TRAILS4SOIL
-
Transformative Living Labs for Soil Health: Advancing Regenerative and Conservation Agriculture Across Europe
Total cost € 11 765 988.75 EU contribution € 11 745 988.75 Funding Programme Horizon Europe - Mission Soil

TRAILS4SOIL will co-create 5 Living Labs (LLs) across 9 European countries, encompassing 100 experimentation sites including 11 lighthouses. This initiative aims to address the urgent need for sustainable soil management in Europe by fostering stakeholder collaboration and overcoming barriers to the widespread implementation of better soil management farming systems.

The project will develop pathways for implementing economic, policy, technical, and social measures to drive the transition towards a resilient and sustainable agri-food system grounded on healthy soils. Through innovative and participatory research in diverse agroecosystems, TRAILS4SOIL will demonstrate the potential of Regenerative and Conservation Agriculture Practices (ReCAP) to achieve the objectives of the EU Soil Mission.

By actively engaging local communities in a multi-actor approach process TRAILS4SOIL will provide tailored scientific knowledge and technical guidelines, that will inspire and empower farmers and other stakeholders to promote sustainable land management improving soil health.

The interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary expertise of the consortium, which includes 22 partners among universities, research centres and farmer associations, will ensure the achievement of the proposed objective. TRAILS4SOIL will advance the understanding of soil health by integrating cutting-edge technologies to facilitate the widespread adoption of sustainable soil management solutions.

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
    Not targeted
  • 5. Prevent erosion
    Not targeted
  • 6. Improve soil structure to enhance habitat quality for soil biota and crops
    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
    Partially targeted
  • 2. Co-create and upscale place-based innovations to improve soil health in all places
    Targeted
  • 3. Develop an integrated EU soil monitoring system and track progress towards soil health
    Not targeted
  • 4. Engage with the soil user community and society at large
    Targeted

Innovation hotspots

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

Cross-cutting dimensions

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

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