iCOSHELLs: Advancing Soil Health Through Innovation and Collaboration
Soil is a fundamental resource for ecosystems and agriculture, yet a significant portion of EU soils are degraded due to pollution, urbanization, and intensive farming. The iCOSHELLs project, funded under the EU Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe,’ seeks to address these challenges by developing practical solutions to restore soil health.
Running from September 2024 to August 2028, iCOSHELLs is a collaborative initiative bringing together 39 partners and 2 affiliated entities across 8 European countries. With a total budget of €11.99 million, the project aims to reduce soil pollution, enhance biodiversity, and improve public awareness of soil health challenges and solutions.
Objectives and Strategic Approach
iCOSHELLs is structured around four key objectives:
- Strengthening stakeholder engagement to co-develop solutions for soil health improvement.
- Implementing and evaluating soil restoration strategies through six Living Labs across different European regions.
- Enhancing knowledge of soil indicators and effective management practices.
- Facilitating the replication and upscaling of the most promising soil recovery solutions.
Living Labs: A Practical Testing Ground
A cornerstone of the project is the establishment of six Living Labs in the Basque Country, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Sweden. These labs serve as regional hubs where scientists, farmers, policymakers, and local communities collaborate to test and refine soil health solutions.
Project Phases and Implementation
iCOSHELLs is structured into four phases, ensuring a systematic approach to soil restoration:
- Phase 1: Stakeholder mapping, ecosystem analysis, and defining monitoring methodologies.
- Phase 2: Co-creation of solutions, prototyping, and testing through open calls.
- Phase 3: Monitoring and assessment of soil health indicators and socio-economic feasibility.
- Phase 4: Long-term sustainability, replication, and knowledge transfer.
Expected Impact
The project aims to deliver scalable, science-backed solutions that contribute to:
- Reducing soil pollution and improving soil structure and biodiversity.
- Enhancing public and stakeholder knowledge of soil health challenges and best practices.
- Supporting EU policy objectives for sustainable soil management.
- Providing decision-makers with tested frameworks for soil restoration.
Collaboration and Engagement
iCOSHELLs thrives on collaboration. The project actively engages research institutions, industry stakeholders, policymakers, and local communities to ensure that its outcomes are both relevant and applicable. Through knowledge-sharing platforms and stakeholder-driven initiatives, the project fosters a shared commitment to soil health restoration.
Learn More
For updates and insights on iCOSHELLs, follow the project on
LinkedIn or visit the official
project website.