E-SPFdigit
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Emergent soil, plant and food onsite digital services on chemical and biological contaminants
Total cost € 5 652 477.50 EU contribution € 5 033 127.50 Funding Programme Horizon Europe - Mission Soil

E-SPFdigit will bring novel onsite digital tools already at TRL5 under systemic innovation, which will be further deployed, upscaled, field-tested and demonstrated to TRL7-8, in viticulture and horticulture applications in Greece and Spain in soil-contaminated areas (located near mines, offensive industries, highways, floodwaters). E-SPFdigit brings novel developed: i) MIP-based electrochemical sensors coupled with SPME for on-site monitoring and analysis of dedicated to PFAS targeted molecules, ii) Multiplex organic Surface Plasmon Resonance optical biosensors for onsite pesticides residues monitoring and analysis, iii) IDE-based electrochemical sensors for onsite detection and quantification of heavy metals & micronutrients, and iv) UVC LED -based nutrient analysers for soil water content in-situ and real time monitoring. 

The AI-driven onsite digital tools will be model calibrated using machine learning algorithms to improve error distribution of a predictive model, ensuring reliability. Also, E-SPFdigit brings an edge-based remote sensing framework via a robust autonomous mobile robot self-navigating and a heavy-duty unmanned aerial vehicle for in-field detection of soil parameters regarding the aforementioned chemical and biological stressors. Finally, to predict pesticide and fertiliser and other chemical contaminants impacts on crop-soil-microbiome nexus, the project will use on-field real-time digital ground sensors combined with Earth Observation data and causal machine learning. All the onsite digital tools will be interconnected with a Decision Support Systems with blockchain and cybersecurity mechanisms enabling informed decisions and automated decision making for IPM and INM, enhanced with automated decision making for immediate soil management practices.

HORIZON-MISS-2023-SOIL-01-03

Thematic areas

Soil monitoring and indicators Tackling pollution and restoration

Project contribution to Mission Soil’s:

Specific objectives

  • 1. Reduce land degradation relating to desertification
    Not targeted
  • 2. Conserve and increase soil organic carbon stocks
    Not targeted
  • 3. No net soil sealing and increase the reuse of urban soils
    Not targeted
  • 4. Reduce soil pollution and enhance restoration
    Targeted
  • 5. Prevent erosion
    Not targeted
  • 6. Improve soil structure to enhance habitat quality for soil biota and crops
    Not targeted
  • 7. Reduce the EU global footprint on soils
    Not targeted
  • 8. Increase soil literacy in society across Member States
    Not targeted

Operational objectives

  • 1. Build capacities and the knowledge base for soil stewardship
    Not targeted
  • 2. Co-create and upscale place-based innovations to improve soil health in all places
    Partially targeted
  • 3. Develop an integrated EU soil monitoring system and track progress towards soil health
    Targeted
  • 4. Engage with the soil user community and society at large
    Not targeted

Innovation hotspots

  • 1. Carbon farming
    Not targeted
  • 2. Soil pollution and restoration
    Targeted
  • 3. Soil biodiversity including the microbiome
    Not targeted
  • 4. Circular economy solutions
    Not targeted

Cross-cutting dimensions

  • 1. Business
    Not targeted
  • 2. Digital
    Targeted
  • 3. Territorial
    Not targeted
  • 4. International
    Not targeted

© European Union, 2024. Image sources: Adobe.Stock.com