ECHO Horizon Europe Project

"ECHO - Engaging Citizens in soil science: the road to Healthier Soils" is a Research and Innovation Action co-funded by the European Union, under the Program Horizon Europe, topic HORIZON-MISS-2022-SOIL-01-09. The project started on June, 1st 2023 and will last 4 years. The project is based on three main principles: engaging citizens, empowering them with knowledge and an active role in data collection, and enabling them to participate in decision-making on soil issues. The ECHO consortium consists of 16 participants: 10 leading universities and research centres (Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, University of Hohenheim FCIENCIAS.ID and University of Lisboa, University of Bologna, The James Hutton Institute, University of Eastern Finland American Farm School, University Stefan Cel Mare Suceava, University of Extremadura), 4 SMEs (Solutopus, Plantpress, Quanta Labs, Ambienta), and 2 Foundations (Ibercivis, Resoil). The participants from small companies and foundations, as business and civil society representatives, are complementary to the soil and social sciences experts of academic partners and crucial for achieving the ambitious goals of ECHO. ECHO will generate new data on the health status of EU soils, complementing existing soil mapping and monitoring in EU Member States, including the EU Soil Observatory (EUSO). The project will develop and deploy 28 tailor-made citizen science initiatives across EU Member States, taking into account different land-uses, soil types, and biogeographical regions, as well as stakeholder needs. We believe that the ECHO project will have a significant impact on soil health and citizen engagement across the EU and become an important step towards protecting and preserving our soil for future generations. By working together, we can ensure that our soil remains healthy and productive, and that we continue to enjoy the many benefits it provides.