Support to the operation and further development of soil-health science-policy interfaces and national soil-health hubs
A Soil Deal for Europe (EU Mission on Soil health and food, Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025)
Funding Amount
Up to €6.0M
Deadline
30/09/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the Support to the operation and further development of soil-health science-policy interfaces and national soil-health hubs Call?
Grant Description
Activities to strengthen science-based policies for soil health across governance levels by assessing and improving science-policy interfaces, developing tools for knowledge management, and supporting creation and coordination of national soil-health hubs within a Europe-wide network.
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
• Strengthened, science-based soil health policies at EU, national and regional levels, supporting transposition and implementation of the EU Directive on Soil Monitoring and Resilience.
• Enhanced anchoring of R&I activities of the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe” within national and regional governance frameworks.
• EU and sub-national decision-makers across sectors gain easy and timely access to up-to-date policy-relevant scientific knowledge on soil degradation drivers, soil health status and sustainable management practices, presented in user-tailored formats.
• National and regional structures for coordinating soil-health research and policy (Mission Soil hubs) are strengthened or newly established in all Member States and interested Associated Countries, with reinforced commitment from national authorities.
• Facilitated exchanges at national and international levels between soil-health hubs and similar structures supporting other EU Missions to share best practices and foster synergies.
• Enhanced anchoring of R&I activities of the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe” within national and regional governance frameworks.
• EU and sub-national decision-makers across sectors gain easy and timely access to up-to-date policy-relevant scientific knowledge on soil degradation drivers, soil health status and sustainable management practices, presented in user-tailored formats.
• National and regional structures for coordinating soil-health research and policy (Mission Soil hubs) are strengthened or newly established in all Member States and interested Associated Countries, with reinforced commitment from national authorities.
• Facilitated exchanges at national and international levels between soil-health hubs and similar structures supporting other EU Missions to share best practices and foster synergies.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
• Geographical coverage: all EU Member States and interested Horizon Europe Associated Countries.
• Thematic coverage: agriculture, forestry, environment (including biodiversity and climate), spatial planning and a broad range of land uses affecting soil health.
• Governance levels: EU, national and regional structures for science-policy interfaces must be assessed and strengthened.
• Methodological requirements: systematic, comparative assessment of existing mechanisms; case studies; definition of success/failure criteria; evaluation of effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability across contexts.
• Interface development: proposals must identify and evaluate governance and operational models for an EU-wide science-policy interface, including a medium-term dedicated science service.
• Knowledge management tools: design tools for collecting, organizing, synthesizing and presenting soil-health knowledge, ready for integration into the future interface.
• Hub creation: support establishment or enhancement of national soil-health hubs with multi-stakeholder involvement; coordinate a Europe-wide network; ensure liaison with public authorities and National Contact Points; provide forums for research agenda development.
• Integration and coordination: build on existing initiatives (Soil Wise, Mission Soil Platform); dedicate tasks and resources for coordination with other mission-related projects; facilitate exchanges with other Mission hubs.
• International cooperation: engage JRC on EUSO development; liaise with Global Soil Partnership, UNCCD SPI, OECD evidence-informed policy community.
• Multi-actor co-creation: involve end-users and practitioners from project inception through dissemination; co-develop solutions; ensure co-ownership of results.
• Thematic coverage: agriculture, forestry, environment (including biodiversity and climate), spatial planning and a broad range of land uses affecting soil health.
• Governance levels: EU, national and regional structures for science-policy interfaces must be assessed and strengthened.
• Methodological requirements: systematic, comparative assessment of existing mechanisms; case studies; definition of success/failure criteria; evaluation of effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability across contexts.
• Interface development: proposals must identify and evaluate governance and operational models for an EU-wide science-policy interface, including a medium-term dedicated science service.
• Knowledge management tools: design tools for collecting, organizing, synthesizing and presenting soil-health knowledge, ready for integration into the future interface.
• Hub creation: support establishment or enhancement of national soil-health hubs with multi-stakeholder involvement; coordinate a Europe-wide network; ensure liaison with public authorities and National Contact Points; provide forums for research agenda development.
• Integration and coordination: build on existing initiatives (Soil Wise, Mission Soil Platform); dedicate tasks and resources for coordination with other mission-related projects; facilitate exchanges with other Mission hubs.
• International cooperation: engage JRC on EUSO development; liaise with Global Soil Partnership, UNCCD SPI, OECD evidence-informed policy community.
• Multi-actor co-creation: involve end-users and practitioners from project inception through dissemination; co-develop solutions; ensure co-ownership of results.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
• Call type: HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) under Horizon Lump Sum Grant model; single-stage submission.
• Budget: approx. EUR 6 000 000; lump sum funding per grant.
• Dates: opening 06 May 2025; deadline 30 September 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Eligibility and evaluation: all conditions per Horizon Europe General Annexes (admissibility, eligible countries, financial and operational capacity, exclusion, evaluation criteria and thresholds).
• Multi-actor approach mandatory: genuine and sufficient involvement of end-users (researchers, land managers, advisors, policy-makers, civil society, private sector, etc.) throughout project lifecycle; proposals must detail co-creation processes, consortium composition, knowledge exchange activities, engagement methods, and pathways to produce practice-ready outputs.
• Dissemination outputs: prepare practice abstracts in common EIP-AGRI format for CAP-relevant areas; for non-CAP areas, use equivalent interaction channels with innovation groups at EU level.
• Project coordination: dedicate tasks and resources for coordination with other Horizon Europe mission projects, cluster activities, Soil Mission Platform and Secretariat.
• Interaction with EU bodies: collaborate with JRC on European Soil Observatory; engage Soil Mission Board members; align with OECD policy-making initiatives; explore relevance of Global Soil Partnership and UNCCD SPI.
• Model Grant Agreement: apply lump sum MGA conditions; follow Application Form HE CSA and Detailed Budget Table guidance; refer to lump sum decision documentation.
• Budget: approx. EUR 6 000 000; lump sum funding per grant.
• Dates: opening 06 May 2025; deadline 30 September 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Eligibility and evaluation: all conditions per Horizon Europe General Annexes (admissibility, eligible countries, financial and operational capacity, exclusion, evaluation criteria and thresholds).
• Multi-actor approach mandatory: genuine and sufficient involvement of end-users (researchers, land managers, advisors, policy-makers, civil society, private sector, etc.) throughout project lifecycle; proposals must detail co-creation processes, consortium composition, knowledge exchange activities, engagement methods, and pathways to produce practice-ready outputs.
• Dissemination outputs: prepare practice abstracts in common EIP-AGRI format for CAP-relevant areas; for non-CAP areas, use equivalent interaction channels with innovation groups at EU level.
• Project coordination: dedicate tasks and resources for coordination with other Horizon Europe mission projects, cluster activities, Soil Mission Platform and Secretariat.
• Interaction with EU bodies: collaborate with JRC on European Soil Observatory; engage Soil Mission Board members; align with OECD policy-making initiatives; explore relevance of Global Soil Partnership and UNCCD SPI.
• Model Grant Agreement: apply lump sum MGA conditions; follow Application Form HE CSA and Detailed Budget Table guidance; refer to lump sum decision documentation.
Important dates
Open from: 06/05/2025
Deadline:30/09/2025
Application period has ended
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