The project focuses on the engagement of key actors and capacity building. Communities of Practice (CoPs) were established in 15 pilot regions to connect civil society, scientists, practitioners, and policymakers. Their perspectives were gathered through focus groups, interviews, and surveys.
Research activities assessed the current state of soil health education in Europe and of the educational programs across 15 countries, identifying gaps, challenges, and opportunities. Additionally, educators’ knowledge, practices, and needs were studied to improve the integration of soil health topics into curricula. National workshops hosted by the CoPs validated the findings and allowed the incorporation of diverse stakeholder perspectives. These findings are now consolidated in a “Awareness, Needs, and Vision for Soil Education” report. The report provides a foundation for the project’s piloting and campaigning activities. In parallel, national advisory groups specifically focusing on education methodologies are facilitating the sharing of best practices and the alignment with national and international strategic education objectives.
The consolidation and enlargement of CoPs in the pilot regions is ongoing and since the summer of 2024, the project offers helpdesks to answer questions related to the implementation of project activities, e.g. on engagement strategies and methodologies. A Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) and an Augmented Reality (AR) application have been co-created with teachers and students and benefitted from input from the CoPs members.
The project also launched an online database which features more than 60 case studies of soil education resources and practices and a glossary of key soil-related terms to facilitate increased understanding. Different activities and campaigns are planned to promote these resources.
