The following article was written by EIT Food.
Soil and food production: what can we do to increase soil health?
Soils carry out a range of functions and services essential to all life on Earth, yet approximately 60% of EU soils are considered unhealthy. Regenerating soil requires a full systems approach, so what are the challenges and solutions?
With approximately 95% of our food estimated to be produced in or on soils, the soils beneath our feet play a huge role within our food system. Soils are the basis of all agricultural activity, from growing crops to rearing animals, and, when managed sustainably, can perform crucial functions and ecosystem services.
Food production relies on healthy soils to produce high and healthy crop yields. Agricultural techniques which minimise the use of heavy machinery and compaction, maintain a protective organic cover on the soil surface, and cultivate a greater level of biodiversity can promote the growth and maintenance of healthy soil and, as a result, healthy food produce.
It is estimated that the EU could reduce its agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 6%, restore soil health by over 14% of its total agricultural land, and add between €1.9-€9.3 billion annually to farmers’ incomes if farmers are sufficiently supported to take climate-smart actions.
EIT Food Entrepreneurship Programme: Seedbed Incubator
One way that EIT Food supports those that wish to change our food system is with their entrepreneurship programmes. One programme in particular, the Seedbed Incubator, is for technology developers who want to deeply understand their customers and validate whether there is the market need for their innovation before launching a commercial venture.
If you have an innovative technology that will change our food system for the better and your innovation fits into one of these areas, then we highly recommend applying to the Seedbed Incubator programme.
Changemakers in the soil scene: Seedbed Incubator Alumni
The EIT Food Seedbed Incubator has worked with a number of researchers and innovators that are helping to improve our food system, specifically in soil. Check out a few of our Seedbed Incubator Alumni and their innovations below:
Azolla Projects: https://www.azollaprojects.com/
Space Crop: https://www.spacecrop.eu/
Veridi Technologies: https://veridi.tech/
Nerite Tech: https://nerite.tech/
Join the growing community of agrifood innovators and apply to the Seedbed Incubator programme.
Why join the programme?
Gain lifetime access to the world’s largest and most dynamic food innovation community
Connect and test your innovation with 100+ industry-leading corporates, research partners, and agrifood specialists to validate your innovation
Receive 10,000 €* in equity-free funding for travel to networking events across Europe, and receive exclusive invitations to EIT Food and Partner events (*subject to Ts&Cs).
Establish where there’s a viable market need for your innovation and evaluate the scale of its commercial potential
Attend entrepreneurial training, and receive 1:1 coaching with Business Experts
Collaborate and share knowledge with an AgriFood Tech startup community
EIT Food Seedbed Incubator is accepting applications for their 2024 programme until Monday, February 26th at 4pm CET. Apply before the deadline here.
Who is EIT Food?
EIT Food is the world’s largest and most dynamic food innovation community. Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, they invest in projects, organisations and individuals that share our goals for a healthy and sustainable food system. We unlock innovation potential in businesses and universities and create and scale agrifood startups to bring new technologies and products to market. We equip entrepreneurs and professionals with the skills needed to transform the food system and put consumers at the heart of our work, helping build trust by reconnecting them to the origins of their food.
To learn more about the solutions working to increase soil health and build better relationships between food and nature, find out how you can get involved with the EIT Food community here.
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