An EU-funded research project has brought together 15 partners from 10 European countries to improve how soil science informs environmental and agricultural policy, addressing a persistent gap between scientific research and decision-making.
Coordinated by France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), PSOILICY will develop new networks, digital tools and national hubs to make scientific evidence more accessible to policymakers across Europe.
Backed by almost €6m in Horizon Europe funding, the 42-month initiative aims to support the EU’s ambition of achieving 75% healthy or improving soils by 2030, helping translate existing research into practical policy action.
Bridging the gap between soil science and policy
More than 60% of soils across the EU are considered unhealthy, presenting challenges for food production, water resources, climate resilience and biodiversity.
Although Europe has considerable expertise in soil science, much of this knowledge remains difficult for policymakers to access and apply.
Fragmented responsibilities across national and regional authorities, alongside differences in data, monitoring protocols and indicators, have made it harder to establish consistent approaches to soil health.
Agriculture, forestry, urban planning and environmental policy are also frequently addressed separately, despite their shared relationship with soil quality.
PSOILICY aims to address these barriers by establishing stronger connections between researchers, policymakers and practitioners. Its approach will focus on making scientific findings easier to interpret and ensuring that evidence can inform decisions at both national and European levels.
The project is particularly relevant as the EU moves towards implementing its Soil Monitoring Law, which provides a framework for monitoring and improving soil health across Member States.
European partners establish new collaboration
The project’s official launch took place from 7–9 October 2026 at the Université de Lorraine campus in Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France, bringing together representatives from its 15 partner organisations.
The opening discussions included representatives from the European Commission’s Directorates-General for Environment and Agriculture and Rural Development, alongside the French Ministry for the Environment.
A key theme was the need for closer cooperation between scientific institutions and public authorities, with information flowing in both directions.
This means not only making research available to decision-makers but also ensuring scientists understand the practical challenges, priorities and evidence requirements facing policymakers.
European Commission representatives highlighted the potential for PSOILICY to connect EU-level research with national implementation.
Its proposed network of national hubs could help Member States draw on findings from the EU Mission Soil while supporting the implementation of the Soil Monitoring Law and Common Agricultural Policy.
The project is also expected to strengthen existing national soil initiatives, many of which currently lack formal recognition, resources or sufficient political support.
During the three-day meeting, partners established the initial work programme, discussed how individual activities would fit together and agreed a roadmap covering the project’s first eight months.
Six priorities for improving soil health governance
PSOILICY will develop several interconnected initiatives designed to make soil science more accessible and useful across European policymaking.
One priority is assessing existing science-policy networks in more than 20 EU countries. This will help identify gaps, pinpoint where improvements are needed, and share effective approaches across countries.
The project will also support the development of Soil Health National Hubs, connecting existing initiatives and helping establish new ones where necessary. These hubs will form part of a wider European network for exchanging scientific knowledge and policy experience.
Practical approaches will be explored through multi-stakeholder Soil Health Policy Labs, initially involving Austria, Denmark, France, and Italy. These will bring together researchers, policymakers and practitioners to develop and test potential policy solutions.
Other planned activities include creating a Knowledge Exchange Network to encourage continued collaboration and developing an AI-enabled Policy Guidance Platform. The digital platform will make relevant soil research, datasets and policy documents easier to locate and use.
Partners will also investigate establishing a European Science Service for Soil Health, potentially providing a central point through which policymakers can request scientific support.
Supporting Europe’s 2030 soil health ambitions
The project will progress through three stages over its 42-month duration.
The first eight months will focus on establishing common ground, followed by a prototyping phase running until month 23. The final stage will concentrate on consolidating and delivering its results.
Ultimately, PSOILICY aims to strengthen the relationship between scientific research and the policies governing Europe’s soils.
With the EU targeting 75% healthy or improving soils by 2030, improving access to reliable evidence will be important in turning that ambition into measurable progress.
By connecting national initiatives, developing practical policy tools and creating more effective channels for knowledge exchange, the project seeks to ensure soil science plays a more direct role in decisions affecting Europe’s land and natural resources.
