Quantifying the impact of farming practices on soil health in arable lands

The main goal of this opportunity is to measure how different farming practices affect soil health across key regions and crops in the European Union. It aims to connect farming methods, land use, and crop types, while identifying both positive and negative impacts of these practices. The opportunity focuses on building inventories of practices that support soil health, choosing the right indicators to measure soil quality, improving data systems, and creating models to assess farming strategies. It is designed to tackle soil health challenges and promote sustainable agriculture, supporting EU-wide initiatives and policies. The scope covers all major pedo-climatic regions and arable crops within EU Member States, and also supports soil health governance beyond the EU.

• Must use a multi-actor approach, involving researchers, farmers, advisors, land managers, and other stakeholders throughout the project.
• Should address the real needs, challenges, and opportunities of end-users such as farmers and land managers.
• Must include high-quality activities for sharing and exchanging knowledge.
• Should create practical, ready-to-use knowledge, tools, or products for soil health improvement.
• Must follow specific guidelines for proposal format, page limits, and layout.

Example Projects:

• A project where scientists and farmers work together to test new soil monitoring tools on different crops across Europe.
• A collaborative initiative that develops a database of best farming practices for improving soil health, with input from advisors and land managers.
• An effort that creates practical guides and workshops for farmers, based on real-world trials and feedback from diverse stakeholders.

• 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

• Applicants must follow specific proposal format, page limits, and layout requirements.
• Eligibility is limited to countries listed as eligible in the Horizon Europe guidelines.
• Applicants must show they have the financial and operational capacity to carry out the project.
• Projects must use a multi-actor approach, involving relevant stakeholders throughout the process.
• Proposals should directly address the needs and challenges of end-users, such as farmers and land managers.
• Applicants should ensure all project activities comply with the general conditions set out in the Horizon Europe Work Programme.