Introducing Soil Mission Support, a recently launched initiative to comprehensively map the needs for research and innovation in soil and land management

One of the novelties introduced by Horizon Europe is the concept of ‘EU missions’. These are major tools aimed at overcoming some of the greatest challenges facing our world. Missions will operate as a portfolio of actions including research projects, policy measures and even legislative initiatives designed to meet a common goal. Five missions areas have been identified, including one mission in the area of soil health and food, titled ‘Caring for soil is caring for life’, which aims to have 75 % of soils healthy in the EU by 2030.

The SMS (Soil Mission Support: Towards a European research and innovation roadmap on soils and land management) project will very much support the mission’s development and implementation during its first years of operation. Over its 2-year lifespan, the project seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis on the needs for research and innovation (R&I) in soil and land management. It will identify gaps, priorities and the type of actions needed for intervention, such as the creation of ‘living labs’ and ‘lighthouses’. The project will also facilitate coordination of existing activities both in Europe and across the world, thereby increasing the visibility and effectiveness of R&I funding.