Building a European Network for the Characterisation and Harmonisation of Monitoring Approaches for Research and Knowledge on Soils

Projektinformationen

BENCHMARKS

ID Finanzhilfevereinbarung: 101091010

DOI

10.3030/101091010

EK-Unterschriftsdatum 24 November 2022

Startdatum 1 Januar 2023

Enddatum 31 Dezember 2027

Finanziert unter

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Gesamtkosten

€ 11 610 406,26

EU-Beitrag

€ 11 502 963,25

Koordiniert durch

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - BENCHMARKS (Building a European Network for the Characterisation and Harmonisation of Monitoring Approaches for Research and Knowledge on Soils)

Berichtszeitraum: 2024-07-01 bis 2025-12-31

Zusammenfassung vom Kontext und den Gesamtzielen des Projekts

BENCHMARKS, a Horizon Europe funded project, aims to develop a transparent, harmonised and cost-effective Integrated Soil Health Monitoring Framework (ISHMF) for assessing soil health across Europe. The project is grounded in six specific objectives: (1) co-developing the ISHMF with stakeholders across 24 European case studies; (2) testing and validating Soil Health & Food (SH&F) Mission indicators alongside additional indicators proposed by the project; (3) developing a harmonised European sampling framework aligned with EU monitoring and policy needs; (4) supporting the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and EU Soil Observatory (EUSO) in the development of a Soil Health Dashboard; (5) implementing FAIR and open science principles; and (6) ensuring co-development, dissemination and long-term exploitation of results.

Following the conceptual development phase in RP1, Reporting Period 2 (RP2) marked a transition toward operational consolidation, scientific validation and alignment with EU policy frameworks, including the Soil Health Law and integration with LUCAS monitoring. The project continues to work closely with stakeholders such as land managers, policymakers, value-chain actors and NGOs to ensure that the monitoring framework is context-relevant, scientifically robust and practically feasible.

Arbeit, die ab Beginn des Projekts bis zum Ende des durch den Bericht erfassten Berichtszeitraums geleistet wurde, und die wichtigsten bis dahin erzielten Ergebnisse

During RP2, BENCHMARKS significantly advanced the technical and scientific development of the ISHMF.

The co-development process initiated in RP1 was consolidated through the analysis and harmonisation of 21 multi-actor workshops involving over 500 stakeholders across Europe. These activities resulted in structured datasets, stakeholder reports and comparative analytical tools, strengthening the stakeholder-driven foundation of the framework. In parallel, cognitive soil function models were further developed and refined, linking soil properties, processes, functions and ecosystem services across agricultural, forestry and urban contexts. An expert consultation involving 88 specialists confirmed the importance of context-specific indicator selection.

Substantial progress was achieved in indicator testing and validation. A comprehensive assessment of existing monitoring programmes at Member State and pan-European level informed indicator selection and methodological alignment. More than 1,200 indicator–method combinations were compiled and evaluated using a transparent “Logical Sieve Framework”, supported by systematic reviews and meta-analyses covering biological, chemical and physical indicators. Threshold development is ongoing, based on contextual modelling approaches.

The project also advanced the development of a harmonised European sampling framework. Soil sampling protocols were finalised and implemented across an expanded network of 29 case studies. Testing activities included Long-Term Experimental Sites, spatial variance sites and urban fragmentation assessments. In total, over 100,000 harmonised soil measurements were integrated into the central database, supported by a robust data infrastructure aligned with FAIR principles.

Close collaboration with the JRC ensured alignment with EU-level monitoring initiatives. BENCHMARKS contributed to discussions on the development of the Soil Health Dashboard and compatibility with future LUCAS campaigns.

Fortschritte, die über den aktuellen Stand der Technik hinausgehen und voraussichtliche potenzielle Auswirkungen (einschließlich der bis dato erzielten sozioökonomischen Auswirkungen und weiter gefassten gesellschaftlichen Auswirkungen des Projekts)

BENCHMARKS goes beyond the current state of the art in several key aspects. The project adopts a fully integrated, multi-scale and context-sensitive approach to soil health monitoring, explicitly linking indicators to soil functions and ecosystem services through cognitive models. This represents a significant advancement compared to conventional indicator-based approaches.

Methodologically, the project expands standard soil sampling practices by including deeper soil layers (down to 50 cm), capturing the contribution of subsoil to key soil functions. This approach is applied across different experimental settings, including long-term trials and spatial variance assessments, improving the robustness and sensitivity of soil health evaluation.

In addition, the development of a transparent, evidence-based indicator selection process—supported by meta-analysis, stakeholder input and AI-assisted literature review—ensures scientific credibility while maintaining practical feasibility. The integration of large-scale harmonised datasets and the development of interoperable data infrastructures further position BENCHMARKS as a key contributor to future European soil monitoring systems.

In the agricultural domain, the project has generated new insights through meta-analyses of management practices and their effects on soil biological indicators, complemented by scientific publications on the impact of agronomic practices on soil health.