Europe’s soils are more than just the ground beneath our feet—they are the foundation of our food systems, biodiversity, and climate resilience. The upcoming Soils for Europe: Healthy Soils for a Sustainable Future conference invites researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and industry leaders to come together to explore innovative strategies for soil health and sustainability across the continent.

Co-organised by multiple Mission Soil projects, this conference will feature panels on mission objectives, cross-cutting sessions showcasing cutting-edge research, and dedicated days for Living Labs initiatives—hands-on demonstrations of practical solutions in real-world contexts. Participants will have the opportunity to share insights, innovations, and collaborative strategies that make a tangible difference for European soils.

Conference themes

• Reduce land degradation and desertification – advancing strategies to halt soil erosion, compaction, and sealing.
• Preserve and increase soil organic carbon stocks – highlighting soil’s role in climate mitigation and sustainable farming.
• Stop soil sealing – supporting sustainable urban planning Increase reuse of urban soils – supporting​ land recycling. Reduce soil pollution and enhance restoration – addressing contaminants, waste, and strategies for remediation.
• Prevent erosion and improve soil structure – showcasing innovations for sustainable land management. Improve soil literacy and citizen engagement – promoting awareness, education, and citizen science initiatives.
• Reduce the EU global footprint on soils – addressing the global impacts of EU consumption on soils.
• Boost monitoring and harmonised soil data – moving towards comprehensive, accessible European soil information systems.
• New technologies and innovations to enhance soil health – showcasing new advances in technological development in fields like remote sensing, low impact agriculture, automatization of monitoring procedures, etc.
• Enhance soil biodiversity – recognising soils as living systems and ensuring their protection.
• Quantifying sustainability and impacts of solutions for soil management and health

Submit your abstract

We invite scientists, land managers, civil society representatives, and innovators to contribute to this European dialogue. Submit your abstract by March 31. Share your research, showcase innovations, or propose novel strategies to enhance soil health.

More information here: https://soils4europe2026.eu/