The Hort2theFuture Project Has Launched: Toward Peat Free Horticulture in Europe Traditionally, peat has been used in gardening for mulching and soil improvement. However, since peat is a carbon sink, once dug up, it releases substantial amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This is why numerous initiatives are looking into ways to break free from peat dependence and opt for more sustainable practices. In our new project, Hort2theFuture we have joined hands with 28 European partners to drive this transformation. The project, which is funded by the European Commission and led by the Copenhagen Business School, launched in June 2024. During the kick-off meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, the project partners put the focus on promising innovations in sustainable growing media, optimised input usage, and enhanced soil health management. In order to support involved actors, including amateur gardeners across Europe, the project will take a behavioural change perspective to introduce and enhance sustainable gardening practices. The CSCP will lead this task by establishing three Living Labs in Germany, the United Kingdom, and North Macedonia. The labs will engage amateur gardeners to test and refine innovative solutions, ensuring practical applicability and fostering sustainable practices at the grassroots level. During the course of the project, from 2024 to 2028, the project partners and involved stakeholders will align the project activities with the EU climate action goals and the objectives of the European Green Deal. In particular, the Hort2theFuture project aims to address critical sustainability challenges in European horticulture, including reducing reliance on peat, optimising input usage (fertilisers, pesticides, water, energy, growing media), and improving soil health through innovative and scalable solutions. For further questions, please contact Pawel Zylka. Image @ Shutterstock / AEIDL *Greifswald Mire Centre 2022