AREFLH is a partner of the project NOVASOIL project focuses on “Innovative on Innovative business models for soil health”. In the framework of the project, we have the new output of “Innovative Business Models for Soil Health.
The project held its sixth Plenary Meeting on April 7–8, 2025, in Ferrara, Italy. It was hosted by the University of Ferrara and the Delta Institute, a partner of the consortium.
The meeting provided an overview of the project’s progress at the 13-month mark, highlighting key lessons learned from the development of end-user-led soil health business cases, business model analysis, and the design of incentive toolboxes to promote soil health. Additionally, the consortium presented a preliminary analysis of existing soil-related policies and introduced the creation of the Hub platform. Discussions also focused on the final six months of the project, including preparations for the concluding conference, which will take place in Brussels in October 2025.
On the first day of the meeting, discussions focused on the activities planned for the next six months. A key topic was the second round of the Multiplier events, which will be organized by each partner between June and July of this year. Additionally, the effectiveness of the new policies was thoroughly discussed, with an emphasis on how they will influence the project’s outcomes and future developments. The consortium also explored ways to optimize these policies for better impact and alignment with the project’s objectives.
On the second day, the first part of the meeting focused on detailed discussions about the remaining activities of the project, including the Community of Practice (CoP), the upcoming Multiplier events, the final project report, as well as the publication, and congress plans.
The second part of the day was a field trip organized by the Delta Institute. Participants visited the pilot Costal area in the Emilia-Romagna Region, an area known for its strong agricultural vocation and high-quality horticultural production. The theme of the visit was “Agriculture on Sandy Soils.”
The pilot area spans 18 598,70 hectares and falls within six local administrations in the province of Ferrara. It is partly located within the Emilia-Romagna Po Delta Regional Park and has been recognized as a UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve since 2015. The region is renowned for its agricultural and nature tourism focus. Key crops in the area include potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, durum wheat, soft wheat, and fruit nurseries.
The sandy soils in the study area face two main challenges:
- Salinization and ingress of salinity reduce agricultural productivity.
- Low organic matter content, which impacts soil health and fertility.
The Emilia-Romagna case study explores the potential of creating a “Sustainability District” to develop innovative business models based on carbon farming principles. These models aim to promote environmentally friendly soil management while generating added value through the production of healthy, certified food and implementing ecosystem services.
AREFLH will reach out to its members and various stakeholders to invite them to participate in the second Multiplier event, where the importance of soil health and related policies will be discussed collaboratively.
Know more about Novasoil
- www.novasoil-project.eu
- Have a look at a selection of articles written by AREFLH about the project.
This project receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement n°101091268