NOVASOIL
NOVASOIL est un projet dédié à des modèles de gestion innovants pour favoriser la santé des sols à travers l'Europe. Son objectif général est de mettre en évidence les avantages des investissements dans la santé des sols pour la société et l'environnement.
Le projet NOVASOIL a publié une mise à jour importante dans son rapport « Co-construction of Soil Health Business Cases », mettant en avant des solutions innovantes pour protéger la santé des sols.
Essentiels à notre alimentation, à la qualité de l'eau et à la régulation du climat, les sols sont aujourd’hui menacés. NOVASOIL travaille avec des agriculteurs, décideurs et entreprises pour développer des modèles économiques durables qui transforment cette préservation en opportunité économique.
Le projet propose des approches comme le paiement pour services écosystémiques, les crédits carbone et des chaînes de valeur durables, tout en soulignant l'importance du soutien politique et de la sensibilisation pour assurer l'adoption à grande échelle.
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The project has recently released a significant update in its report titled “Co-construction of Soil Health Business Cases”, providing insights into its findings, methodologies, and actionable opportunities.
Why NOVASOIL’s Work Matters to Everyone?
Healthy soils are fundamental to life—they grow our food, purify our water, and help regulate the climate by storing carbon. Yet, soils are under threat from erosion, acidification, nutrient loss, and other pressures. These challenges don’t just affect farmers; they have a ripple effect on food prices, ecosystem stability, and even the air we breathe.
NOVASOIL tackles these issues head-on by creating business models that make protecting soil health not just an environmental necessity, but also an economic opportunity. The project works with farmers, policymakers, businesses, and consumers to build practical, sustainable solutions.
How NOVASOIL Is Building Solutions: A Participatory Methodology?
The NOVASOIL approach is as comprehensive as it is collaborative:
• Data collection through surveys: Between September and October 2023, NOVASOIL conducted surveys with 103 stakeholders from Spain, Italy, Germany, and other European nations. Participants included farmers, researchers, policymakers, and agricultural organisations.
• Four innovative business models: The project focuses on:
1. Payment for Ecosystem Services: Farmers and landowners are compensated for adopting practices that enhance soil health.
2. Carbon credits: Linking soil’s capacity to store carbon with climate-focused financial incentives.
3. Sustainable value chains: Promoting products that are grown using soil-friendly methods and connecting them to premium markets.
4. Collective implementation: Encouraging collaborations among farmers, cooperatives, and local communities.
Conclusions: Key Takeaways from NOVASOIL’s Report
Here you can find some of the main conclusions:
- Soil threats vary, but solutions must adapt locally:
Soil degradation is influenced by region-specific threats like erosion, acidification, and nutrient loss. Successful models must address these variances to ensure relevance and impact. - Soil health is both a challenge and an opportunity:
By improving soil, businesses can unlock new market opportunities, diversify incomes, and mitigate climate change impacts, creating a win-win for the environment and the economy. - Policy support is essential for scalability:
Current initiatives like the EU Green Deal are a step in the right direction, but further refinement and stronger support mechanisms are needed to create an enabling environment for soil health business models. - Education and outreach are indispensable:
Raising awareness about the importance of soil health among stakeholders and the general public can drive more widespread adoption of sustainable practices.
To know more about the results click here to read the full report
To know more about the results click here to read the full report
Know more about Novasoil
This project receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement n°101091268