NTERESH at the Mission Soil Investment Forum

How can solutions for soil health developed through European research be adopted on a larger scale? This question was at the heart of the Mission Soil Investment Forum, held in Brussels in June.

The event provided a platform for dialogue between the European Commission, investors, researchers, businesses and representatives of projects funded under the A Soil Deal for Europe Mission.

One of the Forum’s key messages was the need to complement research with financial instruments capable of supporting the uptake of innovations developed through Living Labs and European projects. New knowledge and technologies alone are not enough to foster more sustainable soil management. Investment models, risk-sharing mechanisms and collaborative approaches are also needed to turn innovative solutions into widely adopted practices.

Significant attention was also given to Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems. Discussions highlighted that soil health assessment should be adapted to different territorial contexts and that the selection of indicators should reflect the specific characteristics of each area. Participants also stressed the need to ensure that collected data can effectively support farmers, policymakers and investors, while guaranteeing interoperability between digital tools and monitoring systems.

The Forum also reaffirmed the role of Living Labs as essential environments for testing and validating innovative solutions under real-world conditions. Collaboration among researchers, farmers, businesses and public authorities was recognised as a key factor in generating reliable knowledge and supporting the long-term uptake of innovation.

The discussions held during the Forum closely reflect the activities of INTERESH, which was represented in Brussels by UGent. Through its Living Lab in Apulia, the project is testing innovative solutions for soil health by adopting a multi-actor approach that brings together researchers, the productive sector, public institutions and citizens. Participation in the Forum also provided an important opportunity to exchange experiences with other Mission Soil projects, consolidate shared approaches and strengthen the impact of the solutions being developed across different European regions.