Improved land suitability for soil health and sustainable biomass production

The main goal of this opportunity is to improve soil health and support sustainable land management across Europe. It focuses on reducing soil pollution, restoring degraded soils, and minimizing the EU's global impact on soils. Key areas include developing new policies and governance for soil management, working closely with land managers and communities, and using advanced technologies to monitor and restore soil quality. The opportunity covers a wide range of landscapes such as agricultural lands, forests, peatlands, and marginal lands across different European regions. Activities can take place at local, national, and European scales, including EU Member States, Associated Countries, and, under certain conditions, some non-EU countries.

• Projects must follow the page limits and layout specified in the official application form.
• Projects must be submitted by applicants from eligible countries, as outlined in the program rules.
• Proposals must address the focus areas, such as soil health improvement, pollution reduction, or sustainable land management.
• Projects should have the potential to scale results from local to national or European levels.
• Consortiums may include partners from EU Member States, Associated Countries, and, in some cases, non-EU countries.

Example projects:

• A cross-border initiative to test and upscale new soil restoration techniques on agricultural lands in several EU countries.
• A project that develops digital tools for monitoring soil health and engages local farmers and land managers in their use.
• A partnership to create policy recommendations for reducing soil pollution in forests and peatlands across different regions.

• Personnel costs
• Subcontracting
• Travel and subsistence
• Equipment (depreciation or rental)
• Consumables and materials
• Dissemination and communication
• Access to research infrastructure
• IPR and certification
• Audit costs
• Indirect costs (25% flat rate)
• Internally invoiced services

• Budget for this Call: 6.000.000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 1

• At least three independent entities from three eligible countries, one in an EU Member State

• All partners must be from EU or associated countries with financial and operational capacity

• Research and Innovation Action (RIA) to improve land suitability for soil health and sustainable biomass

• Focus on agricultural, forest, peatland, and marginal lands to support soil restoration and climate goals

• Must comply with Horizon Europe ethics, data, and legal rules