While primary agricultural objectives focus on short-term income and food security, increasing soil organic matter through sustainable management practices necessitates a holistic approach. This encompasses not only soil carbon dynamics, but also agronomic and environmental considerations, alongside social, economic, and ethical dimensions. Resource constraints, including financial limitations and workforce availability, can hinder the implementation of existing technical solutions by farmers.
Theoretically, carbon (C) markets offer a win-win scenario for both buyers and sellers of C stocks. By providing financial incentives, buyers (including private entities and governments) stimulate demand for C sequestration. However, the practical implementation of C markets is intricate, requiring the integration of numerous factors across various scales.
The influence of businesses on land management is undeniable, both directly (through owned, leased, or managed land) and indirectly (via value chains, markets, and financing). Investing in soil health presents a multi-dimensional opportunity, yielding co-benefits in crop productivity and quality, water management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity enhancement, and improved livelihoods. While specific return areas may initially motivate investment, the most compelling cases will likely encompass a combination of these benefits.
The NOVASOIL project aims to highlight the societal and environmental benefits of investing in soil health. The project's primary deliverable will be a toolbox for evaluating the suitability of different business models that promote soil health. This toolbox will leverage best practices from Europe and beyond, while considering societal needs and demands. It will categorize business models based on:
- Sustainable soil management across diverse land uses and climatic conditions.
- Products derived from soil health-promoting practices.
- Consumer and certification practices that incentivize soil health.
- Land reuse strategies.
- Alignment with the EU Taxonomy Regulation for sustainable soil management.
Seven specific objectives were identified in the NOVASOIL project:
SO1: Develop a comprehensive portfolio of multi-dimensional business cases and best practices for soil health investment in Europe and globally.
SO2: Analyze existing global models to identify novel incentives and revenue streams for healthy soils, considering the aforementioned categories.
SO3: Implement a co-development approach to design business models that promote soil health.
SO4: Develop a prototype toolbox of incentives and establish a testing network.
SO5: Evaluate current policies and technologies related to soil health, with a focus on generating revenue streams for farmers.
SO6: Foster a Community of Practice (CoP) around soil health investors and key stakeholders.
SO7: Implement a digital marketing strategy to raise awareness about soil health.
