The aim of this OpenCall is to select providers of innovative technologies that offer advanced solutions for measuring and monitoring soil health indicators at experimentation sites within the 5 Living Labs:
LL1 – Mediterranean Southern Europe (Spain & Portugal)
Sustainable permanent cropping system under Mediterranean climate conditions: addresses challenges typical of Mediterranean
agroecosystems, including soil erosion, water scarcity, salinisation and organic matter decline. It focuses on the application and testing of ReCAP in permanent crops (e.g. olives, vineyards, fruit trees) under Mediterranean conditions.
LL2 – Central Europe (Austria, Switzerland)
Regenerative agriculture approaches towards organic farming systems: operates in Central European temperate systems. It supports organic farms in improving soil-friendly management practices and encourages conservation-oriented conventional farms to reduce reliance on synthetic inputs.
LL3 – Germany (National Living Lab)
Improving soil health for climate change: covers all regions of Germany and focuses on the importance of soil health as a cornerstone for climate change adaptation in crop production. It aims to fine-tune ReCAP to achieve higher levels of resilience to the impact of weather extremes for crop production mediated through the improvement of soil health.
LL4 – Continental Eastern Europe (Moldova, Romania, Ukraine)
Innovative solutions for black soil conservation: operates in Eastern European continental climates, home to extensive areas of black soils (chernozem). In the first place, this LL addresses the high degradation risks originated through intensive soil disturbance, and puts therefore emphasis on resilient cropping systems, carbon management and sustainable intensification under continental conditions.
LL5 – Slovenia (National Living Lab)
Conservation Agriculture with crop-livestock integration to enhance soil health: focuses on integrated crop-livestock systems and diversified farming models. It aims to strengthen soil structure, nutrient cycling and ecosystem services through integrated management approaches adapted to Central and Southeastern European contexts.
Examples of eligible MRV technologies:
In-situ SOC estimation tools (sensors, handheld probes)
Laboratory or field-based spectroscopy
Remote sensing (satellite, drone, airborne)
Proximal sensing (IoT, electromagnetic methods)
Modelling platforms and digital tools
Biomass assessment methods
AI/ML solutions and digital twins
Any innovative technology aligned with SOC monitoring needs
ReCAP (Regenerative and Conservation Agriculture Practices) promote soil health, productivity and environmental sustainability. They are grounded in key principles: minimal soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, diversification of species through crop rotations, and the integration of livestock management.
This open call seeks to improve the precision of evaluating the impacts of ReCAP and promote collaboration between the agricultural and technological sectors.
Through this call, the following results are expected:
• The implementation of innovative technologies in a significant number of lighthouses and experimentation sites for the monitoring of key soil health indicators over two agricultural seasons.
• The acquisition of precise and relevant data on indicators such as water retention, organic content, microbial biodiversity, among others.
• The establishment of collaborations between farmers and technology companies, fostering innovation in the agricultural sector.
Maximum amount of financial support for each third party (200 000 €):
• Total budget: 250 000 €.
• Maximum funding per technology: 50 000 €.
• Funding duration: 2 agricultural seasons.
Selected companies, as recipients of financial support to third parties (FSTP), must comply with the obligations set out in Article 9.4 of the Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement.
Persons or categories of persons that may receive financial support:
• Private technology providers offering innovative solutions for soil health monitoring.
• Technological companies specialising in environmental indicator measurement, capable of adapting their solutions to the specific needs of the experimentation sites within the Living Labs.
• Collaborating entities that present proposals aligned with the objectives of TRAILS4SOIL and offer viable and effective technologies for soil monitoring.
