Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISISOLO – Soils for Europe
Healthy soils are an essential condition for climate resilience, biodiversity, sustainable agriculture and livable regions. At the same time, however, European soils are under considerable pressure due to climate change, urbanization, pollution, overuse and the loss of biological diversity. Against this background, the Horizon Europe project SOLO - Soils for Europe supports the implementation of the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe”, which aims to significantly improve soil health in Europe by 2030.
SOLO is working with stakeholders from academia, politics, industry and practitioners in the field to develop a European research and innovation agenda for soil health. This focuses on identifying key knowledge gaps, analyzing drivers and barriers, and developing courses of action to tackle the different challenges in European soil management. A participatory and transdisciplinary approach aims to define research priorities and translate them into actionable roadmaps for implementing the Soil Mission.
A key element of the project is the establishment of thematic think tanks across the mission’s objectives. They bring together experts from various disciplines to pool knowledge, identify research needs, and develop innovative solutions. These activities are complemented by regional co-creation processes that take into account the diverse environmental, economic and social conditions across Europe.