Enabling user-centred and open innovation initiatives to enhance soil health in Ukraine

Expected Outcome:

Activities should align with the international goals of the European Green Deal, specifically contribute to the EU soil strategy for 2030, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Zero Pollution Action Plan, and the proposal for a Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive. In broader terms, the activities will also support EU’s efforts towards Ukraine's long-term reconstruction, focusing on reducing soil pollution and facilitating restoration, in line with the Ukraine Plan.

Project results are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes:

• strengthened regional R&I ecosystems and enhanced capacities for participatory, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary R&I approaches, allowing for effective cooperation between research, practice and policy to tackle soil health challenges in Ukraine arising from military actions and other indirect pressures;
• increased uptake and application of soil related and practice-oriented knowledge by farmers, land managers, foresters, local authorities and other relevant stakeholders for improved soil health and related ecosystem services;
• deepened awareness among policymakers of local needs and constraints regarding soil health, sustainable management practices and innovative technologies to address soil degradation, including those arising from military actions, supports effective and tailored policy design.

Scope:

In Ukraine, soils are exposed to degradation due to nutrient mismanagement, acidification, erosion, compaction, salinisation, and contamination, with the war further contributing to devastation by releasing toxic elements, causing long-term damage to both ecosystems and human health^[1] During military activities, soils are among the most heavily affected components of the environment, undergoing mechanical, chemical, and physical degradation^[2] The war has also disrupted research and innovation activities, which further hinder the country’s ability to address soil degradation issues. Particularly, as before the war, the innovation landscape in Ukraine was already in a need for more supportive political, regulatory and legislative frameworks, and more developed and improved innovation^[3].

Proposals should:

• map and identify relevant stakeholders (e.g. researchers, innovators, farmers, foresters, land managers, spatial planners, local authorities, citizens, civil society organisations, policymakers) and existing relevant EU initiatives, projects, and knowledge and innovation systems (e.g. thematic networks, AKIS, participatory, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary R&I approaches) in Ukraine;
• identify and analyse R&I ecosystem challenges, potential gaps in knowledge, skills and competences needed for user-centred, place-based transdisciplinary R&I ecosystems, in particular for those dealing with soil degradation and soil health issues arising from the impact of military actions^[4] and explore potential synergies, collaborations and exchange of experiences and good practices with identified initiatives, projects and knowledge innovation systems;
• based on the mapping and analysis, provide a skills development and knowledge transfer strategy focusing on skills and knowledge for two main areas: enhancing the ability of stakeholders to engage in, and contribute to participatory, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary R&I approaches, and transferring soil-related knowledge, in particular generated under the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’;
• support relevant actors with capacity building and knowledge transfer activities following the defined strategy, through for example twining, trainings, workshops, networking activities, conferences, field trips and events;
• create regional knowledge hubs that serve as platforms for networking, collaboration and further exchange of soil related knowledge and practices, as well as skills, for participatory, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary R&I approaches, while, ensuring synergies and making effective use of other existing similar initiatives in Ukraine;
• provide recommendations on sustainable management practices and innovative technologies to relevant stakeholders, including policymakers, to improve soil health. This should consider all relevant degradation processes, including those resulting from military actions, as well as the impact(s) of climate change and the need for resilient farming systems.

All activities should take place in areas without ongoing or active military actions to ensure the safety of all participants.

The project is strongly encouraged to collaborate with relevant Horizon Europe projects including those funded under the Mission Soil, the Mission Soil Living Labs, the Living Lab Support Structure SOILL, and the project that will be funded under the call ‘HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-02: Bioremediation of Ukraine’s ecosystems contaminated by conflicts’, in order to create strong synergies from the start of the projects.

This action supports the follow-up to the July 2023 Communication on EU Missions assessment.

[1] JRC Publications Repository - Status of Environment and Climate in Ukraine

[2] https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/10/1614

[3] Technology transfer in Ukraine 2019-2020 - Publications Office of the EU

[4] Soil Degradation and Contamination Due to Armed Conflict in Ukraine