Our Community
The SOB4ES project is on a mission to advance knowledge of soil biodiversity's role in ecosystems, integrating it into land management, translate soil biodiversity into EU policies, and make its value visible to society. Currently, soil biodiversity (SOB) gets less attention in large monitoring efforts than higher plants and vertebrates. As a result, the contribution of soil biodiversity to ecosystem services (ES) is undervalued, not quantified, and lacks incorporation into EU policies.
The SOB4ES project wants to change that. And we are not alone. Our community is as diverse as our soil. We are here to communicate and engage with everyone who believes in a future of soil health and wants to shape the future of land management, advocate for our mission, collaborate with us and get involved in our activities.
Land Managers
Advanced knowledge of SOB will lead to the assessment of cost-effective indicators for EU soils to capture sensitivity, resilience, and adaptation to land use changes in different regions.
NGOs and International Organisations
SOB4ES will develop an integrated framework with harmonised protocols for assessing key cost-effective SOB characteristics, encompassing both structural and functional indicators. This system will estimate the direct and indirect Total Economic Values (TEVs) of SOB within different ecosystems, considering various land use types and intensities.
Scientific Community
To ultimately incorporate soil biodiversity into EU policies, SOB4ES will establish a cohesive evaluation framework that will effectively determine the cost-effectiveness of soil biodiversity indicators in various ecosystems, considering different land use categories and intensity, which will be instrumental in pinpointing key regions that require ecological restoration and conservation efforts.
Industry
SOB4ES collaborates with industry to co-develop practical, cost-effective solutions for soil health, from indicators to digital tools. By engaging early, companies gain access to cutting-edge research, shape future standards, and align with evolving EU policies—turning sustainability into competitive advantage.
Policymakers
SOB4ES will employ the knowledge acquired through the mapping and evaluation of ecosystem status and ES in various pedoclimatic regions, to propose legally binding safeguards that explicitly address SOB and assist in the development of EU policy incentives linked to the sustainable funding of SOB-based ES.
Educators and Students
By supporting the transition from unsustainable approaches to SOB-friendly land management practices, SOB4ES will ensure that more carbon is stored in soils, thereby making a significant contribution to mitigating climate change.
General Public
By actively promoting the improvement of European soil health, SOB4ES will have a positive influence on food quality, food security, access to clean water, and, ultimately, human well-being. Through deliberative citizen’s engagement events, so called mini-publics, citizens can share their views and influence policies.
Other EU-Funded Projects
SOB4ES is part of a wider ecosystem of EU Mission Soil projects working together to improve soil health across Europe. We collaborate and exchange knowledge with complementary initiatives to maximise impact, align methodologies, and accelerate the uptake of soil biodiversity solutions.