Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme, provides the main funding for Mission Soil, also known as “A Soil Deal for Europe”. The Mission aims to establish 100 living labs and lighthouses. It combines the joint development of practical solutions with research and innovation, soil monitoring and public participation to protect soil health and soil functions over the long term.
The Mission also helps to reduce the environmental, social and economic consequences of soil degradation.
Since 2021, seven Work Programmes have been launched, including five joint topics involving the Climate, Oceans and Waters, and Cancer Missions and the New European Bauhaus initiative. More than 500 proposals have been assessed, leading to 75 funded projects and a total EU contribution of EUR 542 million.
The Mission Soil Work Programme 2026–2027 is available online.
The 2026 Mission Soil calls have now closed. The single-stage calls and the joint call with the Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change closed on 23.09.2026. The second-stage deadline for the 2026 two-stage calls was 15.09.2026.
2027 Calls are opening soon!
- Two-stage calls open on 04.02.2027. The deadline for the first stage is 08.04.2027, and the deadline for the second stage is 14.09.2027.
- The joint Mission Soil–Mission Cancer call opens on 04.02.2027 and closes on 21.09.2027.
For call details and updates, please visit the Funding and Tenders Portal.
Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP)
The calls listed below have closed. The project websites provide further information on the calls, selected participants and ongoing activities.
Closed calls
TRAILS4SOIL soil MRV providers
TRAILS4SOIL invited providers of soil Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) technologies to join its research into regenerative and conservation farming practices. The selected technologies will be tested on working farms in five Living Labs across nine European countries. Providers will collaborate with farmers and researchers to measure soil health and assess how these practices affect it.
The call offered up to EUR 50,000 per technology, subject to a maximum of EUR 200,000 per provider. A total of EUR 250,000 was available across the selected providers. Applications closed on 31.08.2026 at 23:59 CEST.
SOILSCAPE
SOILSCAPE launched its open call in June 2025 to support artistic and creative approaches that encourage people to learn about soils and participate in their protection. The call has closed and 36 projects have been selected: 12 under the SOILSCAPE FSTP scheme and 24 under the Soil Orchestra FSTP scheme.
These projects bring together arts, science and community participation through communication campaigns, artistic activities and approaches that involve citizens in soil protection. The selected projects are presented on the SOILSCAPE website.
Path4Med
Path4Med opened its call on 29.10.2025 to extend the use of its solutions for reducing nutrient pollution in water and soil across the Mediterranean and associated regions. The call targeted local and regional public authorities, including those in less developed regions, to help them adopt and apply improved nutrient management practices.
Applications closed on 30.01.2026. Five sub-projects have been selected to test and expand the use of Path4Med solutions. Further information is available on the selected sub-projects page.
SEACURE
The SEACURE call for Associated Regions has closed. It was designed to help public authorities develop and apply coordinated approaches to preventing, minimising and remediating nutrient pollution. The activities support the wider use of SEACURE solutions to reduce pollution in water and soil across the Mediterranean and associated regions.
The call offered grants of up to EUR 100,000 and an 18-month programme of financial and technical support for seven public authorities. Applications closed on 28.02.2026. Further information is available on the SEACURE website.
TRAILS4SOIL farmers
TRAILS4SOIL invited farmers to test Regenerative and Conservation Agriculture Practices (ReCAP) on their land through five Living Labs in nine European countries. The call provided 49 places. Participating farmers receive EUR 5,000 for each of three cropping seasons, together with research findings, advice and opportunities to connect with farmers locally and across Europe.
The call was open to land managers in Spain, Portugal, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine who could dedicate at least one hectare to testing ReCAP. Applications closed on 06.07.2026.
Cluster 6 funding opportunities
Horizon Europe also offers funding through Cluster 6 “Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment”. Its research and innovation projects address the needs of farmers, foresters and rural communities and develop solutions that complement Mission Soil.
The cluster supports more sustainable agriculture and resource use, including circular approaches, while responding to environmental and societal challenges.
For details of the 2026 and 2027 calls, see the Cluster 6 Work Programme for 2026–2027.
Further information is available on the European Research Executive Agency website and the European Commission’s Funding and Tenders Portal.