This issue of the SoilHood newsletter brings you the latest updates from the NBSOIL Project, including the Final Project Essentials call, presentations and events, the Policy Navigator, Knowledge Base, Glossary, and inspiring stories on soil health. You’ll also find a roundup of activities, events, and insights from beyond the NBSOIL community.
So sit back, relax, and join us as we explore the fascinating world beneath our feet!
NBSOIL Updates
Latest news and developments from the NBSOIL project and partners
NBSOIL Academy: Final Project Essentials
The NBSOIL Academy is entering its next phase with the launch of the Final Projects, giving participants the opportunity to put their soil knowledge into practice by designing a real-world advice plan with expert guidance. To explain how it works, we are hosting the Final Project Essentials webinar on 2 October 2025 at 13:00 CET. Anyone who has completed at least one Academy module is welcome to take part.
João Coblinski, researcher and geospatial data specialist at IUNG, represented the NBSOIL Project at EUROSOIL 2025 in Seville. He presented the NBSOIL Academy at the 5th EUSO Stakeholders Forum – Cutting-edge Developments with the EU Mission on Soil – alongside other EU Mission Soil projects. The presentation opened the door to new collaborations with stakeholders who could contribute to or participate in the NBSOIL Academy.
The Agroforestry Show in the UK, organised by the Soil Association and the Woodland Trust, brought together over 1,000 delegates to explore the role of trees in farming. Representing NBSOIL, Josiah Judson highlighted how trees support nature connectivity and soil regeneration. Key topics included the benefits of willow for livestock and riverbanks, along with the many advantages of hedgerows for biodiversity, soil health, and climate resilience.
The Visioning Cards offer a flexible visual language for describing and defining soil challenges and solutions. They support soil advisors and educators in explaining soil health concepts to a wide range of audiences, distilling knowledge from soil textbooks and manuals into clear, accessible formats. The cards make learning about soil both engaging and enjoyable.
The NBSOIL Policy Navigator offers a clear and comprehensive guide to how soil health is addressed across EU strategies, action plans, directives, regulations, and support mechanisms.
HuMUS is now featured on the NBSOIL Project interactive map. By zooming in on Florence, Italy, you can access HuMUS resources, including the Soil Steward Training Course, which trains facilitators for regional soil dialogues, and the Regional Soil Health Communities on LinkedIn, which support knowledge exchange through a multi-actor approach.
The NBSOIL Academy Voices section brings you thoughts and experiences from participants of the NBSOIL Academy.
NBSOIL Academy
Curious about the world beneath our feet? The NBSOIL Academy offers both theoretical and practical knowledge to equip you with the skills needed to provide advice for sustainable soil management.
Bioremediation uses microorganisms, plants, or their enzymes to detoxify contaminated soil, wastewater, or sludge, with plant-assisted methods referred to as phytoremediation. The NBSOIL Project focuses on applying this approach to brownfield redevelopment, where many contaminated sites remain unmanaged due to high remediation costs.
The NBSOIL Project also compiles existing knowledge on nature-based solutions (NBS) for sustainable land management and their societal benefits. The knowledge base presents a portfolio of NBS for soil health, aligned with the objectives of the EU Mission on Soil.
Publications, news and more on soil health beyond NBSOIL
CURIOSOIL: Community of Practice
The CURIOSOIL Community of Practice (CoP), led by ECOLISE, brings together experts and organizations across countries to develop and implement soil education initiatives. We are expanding our team of CoP leaders in Austria, Romania, and Ukraine, offering financial support of up to €6,000 over two years, along with perks such as supported travel to CURIOSOIL events. More information and applications are available through our form, with a deadline of 5 October 2025.
CURIOSOIL is hosting an interactive science communication training with Mihaela Bozukova, PhD (ESCI). Participants will learn to engage different audiences, craft clear messages, choose the right formats and platforms, and build trust through effective communication.
Soil Week is an annual event promoting the Horizon Europe Mission on Soil, raising awareness of the importance of soil health and encouraging action to protect and restore our soils. Join the NBSOIL Project team there!
A quick reference to essential terms in soil health
NBSOIL Project Glossary: Soil Quality Soil quality refers to the ability of soil to perform its functions in natural or managed ecosystems, supporting plant and animal productivity, maintaining water and air quality, and providing conditions that benefit human health and settlements.
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