BIOservicES Project @European Mission Soil Week 2024

Between 12-14 November 2024, Brussels hosted ‘Mission Soil Week’, a significant event that gathered over 150 participants from more than 50 projects, including researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in the soil health ecosystem. 

Objectives of the European Mission Soil Week:

• To build momentum for improving soil health across Europe;
• To showcase the latest achievements, including the launch of the first 25 Mission Soil living labs;
• To present results from various Mission-funded projects.

Several Clusters are included in the Mission Soil, and on the occasion of the Mission Soil Week 2024, three of our colleagues participated in three different clusters on behalf of the BIOservicES project: the project coordinator, Raul Zorzona, attended the Indicators Cluster, Eva Lloret Sevilla joined the Data Cluster, and Iuliana Floricica engaged in the Communication and Stakeholders Engagement Cluster.

The Communication & Stakeholders Engagement Cluster marked its 7th meeting, but the first one in-person. 

Right from the beginning of the event, the importance of collaboration between projects and community engagement for impactful outcomes was emphasized.

November 12, 2024

• The European Mission Soil Week 2024 opened with a plenary session featuring European Commission representatives who emphasized the role of research in tackling soil health challenges;
• A session on innovative solutions from living labs included insights from stakeholders involved in initial projects;
• After lunch, breakout sessions addressed various themes: sustainable agricultural practices, forest soil management, urban soil health, and strategies for contaminated site remediation;
• A discussion on the Soil Monitoring Law covered its legislative process and implications for soil health;
• The day ended with closing remarks, a Living Labs ceremony, and a networking cocktail for further collaboration.

November 13, 2024

• The second day of the European Mission Soil Week 2024 featured a keynote on the relationship between architecture, landscapes, and the environment, highlighting architecture’s role in connecting people to their surroundings;
• A plenary session on ‘Human-soil relations’ examined the links between human activities and soil health, emphasizing international commitments, arts, and social sciences in sustainable land management;
• Participants engaged in the ‘Mission Soil Project Trail,’ visiting stands to learn about various funded projects and network with representatives;
• In the afternoon, attendees chose from field visits showcasing sustainable land management practices in Santerra, Halle, CRA-W, Gembloux, Tivoli Park, Mechelen, and Park Abbey, Leuven, demonstrating practical examples of soil health and environmental restoration.

November 14, 2024

Here’s how the thematic sessions of the plenary session unfolded on the last day of the event:

1) Vision and Principles of the Mission Cluster on Communication & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Focused on defining common goals and governance principles to enhance collaborative efforts among projects;
• Identified key success factors: synergies, knowledge exchange, clear objectives, and concrete outcomes.

2) Strategic implementation in focus areas:

Participants engaged in workshops and working groups on five strategic topics:

• Stakeholder engagement strategies;
• Joint events;
• Communicating complex scientific messages;
• Using art to communicate soil health;
• Social media strategies.

Also, in the second part of the day, there were parallel workshops in which our colleagues took part. Iuliana Floricica joined the @Communication & Stakeholders Engagement workshop – ‘Use of Art to Communicate soil health‘. In this working group, participants explored the potential for projects to leverage art to enhance awareness and strengthen the effectiveness of their communication and dissemination efforts.

After the plenary on @The Mission Soil strategy for knowledge management, which was included in ‘Data and Knowledge Management Cluster’, our colleague Eva Lloret Sevilla joined a workshop on the same topic: from research to knowledge exploitation.

BIOservicES’s contribution as facilitator was to the ‘Soil indicators’ workshop. Our colleague Raul Zorzona, the BIOservicES project coordinator, led a workshop on soil indicators focused on urban areas. The workshop provided insights into soil health through practical examples, focusing on a case study of a large park in Manchester.

Next steps after the European Mission Soil Week

• Plan for the 8th cluster meeting in early 2025;
• Gather feedback through a survey for cluster activities in 2024 and expectations for 2025.

Mission Soil Week aims to share experiences, foster collaboration among EU projects, and explore innovative solutions to preserve soil health. It has successfully accomplished its mission, and we are grateful for participating. Together, we pave the way for healthier soils and a more sustainable future!