Project description
Saving soils in Europe
Up to 70 % of soils in Europe are unhealthy. This is partly due to unsustainable practices, growing population pressure, changes in consumption patterns, poor management practices and climate change. This situation is further aggravated given that 25 % of land is at a high risk of suffering desertification in most parts of Europe. In this context, the EU-funded MarginUp Project will design a strategy to secure use and return profitability on marginal lands. It will introduce climate-resilient and biodiversity-friendly non-food crops. By producing biomass to be used as raw material for the production of bioproducts and biofuels, the project will create a sustainable and circular value chain, increasing the farming system resilience in rural areas.
Objective
At the present, 60-70% of all soils in Europe are in unhealthy conditions, mainly because of poor land management practices, pollution of soils, intensive agriculture, and the constant effects of climate change. This situation is further aggravated given that 25% of land is at a high or very high risk of suffering desertification in most parts of Europe.
MarginUp! proposes a strategy to secure use and return profitability on marginal lands. Its main objective is to introduce climate-resilient and biodiversity-friendly non-food crops for sustainable industrial feedstock in marginalised and low-productivity lands. The project will focus on producing biomass to be used as raw material for the production of bioproducts and biofuels, which in turn, will create a sustainable and circular value chain, increasing the farming system resilience in rural areas. To further enhance the biodiversity beneficial impact, MarginUp! is focusing on understanding which marginal lands are suitable for low ILUC biomass production.
The knowledge gathered in this project will be put into practice in 5 different use cases located in 5 different regions across Europe:
- Mediterranean Lands (Spain)
- Mine Lands (Greece)
- Boreal Lands (Sweden)
- Wetlands (Germany)
- Central Europe (Hungary)
Moreover, international cooperation has been considered and examination and identification of marginal lands will extend to non-European countries such as Argentina and South Africa.
To ensure the success of the project, MarginUp! will have a replication network to address the needs and requirements of relevant stakeholders, including, policymakers, land managers, farmers, the bio-based industry, environmental authorities, the academia and the civil society.
MarginUp! is directly contributing to European policies such as the European Green Deal, the Circular Economy action plan and the Bioeconomy and Biodiversity strategies.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringnatural resources managementland management
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculture
- social sciencespolitical sciencespolitical policiescivil society
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economy
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and management
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation ActionsCoordinator
14469 Potsdam
Germany
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Participants (29)
501 15 Boras
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15374 Muencheberg
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50100 Kozani
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
38221 Volos
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1090 Nicosia
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
10585 Berlin
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2970 Hoersholm
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
1040 Bruxelles / Brussel
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
1040 Bruxelles / Brussel
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06187 Lobon Badajoz
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891 22 Ornskoldsvik
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
6000 Kecskemet
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
7600 Stellenbosch
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1053 Buenos Aires
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1650 San Martin Buenos Aires
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31192 Mutilva Alta Navarra
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10840 Moraleja
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10800 Coria
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10810 Montehermoso
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
06195 Villafranco Del Guadiana (Badajoz)
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
50100 Kozani
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41500 LARISSA
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774 21 Avesta
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972 38 LULEA
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Participation ended
16515 Oranienburg
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
7624 Pecs
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1116 Budapest
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6000 KECSKEMET
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
14641 PAULINENAUE OT SELBELANG
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