Periodic Reporting for period 1 - InBestSoil (Monetary valuation of soil ecosystem services and creation of initiatives to invest in soil health: setting a framework for the inclusion of soil health in business and in the policy making process)
Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-06-30
The InBestSoil project is dedicated to economically valuing soil ecosystem services and fostering initiatives that encourage investment in soil health. This effort aims to establish a comprehensive framework for integrating soil health considerations into business operations and policymaking processes. The project’s overarching objectives include building strong communities of key stakeholders. Drawing from case studies, particularly in Lighthouses (LHs) and Living Labs (LLs), InBestSoil promotes co-creation, co-design, and co-innovation to form partnerships that prioritize investment in soil health. Another key objective is to define and evaluate soil health indicators: the project team is working to develop a comprehensive list of these indicators and assess the economic value of the ecosystem services they support, establishing the basis for sustainable investment strategies. In addition, InBestSoil is conducting an economic analysis of existing business models that relate to soil health improvement, exploring their potential scalability across Europe. In collaboration with relevant actors, the project is co-designing innovative business models that incorporate the value of soil health and the benefits provided by associated ecosystem services. Moreover, InBestSoil is evaluating current policies, developing tools that enable the incorporation of economic aspects related to soil health in public policies. Finally, the project is committed to disseminating knowledge about the economic valuation of soil ecosystem services.
InBestSoil is designed to have a lasting impact on the valuation and management of soil in Europe and beyond. By embedding the economic value of soil ecosystem services into both business and policy frameworks, the project is expected to enhance soil management practices through sustainable business models that incorporate soil health indicators, supporting the conservation and restoration of this essential resource. It also seeks to foster cooperation among diverse actors, including farmers, businesses, policymakers, scientists, and civil society, to collectively address soil degradation and promote inclusive, effective governance. Furthermore, the project aims to influence policy formulation by providing evidence of the economic importance of soil ecosystem services and offering actionable recommendations for establishing incentives and regulatory frameworks that promote soil health investment. Finally, InBestSoil aspires to drive social and technological innovation by involving local communities in creating solutions tailored to their needs and contexts, thus making a meaningful difference in how soil resources are managed and valued.
InBestSoil is designed to have a lasting impact on the valuation and management of soil in Europe and beyond. By embedding the economic value of soil ecosystem services into both business and policy frameworks, the project is expected to enhance soil management practices through sustainable business models that incorporate soil health indicators, supporting the conservation and restoration of this essential resource. It also seeks to foster cooperation among diverse actors, including farmers, businesses, policymakers, scientists, and civil society, to collectively address soil degradation and promote inclusive, effective governance. Furthermore, the project aims to influence policy formulation by providing evidence of the economic importance of soil ecosystem services and offering actionable recommendations for establishing incentives and regulatory frameworks that promote soil health investment. Finally, InBestSoil aspires to drive social and technological innovation by involving local communities in creating solutions tailored to their needs and contexts, thus making a meaningful difference in how soil resources are managed and valued.
In the first months, in InBestSoil project we made substantial progress. In the context of our case studies, a comprehensive mapping of more than 200 relevant stakeholders (involved or related with the activities of the case studies) was completed, ensuring broad representation across the soil health value chain. This initial mapping has enabled effective engagement with diverse groups and supported the development of a collaborative digital platform. The platform, now fully operational, facilitates interaction among project partners, other European projects, and external stakeholders, fostering the co-development of business cases related to soil health. Using this stakeholder database, the project has made advances in identifying critical indicators of soil health. Drawing from extensive reviews of H2020 and Horizon Europe projects, a set of key soil health indicators was selected, also with the help oh stakeholders, and implemented across all InBestSoil case studies. These indicators are also fundamental for Life Cycle Assessment process, which assesses the environmental impact of soil health improvement activities, allowing for a more structured and insightful evaluation.
Further advancing our objectives, a systematic literature review was conducted to identify and classify nine archetypes of sustainable business models relevant to soil health. These models, categorized into “Environmental-Technological,” “Social-Organizational,” and “Economic” dimensions, offer a framework for scaling soil health interventions across different sectors. In one of our Living Labs in Switzerland, data collection and cleaning were completed through a large-scale survey encompassing over 2700 farms (from their existing database), yielding a robust dataset on soil health practices and providing valuable insights for project analysis. Moreover, project partners have developed a comprehensive protocol for designing sustainable business models. This protocol, grounded in an extensive literature review and enriched by insights from case studies and expert feedback, will guide future co-design workshops. These workshops scheduled for the upcoming reporting period, will engage participants in developing initial portfolios of sustainable business models. Finally, an exhaustive mapping of policies and economic incentives at European, national, and regional levels was conducted, highlighting the enabling conditions for sustainable soil management. Additionally, the project has identified and validated several financial case studies focused on economic innovation, including prioritized carbon farming practices and detailed SWOT analyses to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of proposed practices.
Further advancing our objectives, a systematic literature review was conducted to identify and classify nine archetypes of sustainable business models relevant to soil health. These models, categorized into “Environmental-Technological,” “Social-Organizational,” and “Economic” dimensions, offer a framework for scaling soil health interventions across different sectors. In one of our Living Labs in Switzerland, data collection and cleaning were completed through a large-scale survey encompassing over 2700 farms (from their existing database), yielding a robust dataset on soil health practices and providing valuable insights for project analysis. Moreover, project partners have developed a comprehensive protocol for designing sustainable business models. This protocol, grounded in an extensive literature review and enriched by insights from case studies and expert feedback, will guide future co-design workshops. These workshops scheduled for the upcoming reporting period, will engage participants in developing initial portfolios of sustainable business models. Finally, an exhaustive mapping of policies and economic incentives at European, national, and regional levels was conducted, highlighting the enabling conditions for sustainable soil management. Additionally, the project has identified and validated several financial case studies focused on economic innovation, including prioritized carbon farming practices and detailed SWOT analyses to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of proposed practices.
The InBestSoil project has developed a comprehensive toolkit of soil health indicators that provides a more holistic and precise evaluation by integrating ecological, agronomic, and economic dimensions. This approach surpasses traditional methods that often focused on isolated indicators, enabling tailored and efficient soil management practices suited to the specific needs of each context. Additionally, the identification and classification of nine archetypes of sustainable business models related to soil health marks a significant advancement. By organizing these models into "Environmental-Technological," "Social-Organizational," and "Economic" dimensions, the project offers a structured framework that facilitates the scaling of soil health interventions across various sectors, including both agricultural and forestry domains. Alongside this, a structured protocol for designing sustainable business models now guides the integration of soil health as a core component, addressing a previous gap in practical, coordinated approaches. A centralized digital platform, developed through InBestSoil, breaks new ground by fostering collaboration among farmers, policymakers, and researchers. Previously fragmented, this area now benefits from a unified platform that not only enhances communication but also supports co-creation and innovation in soil health practices.