Descriptive Summary
Challenge: The challenge addressed by SoilNavigator was the degradation of soil quality and productivity due to unsustainable agricultural practices, which threatened food security and environmental health.
Aims and Actions: The project aimed to develop a decision-support tool to promote sustainable soil management. Actions included integrating scientific research with practical applications to assess soil functions and provide tailored recommendations for optimizing soil use.
Outcomes and Results: The SoilNavigator tool successfully enhanced soil health and agricultural productivity by offering actionable insights and recommendations. It facilitated informed decision-making for farmers and land managers, contributing to improved sustainability and environmental conservation.
Background
To ensure the long-term sustainability of agricultural practices in Europe, significant challenges must be addressed. These include widespread soil degradation due to intensive farming, nutrient depletion from poor management practices, and erosion caused by unsustainable land use. Biodiversity loss is another critical issue, with monoculture and excessive pesticide use diminishing ecosystems. Climate change compounds these problems, with rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and extreme weather events worsening soil conditions. Socio-economic pressures, such as market demands and limited access to resources, further strain agricultural systems. These challenges have collectively led to declining productivity, jeopardizing both food security and environmental health.
Aims and Goals
The soil quality evaluation tool was designed as a targeted intervention within the water-energy-food-ecosystem nexus, focusing primarily on the water, food, and ecosystem dimensions. By analyzing site-specific conditions, such as soil structure, nutrient levels, moisture retention, and biodiversity, the tool provides tailored recommendations to help farmers and land managers make informed decisions that enhance soil health and productivity. The ultimate goal is to promote sustainable agricultural practices that improve water use efficiency, reduce erosion, and support biodiversity conservation. Stakeholder consultations were conducted early in the project to align objectives with local needs and environmental challenges, ensuring that the tool would address real-world issues faced by the farming community. The project was envisioned to have both short- and long-term goals. In the short term, the focus was on improving immediate soil health and boosting productivity, while long-term goals included building resilient agricultural systems that can adapt to climate change, safeguard ecosystems, and ensure food security for future generations.
Actions taken
In addressing the challenges of soil degradation, nutrient depletion, and biodiversity loss, the project implemented a comprehensive strategy combining technical and soft interventions. On the technical side, a web-based application and decision models were developed to assess soil health, monitor water efficiency, and provide tailored recommendations for sustainable land management. Alongside these digital tools, the project facilitated stakeholder engagement through a series of workshops and training sessions aimed at educating farmers, land managers, and policymakers on the best practices for soil management, water conservation, and ecosystem health.
Main Achievement to date
The project achieved significant outcomes across multiple dimensions of the WEFE nexus, demonstrating its potential to improve soil quality, water management, and ecosystem health. Tested in various locations across Europe, including the Mediterranean region (France), the soil quality evaluation tool showed tangible benefits in improving soil structure, nutrient retention, and water-use efficiency.
Lessons, replicability and scalability potential
The project revealed key lessons in sustainability, scalability, and replicability. The soil evaluation tool proved adaptable to various European regions, including the Mediterranean, showing strong potential for scaling across diverse environments. Customizing recommendations to local conditions was crucial for its success. Additionally, the project highlighted the importance of user-friendly, robust tools for widespread adoption and the critical role of stakeholder engagement.
