil Ambassadors network aims to include one representative from each European Union Member State and each Horizon Europe Associated Country.
Check their profiles below and learn more about the Mission Soil. Stay up to date with the latest news from the Ambassadors.
The Ambassadors act in their personal capacity and do not represent the European Commission. The views and opinions expressed by the Ambassadors are solely their own and do not reflect the official position of the European Commission.
The Ambassadors
Fatna Ikrame EL FANNE is an Environmental Engineer with two Master’s degrees in Water and Environmental Management and Engineering from Mohammed V University, Morocco, and Environmental Engineering from Suzhou University, China. She is currently pursuing her PhD at Harbin Institute of Technology. A passionate climate advocate, Ikrame co-founded "Youth for Climate Morocco," an NGO dedicated to empowering youth and driving sustainable solutions. Her leadership in environmental initiatives has made her a sought-after speaker at conferences, effectively bridging academia, industry, and policy-making for impactful change.
As an Environmental Engineer and co-founder of Youth for Climate Morocco, I recognize the vital role of healthy soil in ecological and community resilience. My NGO educates on sustainable land management and plans to expand soil literacy through partnerships with schools and local governments. By empowering youth with soil conservation tools, we aim to secure a sustainable future.
- 4. Reduce soil pollution and enhance restoration
- 6. Improve soil structure to enhance habitat quality for soil biota and crops
- 7. Reduce the EU global footprint on soils
Aleksandra Kapetanović is a conservation architect and co-founder of EXPEDITIO Center for Sustainable Spatial Development, an NGO active for over 25 years in the fields of sustainable architecture, cultural heritage, and urban planning. She has led numerous projects, studies, and researches related to cultural heritage. Her work focuses on traditional architecture and cultural landscapes, integrating nature and human influence. In recent years, she has focused particularly on the cultural landscapes of seasonal mountain settlements—katuns. Currently, she is an associate of the Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi, and Prokletije, working on a proposal to list katuns as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS).
Among the most significant segments of cultural heritage are cultural landscapes, particularly agricultural landscapes, where soil plays an integral role. Through our activities, we identify and promote the values of cultural landscapes, define guidelines for their protection and support the active involvement of local communities in their maintenance. I hope that we can help raise awareness of the importance of soil protection as an integral part of cultural landscape and heritage preservation.
- 3. No net soil sealing and increase the reuse of urban soils
- 4. Reduce soil pollution and enhance restoration
- 8. Increase soil literacy in society across Member States
Dushko Mukaetov is a Full Professor of Soil Science at the Institute of Agriculture at the "Ss. Cyril and Methodius" University in Skopje. During his professional career, he has participated in the development and implementation of numerous scientific and applied projects in the field of soil science. He has contributed to the preparation of sectoral reports on agriculture in the last three National Communications on Climate Change and all biennial Greenhouse Gas Inventories. He is a key expert in the development of the Macedonian Soil Information System (MASIS). Additionally, he served as the lead expert in developing the National Objectives for Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). Prof. Mukaetov is a national focal point member of the FAO Global Soil Partnership.
Soil is the foundation of life, sustaining agriculture, biodiversity, and ecosystems. Its health is crucial for food security, climate resilience, and environmental balance, making its protection essential for present and future generations. As a professor and researcher of Soil Science, my work revolves around studying soil properties, spatial distribution, and sustainable management. To ensure long-term soil health, I engage in scientific research, policy development, and education.
- 2. Conserve and increase soil organic carbon stocks
- 5. Prevent erosion
- 8. Increase soil literacy in society across Member States
Mark Anderson is a co-owner in the family business Westridge Farm. Grown up on this land once a sheep and beef/crop farm and then spent 23 years conventional dairy farming. He has travelled extensively & spent time farming in Canada and the UK, these observations of human interaction and landscape function have helped shape my perspectives and world views. Mark & his family have been adopting regenerative agriculture principals since 2017 with the vision of becoming a more diverse farming model like his grandparent’s once ran, one that returns to harmony with nature. One that is self-regulating & self regenerating.
Mark has a strong interest in growing food for health derived from healthy soils which have positive environmental & ecological outcomes for the future of this planet.
The farm is 540ha and currently runs 550 dual purpose dairy cows milked once a day and grazed in a manner to mimic ancient herd movements of mobbed moving herbivores across taller diverse pastures to enhance carbon drawdown, landscape function, biodiversity and natural cycling systems. Farm projects include: Pastured egg mobile, Nurse cows rearing calves, Composting, Regeneration of native vegetation and corridors for biodiversity to thrive, Silvo-pasture and Alley systems.
- 4. Reduce soil pollution and enhance restoration
- 6. Improve soil structure to enhance habitat quality for soil biota and crops
- 8. Increase soil literacy in society across Member States
Olivera Stojilović Trivunić is a seasoned sustainability scientist and stakeholder engagement professional, currently serving as Head of Ecosystem Development at Foodscale Hub, an NGO focused on the WEFE Nexus with 25+ projects. She has held leadership roles in numerous H2020 projects and, with a strong background in environmental science, leads ecosystem-building initiatives across various HE projects, including RefreSCAR, SUNFUSION, and the EU-AU initiative INCiTiS-FOOD. Olivera has conducted research on various topics such as ecosystem services and impact of instabilities on fishing practices presenting at events and conferences such as ALSO. Her department specializes in life cycle assessments (LCA), science communication, and fostering synergies in sustainability projects.
Soil plays a vital role in land-sea interactions, watershed management, and the WEFE Nexus, making it crucial for sustainable ecosystems and climate resilience. It influences nutrient flow, water filtration, erosion control, and carbon sequestration among other. Through R&I, soil literacy can be enhanced by fostering cross-sector collaboration and stakeholder engagement; via awareness raising initiative and science communication, I aim to highlight soil's vital contribution to water and ecosystems.
- 4. Reduce soil pollution and enhance restoration
- 5. Prevent erosion
- 8. Increase soil literacy in society across Member States
James is the founder of Healing Earth Project, set up to look at innovative ways we can restore arid, degraded landscapes without the need for irrigation. With a background in urban reforestation, James's focus is now turning to larger scale restoration projects where soil erosion and soil health are increasingly becoming major issues. His works also includes trial projects within Greece to look at how holistically improving soil health and bringing back biodiversity into olive groves can go a long way to addressing issues such as the over reliance on chemical inputs, water shortages and increasing soil salinity. James is also a Linkedin Top Green Voice and uses this a platform for sharing of knowledge!
Soil isn't something we can magically manufacture - it's way too complex ! We need to protect our precious soils and the complex, magical diversity that makes them function. Everything starts with covering the soil - be that living cover crops and plants or mulches to build biomass.
Within nature bare soil is a wound that needs covering and healing. By taking this simple first step and covering the soil we can start the healing process that leads to abundance.
- 1. Reduce land degradation relating to desertification
- 5. Prevent erosion
- 6. Improve soil structure to enhance habitat quality for soil biota and crops