SOILBIOMASS+
Co-creating Sustainable Biomass Production and Soil Health Restoration for Diverse European Lansdcapes
Summary
SOILBIOMASS+ will accelerate Europe’s transition to sustainable biomass production systems that enhance soil health and climate resilience. In line with the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe,” the project will co-design, test and validate land management practices, modelling tools and decision-support systems that enable farmers, foresters, landowners and policy-makers to make informed choices balancing productivity, environmental goals and socio-economic viability. The consortium brings together a strong Multi-Actor network of universities, research organisations, SMEs, NGOs and land managers, and directly embeds nine Living Labs (LLs) and Demonstration Sites (DSs) across eight European countries. These sites cover Europe’s main pedo-climatic zones and land-use types, including arable land, agroforestry, forestry, and peatlands, providing long-term datasets, real-world testing and active stakeholder communities. This ensures that project outcomes will be scientifically sound, socially relevant and scalable.
Methodology
The methodology combines three pillars:
- evidence generation through improved indicators, scenario modelling and EU-scale mapping;
- co-design and validation of practices, value chains and business cases in LLs and DSs with systematic stakeholder engagement; and
- deployment and scaling through decision-support tools, policy recommendations and cross-fertilisation with other Mission Soil initiatives (e.g. LILAS4SOILS, AI4SoilHealth).
Expected Impact
Expected impacts include new approaches for sustainable biomass and soil management tailored to local contexts, validated tools for monitoring and informed decision-making, strengthened value chains, and a science–policy dialogue for soil health and bioeconomy strategies. By bridging evidence, practice, and policy, SOILBIOMASS+ will contribute to Mission Soil targets, the Green Deal, and the Circular Bioeconomy, while empowering farmers, land managers, and foresters as agents of change.
