The iCOSHELLs Project Has Kicked-Off: Restoring Soil Health in Europe Healthy soil is the foundation of our food system, economy, and the environment. With about 70% of Europe’s soils currently degraded according to the EU*, groundbreaking initiatives are needed to tackle this pressing issue. Our new EU Horizon project, iCOSHELLs aims to identify and engage key stakeholders from across Europe toward improving and restoring soil health. The project, which officially kicked-off in September 2024 in Göteborg, Sweden, brings together 39 partners to develop, implement, and evaluate innovative soil health solutions. As part of iCOSHELLs, six soil health living labs will be established across Europe, namely in Sweden, Spain, Basque region, Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria. Each lab will focus on developing and testing new solutions for soil restoration tailored to local conditions. For example, the Basque living lab, spanning Spain and France, will work to combat the effects of rising sea levels by creating new sites that enhance soil biodiversity and support community well-being through cultural and creative initiatives. In the Swedish living lab, conventional and organic farmers will jointly develop and test solutions to improve soil health and sustainable agriculture. The CSCP will play a key role in the project by driving stakeholder engagement and co-creation in the living labs. The soil health living labs enable collaboration among landowners, businesses, researchers, policymakers, and citizens. Given that soil recovery can span centuries, maintaining commitment from all stakeholders is vital. To foster collaboration and enable knowledge sharing within and between involved regions, a European Regional Group will be established as part of the project. The iCOSHELLs project is set to make a significant impact across multiple dimensions, including: Restoring 5,000 hectares of soil, enhancing biodiversity, and improving soil health throughout Europe. Stimulating new business opportunities on reclaimed lands, increasing investment, and boosting agricultural productivity. Engaging over 30,000 citizens, enhancing soil literacy, and promoting sustainable practices within communities. Contributing valuable new knowledge and data sets related to soil health indicators The iCOSHELLs project is funded under the HORIZON Europe Research and Innovation Actions grant and runs from 2024 to 2028. The project is implemented by a consortium of 39 European partners coordinated by RISE – Researches Institutes of Sweden. For updates on the iCOSHELLs project, please follow the project LinkedIn page. For further questions, please contact Britta Holzberg. *European Commission Report of the Soil Health and Food Mission Board: “Caring for soil is caring for life”.