We are pleased to share with you exciting news from the project and some interesting initiatives and events happening in the soil community.
Enjoy the read!
New Campaign by CURIOSOIL: Women Root for Soil
CURIOSOIL is proud to launch its 2026 campaign, Women Root for Soil, running from 15 January to 10 June 2026. The campaign celebrates the vital roles women play in understanding, caring for and teaching about soil, spotlighting influential figures from history, highlighting women scientists and educators within the consortium, and giving visibility to women land guardians and defenders. It will also share initiatives that support women’s leadership in soil science, education, and STE(A)M fields, aiming to inspire new generations and promote greater equity across the soil community.
In 2025, CURIOSOIL launched the Decolonising Soil series to spark broader, more inclusive conversations about how we understand and connect with soil. The series explored scientific knowledge alongside Indigenous wisdom, peasant movements and cultural traditions, including those rooted in Celtic and Scandinavian histories. Through our Decolonising Soil series, we highlighted these diverse perspectives and opened space for new dialogues on the role of soil in sustaining life. As the series come to an end, its insights and contributions will continue to inform our work across Europe.
The CURIOSOIL Project Community of Practice (CoP) is growing quickly across Europe, uniting experts, teachers, NGOs and innovators who are driving soil literacy forward, and you can be part of the momentum! During our Winter Meeting on 12 December (2:00–3:30 PM CET, online), we’ll share the latest CURIOSOIL developments, explore new engagement opportunities and spotlight how members across Europe are already bringing soil education to life, from classrooms to local communities.
Calling all educators, community organisers, designers, artists & dreamers!
We’re co-creating the Soil Curiosity Kit, a “Soil Literacy Cookbook” full of creative activities (experiments, games, crafts, performances and more) to spark curiosity about soil in classrooms, gardens, art spaces and community centres.
We’d love your input! Share with us: 🌿 Soil-related activities you already do 🌾 Activities that could be adapted to include soil 🌍 New ideas you’d love to bring to life
Coming soon: CURIOSOIL National Workshops on Soil Education
The CURIOSOIL team and partners are launching a series of workshops across Europe to co-create policy recommendations for soil education. Bringing together stakeholders from all education levels, the workshops will explore current policies, share effective practices, and develop proposals for integrating soil education into national frameworks. Stay tuned for dates and registration details! 📩 To get involved, contact: abdul.otman@ecolise.eu, belen.quintana@iucn.org, alberto.martin@iucn.org.
Armando leads CURIOSOIL’s Community of Practice in Portugal and founded Horta Harmonia, a coffee grounds collection initiative, in 2021. He restored a dormant plot using regenerative practices and grows his own food. Though specialized in agroecology, regenerative agriculture and nature conservation, he holds degrees in Physical Education and Exercise Science. With over a decade of advocacy and managerial experience, he has multiple certifications in sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. He has participated in European projects, conferences, and masterclasses on soil health and regeneration. His goal is to develop systems with positive ecological and social impact.
With a background in geology, Delphine specialised in soil science with a Master's at the University of Nancy and a PhD on Andosolization in the Vosges. After a research position in Strasbourg, she became a lecturer at the University of Metz in 2000. Working in the Life and Earth Sciences department, she is teaching earth sciences and soil sciences. Delphine is also a member of the French Soil Science Society (AFES - Association Française pour l'Etude du Sol, AFES) since 1994. Delphine joined the CURIOSOIL CoP in December 2024 and she is now CoP leader for France.
Teija works at Jalotus Transition movement Finland in Sustainable Food team. They have a beautiful Sustainable Living Center, which serves as a learning and experimentation center. She works as a community farmer, educator and community facilitator. Teija has been working for a long time in promoting the sustainable food value network. Farming is her passion. Teija loves working with nature and producing good, high-quality food. She believes that by raising soil awareness and by partnering up with nature, we restore our connection to the environment and each other.
CURIOSOIL Participated in the EU Mission Soil Week in Aarhus, Denmark
The 2025 EU Mission Soil Week has wrapped up, offering valuable insights into the Mission’s progress and upcoming priorities. CURIOSOIL was represented by Sonia Rodrigues, Ana Isabel Machado, Cristina Biddlecome and Javier Montellano López who showcased our latest work, including the Soil Curiosity Kit, our interactive exhibition, soil literacy tools, upcoming hackathons and artathons and the Women Root for Soil campaign. The week featured key voices from research, policy, industry, and agriculture discussing financing for soil health and the challenges slowing sustainable land use. We look forward to the next edition!
CURIOSOIL at Frutech, a Fair Dedicated to Agri-Food Innovation
The University of Palermo represented the CURIOSOIL Project at the Frutech fair in Catania (28–29 November), joining the stand of the Italian Society of Nematology. Students, young farmers and visitors explored soil biodiversity, health monitoring and soil science education. They also learned about CURIOSOIL, took part in the European SLAF survey and discovered the CURIOSOILNet crowdmapping initiative, sparking valuable exchanges on education, research and innovation.
Over 2,000 years ago, Indigenous communities in the Amazon created Terra Preta, a dark, rich soil engineered with charcoal, bones and organic waste. It’s still incredibly fertile today and has inspired modern regenerative agriculture techniques.
The AQUAGRI-KNOW Ambassadors Programme will choose ten new ambassadors from countries not yet involved. Their role is simple: help share useful solutions and best practices from EIP-AGRI projects, connect farmers and experts, and support stronger cooperation across Europe’s agriculture sector. This will make it easier for countries to learn from each other and improve farming together.
The Soil Monitoring Law is published in the EU Official Journal
The EU Directive on Soil Monitoring and Resilience, published on 26 November 2025, sets out a coherent and harmonised framework for monitoring and assessing soil health across all EU Member States, a key milestone for Europe’s environmental ambition.
For its 17th year, ORFC will once again bring together farmers, researchers, activists, Indigenous knowledge-keepers and policymakers shaping the future of fair, resilient food systems. With 145+ in-person sessions and 45+ livestreamed talks, ORFC is one of the UK’s most inspiring gatherings for agroecology and food sovereignty. In-person tickets are available. 8–9 January 2026 Hybrid event | Tiered tickets available
The 13th edition of the International Symposium on Earthworm Ecology
The 13th International Symposium on Earthworm Ecology (#ISEE13) is coming to Wageningen! This edition’s theme “From the lab to the field, from the field to the lab” highlights the crucial links between experimental research and real-world practice.
Save the Date: 23–28 August 2026 #ISEE13 in Wageningen, Netherlands
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