Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NOVASOIL (INNOVATIVE BUSINESS MODELS FOR SOIL HEALTH)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2022-11-01 do 2024-04-30
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.
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.
Framework Development:
The initial project period focused on establishing a framework that defines and exemplifies key concepts. This framework incorporates a comprehensive set of environmental and socio-economic indicators commonly utilized within soil health business models.
Business Model and Practice Analysis:
A comprehensive review and analysis of existing soil health business models and practices has been conducted. This analysis considers diverse agro-ecological environments and climatic contexts, facilitating the identification of regional trends in soil health practices. Furthermore, promising business models with high upscaling potential were identified, including those incorporating novel technological and social innovations.
Digital Knowledge Hub (DKH):
A central repository of knowledge, the DKH (https://novasoilhub.com/(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie)) has been launched. Curated with knowledge generated by the NOVASOIL project and other relevant initiatives, the DKH offers multilingual resources on soil health business models, practices, policies, and related projects. Additionally, the DKH fosters interaction among stakeholders through a dedicated discussion forum.
Incentive Mapping and Analysis:
A comprehensive mapping of incentives associated with the project's case studies has been completed. This analysis aims to identify novel and feasible short-term incentives that can promote soil health practices.
Policy Development Framework:
To facilitate the creation of policy roadmaps, guidelines for analyzing policy conditions and needs have been developed. These guidelines establish a shared conceptual framework and common baselines for policy development.
The initial project period focused on establishing a framework that defines and exemplifies key concepts. This framework incorporates a comprehensive set of environmental and socio-economic indicators commonly utilized within soil health business models.
Business Model and Practice Analysis:
A comprehensive review and analysis of existing soil health business models and practices has been conducted. This analysis considers diverse agro-ecological environments and climatic contexts, facilitating the identification of regional trends in soil health practices. Furthermore, promising business models with high upscaling potential were identified, including those incorporating novel technological and social innovations.
Digital Knowledge Hub (DKH):
A central repository of knowledge, the DKH (https://novasoilhub.com/(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie)) has been launched. Curated with knowledge generated by the NOVASOIL project and other relevant initiatives, the DKH offers multilingual resources on soil health business models, practices, policies, and related projects. Additionally, the DKH fosters interaction among stakeholders through a dedicated discussion forum.
Incentive Mapping and Analysis:
A comprehensive mapping of incentives associated with the project's case studies has been completed. This analysis aims to identify novel and feasible short-term incentives that can promote soil health practices.
Policy Development Framework:
To facilitate the creation of policy roadmaps, guidelines for analyzing policy conditions and needs have been developed. These guidelines establish a shared conceptual framework and common baselines for policy development.
The progress beyond the state of the art achieved so far is largely embedded in the result description illustrated in section 2. In particular these concern: 1) a framework for designing and implementing new soil health business models by the design and implementation of Choice Experiments for consumers and farmers
In this stage, two main results are contributing beyon the state of the art:
Leveraging Existing Incentives:
An initial analysis has been conducted to correlate existing European incentive structures with the identified soil health business models. Utilizing the project's framework, definitions, and best practices, this analysis serves as the foundation for developing a strategy to design novel business models. These new models will prioritize addressing identified needs and demands, while ensuring a positive impact on soil health.
Digital Knowledge Hub: A Collaborative Platform
The DKH functions as a collaborative space for investors and producers. This platform facilitates the implementation of soil health business models by fostering interaction and knowledge exchange. Stakeholders can access information on current policies, emerging trends in soil health, and various business models.
In the next period, the project will focus on the following set of activities:
1) understanding the willingness to participate in soil health business models through a Choice Experiment for farmers
2) understanding the willingness to pay in produces produced under soil health business models by the participation in Choice Experiments for consumers.
3) testing the tool-box for incentives by stakeholders
4) Development of a policy innovation lab based on key actors interaction and current understanding and situation of soil health
5) Development of a final framework which will support and promote the investment in soil health
In this stage, two main results are contributing beyon the state of the art:
Leveraging Existing Incentives:
An initial analysis has been conducted to correlate existing European incentive structures with the identified soil health business models. Utilizing the project's framework, definitions, and best practices, this analysis serves as the foundation for developing a strategy to design novel business models. These new models will prioritize addressing identified needs and demands, while ensuring a positive impact on soil health.
Digital Knowledge Hub: A Collaborative Platform
The DKH functions as a collaborative space for investors and producers. This platform facilitates the implementation of soil health business models by fostering interaction and knowledge exchange. Stakeholders can access information on current policies, emerging trends in soil health, and various business models.
In the next period, the project will focus on the following set of activities:
1) understanding the willingness to participate in soil health business models through a Choice Experiment for farmers
2) understanding the willingness to pay in produces produced under soil health business models by the participation in Choice Experiments for consumers.
3) testing the tool-box for incentives by stakeholders
4) Development of a policy innovation lab based on key actors interaction and current understanding and situation of soil health
5) Development of a final framework which will support and promote the investment in soil health