The European Union has placed soil health among its top priorities, aware that more than 60% of European soils are degraded. Mission Soil aims to ensure that at least 75% of the soil will be in good condition by 2030. In this context, NEIKER will host an event from 15 to 17 September at our Arkaute headquarters in Vitoria-Gasteiz, bringing together researchers and experts from the European agricultural sector. In this interview, Lur Epelde, researcher at NEIKER’s Department of Natural Resource Conservation, explains the importance of soils and the role the Basque Country plays in this European mission.

 

The European Union has launched Mission Soil with a very specific aim. What exactly is it and why is it so necessary?

A Soil Deal for Europe, abbreviated as Mission Soil, is one of five missions launched by the European Union as part of Horizon Europe, its research and innovation programme. The goal is quite clear: to ensure that by 2030 at least 75% of European soils are healthy and continue to provide the services we need as a society.

This is crucial because soils not only support food production, but they also regulate water, store carbon, and are a biodiversity reservoir. However, more than 60% of European soils are degraded by intensive farming practices, pollution, urban development, and climate change. The mission seeks to reverse that situation, speed up solutions, and transfer innovations from the laboratory to the field.

To achieve that goal, work is being done along several lines: improving the management of agricultural and forestry soils, restoring degraded soils, reducing nutrient pollution, pesticides, and heavy metals, preventing erosion, increasing organic matter, and promoting applied research through living labs and lighthouses. This is a comprehensive approach that combines science, policy, and on-the-ground action, because this is the only way that we can ensure healthy soils, food security, and climate resilience.

From NEIKER’s perspective, how does soil health contribute to challenges such as climate change and food security in the Basque Country?

Soil health is essential to address both challenges. In the Basque Country, where agricultural space is limited and under significant pressure, preserving soil quality has a significant impact: it acts as a carbon sink, improves water structure and retention, and increases resilience to drought and heavy rainfall.

Furthermore, soil fertility and biodiversity enable more sustainable production systems, reducing dependence on external inputs. This is essential in our intensive agriculture and livestock farming, where the quality of the pastures makes all the difference. Investing in soil health strengthens regional food sovereignty and the resilience of our agroecosystems, as well as contributing to meeting Europe’s climate commitments.

Living labs and lighthouses are particularly important in this soil care. What are they and how do they work in practice?

Living labs are experimental spaces under real-life conditions —farms, forests, rural and urban landscapes— where farmers, scientists, businesses, and authorities work together to test and validate innovative solutions. They are open, collaborative, and very practical: what is researched is directly applied.

Lighthouses, on the other hand, are landmarks that showcase good practices in sustainable soil management. For example, these can be exemplary farms or sustainably managed areas that serve to inspire and train other players. While living labs bring about innovation, lighthouses disseminate that innovation and help scale it.

Currently, of the 100 living labs planned in Europe, 25 are already up and running, and 20 more are in the startup phase. All of them, along with the future European law on soil health monitoring and collaboration in themed clusters, will significantly transform knowledge about our soils.

Monitoring appears to be a key aspect. Why is it so important?

Monitoring is essential to verify whether we are truly achieving healthy soils. Every context requires specific indicators: at the continental level, European law will identify degraded areas where different deterioration processes converge, while a farm transitioning to regenerative practices requires more local monitoring with practical indicators to guide management and measure progress.

Specifically, a meeting focused on these living labs will be held at NEIKER. What will be done during these sessions?

The event in Arkaute is designed to be very practical. It’s not just about theoretical presentations. That is to say, the talks will be brief, prioritising debate and active participation. Much of the time will be spent on field activities, applying what has been discussed to pastures, crops, and vineyards in our BALTSAN trial network, which is comprised of long-term agricultural trials.

In addition, we will introduce the Soil Health Data Cube, developed as part of the AI4SoilHealth project, to the living labs. This is a digital twin of European soils that allows one to explore data, compare results, and enhance soil management in each region. Combining theory, practice, and advanced technologies is key to turning the knowledge generated into concrete and effective actions.

Why is it important for these sessions to be held at NEIKER, and what does the Basque Country contribute to this European mission?

The Basque Country was chosen because it is home to many of the already operational living labs, and it also coincides with the European Soil Congress held in Seville the previous week. NEIKER is honoured to host this event and collaborate with international trainers such as Rachel Creamer of Wageningen University and David Robinson of the UK Centre for Ecology.

For a few days, we will become a point of reference for soil monitoring in Europe. Although our role at the continental level is modest, this experience will allow us to learn and transfer the best practices to the Basque context, strengthening our leadership in research and contributing to improving soil health in the Basque Country.

What will participants gain from this experience?

The in-person meeting will help us to strengthen ties, get to know each other, and share experiences directly. We want participants to leave with new, actionable ideas, greater coordination between initiatives, and a drive to move forward toward the goal of healthy soils in Europe in a coordinated manner.