Advancing forest soil health: HoliSoils at the heart of European Mission Soil Week 2024
The European Mission Soil Week 2024 (EMSW) brought together hundreds of stakeholders in Brussels on 12–13 November to advance soil health initiatives under the EU’s Horizon Europe Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe” (Mission Soil). Among the participating projects, HoliSoils stood out for its contributions to sustainable forest soil management and climate resilience.
Established in 2023 as an annual gathering for the European soil community, EMSW serves as a hub for scientists, policymakers, farmers, foresters, businesses, and other stakeholders to exchange ideas and co-create solutions for soil health. This year’s edition featured keynote speeches, parallel sessions, and interactive activities showcasing research, innovations, and best practices.
HoliSoils took centre stage in the breakout session “Soil health for a sustainable forest-based bioeconomy,” where project coordinator Aleksi Lehtonen shared innovative approaches to forest soil management. He also emphasised that in the EU, the annual volume of CO2 emissions underscores the urgency for improved management practices.
The Mission Soil Project Trail was another key moment for HoliSoils, offering participants an engaging way to explore the work of projects funded through Mission Soil and other EU funding streams, namely Horizon Europe in the case of HoliSoils. At the HoliSoils stand, HoliSoils project coordinator interacted with attendees, sharing project tools and insights into sustainable forest soil management practices.
By fostering collaboration, raising awareness, and showcasing actionable solutions, EMSW 2024 reaffirmed soil health’s critical role in achieving the EU’s environmental and climate goals. Projects like HoliSoils, with its focus on forest soils, underline the collective effort needed to ensure sustainable soil management and ecosystem resilience for all European soils.
