SOILBIOMASS+
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Improved land suitability for soil health and sustainable biomass production
Total cost € 5997852.50 EU contribution € 5997102.50 Funding Programme Horizon Europe


SOILBIOMASS+ will accelerate Europe’s transition to sustainable biomass production systems that enhance soil health and climate resilience. In line with the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe,” the project will co-design, test and validate land management practices, modelling tools and decision-support systems that enable farmers, foresters, landowners and policy-makers to make informed choices balancing productivity, environmental goals and socio-economic viability. The consortium brings together a strong Multi-Actor network of universities, research organisations, SMEs, NGOs and land managers, and directly embeds nine Living Labs (LLs) and Demonstration Sites (DSs) across eight European countries. These sites cover Europe’s main pedo-climatic zones and land-use types, including arable land, agroforestry, forestry, and peatlands, providing long-term datasets, real-world testing and active stakeholder communities. This ensures that project outcomes will be scientifically sound, socially relevant and scalable. The methodology combines three pillars: (i) evidence generation through improved indicators, scenario modelling and EU-scale mapping; (ii) co-design and validation of practices, value chains and business cases in LLs and DSs with systematic stakeholder engagement; and (iii) deployment and scaling through decision-support tools, policy recommendations and cross-fertilisation with other Mission Soil initiatives (e.g. LILAS4SOILS, AI4SoilHealth). Expected impacts include new approaches for sustainable biomass and soil management tailored to local contexts, validated tools for monitoring and informed decision-making, strengthened value chains, and a science–policy dialogue for soil health and bioeconomy strategies. By bridging evidence, practice, and policy, SOILBIOMASS+ will contribute to Mission Soil targets, the Green Deal, and the Circular Bioeconomy, while empowering farmers, land managers, and foresters as agents of change.

HORIZON-MISS-2025-05

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
    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
    Not 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
    Not targeted

Innovation hotspots

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

Cross-cutting dimensions

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

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