Seventh European Soil Partnership Plenary Assembly, 10 September 2020, online (zoom platform). Presenter: Arwyn Jones

1. Arwyn Jones
ESP-Pillar 2 Chair
EC-JRC
arwyn.jones@ec.europa.eu

2. Pillar 2 Report
Encourage investment, technical cooperation, policy,
education, awareness and extension in soil
• Pillar 2 Workshop «Giving Soils More Voice»
• Soil Health and Food Mission – implications for P2
• Reflections and Future perspectives

3. Pillar 2 Workshop
«Giving Soils More Voice»
• Fruittuin Van West Organic Farm, Amsterdam
(JRC/ENSA/ELSA/Summer of Soil)
• 19-20 September 2019
• 60 participants from 18 countries
• Day 1
• Focus on activities in the Netherlands
• Soil Awareness Marketplace (open to the public)
• Tour of Summer of Soil exhibits
• Day 2
• Shared learning experiences, best practices
• Meeting of WG

4. Pillar 2 Workshop
«Giving Soils More Voice»

5. Pillar 2 Workshop
«Giving Soils More Voice»

6. Soil Health and Food Mission
• Launched by the EC in September 2019
• Missions will be an integral component Horizon Europe
• Soil, Cancer, Oceans, Climate Change & Cities
• Create knowledge and solutions for restoring soil health
and soil functions
• Raise awareness on the importance of soils for society
and increase engagement with citizens.

7. Soil Health and Food Mission
• Mission Board of External Experts to advise EC
• Proposed mission
• Caring for Soil is Caring for Life”
• Goal to “ensure that 75% of soils are healthy by 2030”
• 100% increase of healthy soils against the current baseline
• http://ec.europa.eu/mission-soil

8. Soil Health and Food Mission: scope
Building blocks:
A cross-scale, inter and
transdisciplinary R&I programme;
Co-creation of knowledge and testing
of solutions in Living Laboratories
and Lighthouses;
A limited set of soil indicators and a
robust soil monitoring programme
at EU and MS level
Communication and citizen
engagement

9. Soil Health and Food Mission: how?
Supporting actions
policy framework (e.g. STS2, CAP
measures, circular economy package)
consumer choices, market
mechanisms and other incentives
(Agricultural) Knowledge and
Innovation Systems incl.
independent advisory services
and information platforms for land
managers

10. Reflections
• Increased policy awareness on soil (Green Deal Strategies) could be a catalyst
• Stakeholder engagement will be one of the core elements of the EU Soil Observatory
• There are many well-developed local initiatives taking place
• But…efforts are still piecemeal
• Attempts to scale up to make a societal impact (at national/EU level) are lacking
• Lack of (dedicated) resources is a major issue.
• Soil communication is not the principle activity for most practitioners
• No large-scale funding for soil awareness programmes
• Soil Health Mission may have dedicated resources but budget and implementation under discussion.
• On hold
• Internet log of activities (akin to IYS)
• Policy Brief on Soil Awareness
• Coordination with Soil Science Societies
• Increased engagement through more virtual meetings