📋 Tender Overview
Grant agreement ID: 101218994
DOI
10.3030/101218994
EC signature date
6 June 2025
Start date
1 June 2025
End date
31 May 2029
Description:
The decline in soil health due to agrochemical overuse and climate change is a risk for food security. The EU-funded SOILRES project will promote sustainable agricultural practices that emphasise biodiversity and the relationships among soil, plants, and microorganisms. The project will engage stakeholders, develop agroecological methods, and use digital tools for effective soil management. Key activities include collaborative sessions, the creation of microbial bioinoculants and biostimulants, and tailored best practices. To test and validate these interventions, field trials will take place in six regions of Europe: Atlantic (Denmark), Boreal (Finland), Continental (France), Pannonian (Hungary), and Mediterranean (Italy, Portugal). The project aims to reduce reliance on chemical inputs, increase crop productivity, and support biodiversity.
Objective
SOILRES's mission is to improve soil health and crop resilience in response to the declining health of soil ecosystems, largely caused by the overuse of agrochemicals and the impacts of climate change. This will be achieved by promoting sustainable agricultural practices that prioritise biodiversity and the interactions between soil, plants and microorganisms.
To achieve these goals, SOILRES will adopt a comprehensive strategy that includes active engagement with stakeholders, the development of agroecological methods, and the implementation of digital tools for effective soil health management.
SOILRES will undertake a number of key activities, including the establishment of collaborative co-creation sessions, the development of microbial bioinoculants and biostimulants, and the formulation of best practices tailored to each use case. Field trials will be conducted in six diverse use cases, targeting key agro-climatic regions in Europe (Atlantic (DK), Boreal (FI), Continental (FR), Pannonian (HU) and Mediterranean (IT, PT)), with the objective of validating and refining these interventions. By assessing agronomic, environmental and cost effectiveness, we will identify challenges and opportunities and design optimal strategies for scaling and replicating sustainable practices.
SOILRES is aligned with the Missions Programme, which is focused on promoting agricultural sustainability and resilience. It is expected that these outcomes will result in a reduction in the dependence on chemical inputs and an increase in crop productivity. Furthermore, there will be a broader adoption of practices that support biodiversity among farmers. Ultimately, SOILRES aims to strengthen long-term food security and environmental sustainability in Europe by advocating for integrated soil and crop management strategies.
