SoilTribes

Around 60 % of EU soils are unhealthy, costing tens of billions annually. The EU Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ aims to reverse this trend by engaging citizens and organisations in an ambitious plan. The EU-funded SOILTRIBES project will promote ‘back to Earth’ narratives to highlight the significance of soil and its challenges. It brings together 25 partners from 11 EU countries to develop a methodology for enhancing soil literacy and connectivity. This includes establishing a network of over 1 000 members, seven soil lab activators , and seven Stewardship Assemblies. The project will support nearly 80 initiatives focused on innovative soil literacy solutions, create over 10 resources for public and private organisations, and host around 200 events.

SOILTRIBES main goal is to pave the way towards inspiring “back to Earth” narratives translated in new formats of knowing, feeling, and behaving in regard to soil, its importance and challenges, and its future, which is deeply connected with ours. Approximately 60-70% of EU soils are unhealthy and the soil degradation costs the EU several tens of billion euros per year. The EU Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ aims to invert this scenario having designed an ambitious plan where citizens and organisations are key. SOILTRIBES gathers 25 partners, from 11 countries from the different EU regions and designs a methodology that will contribute to the achievement of the ambitious EU plans by fostering soil literacy and connectivity, through the (i) establishment, activation, and empowerment of a multi-actor network (+1000 members), 7 Soil Lab Activators, 7 Stewardship Assemblies; (ii) financial and scale-up support scheme (+1,7M€ FSTP) to nearly 80 projects/ teams recognising existing solutions or the development of new innovative and creative solutions for an enhanced soil literacy; (iii) design of +10 resources, tools and manuals for long-term use by private/public organisations willing to engage with citizens to increase soil literacy; (iv) and program, curation and implementation of nearly 200 events for wide dissemination, communication and pollination of soil topics (workshops, soilathons, soilblitz, creative exhibition, festivals). Framed by an engaging narrative, the “Tribes” will share the same commitment and will embark on a powerful journey of transition and transformation, bolstered by the nexus of science, technology, arts, and society.