Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EDAPHOS (Advanced mapping, risk assessment and nature-based depollution methods are combined to accelerate the recovery of contaminated soils and ensure that ecological restoration enters mainstream business)
Berichtszeitraum: 2023-09-01 bis 2025-08-31
The project aims to advance scientific understanding, technological innovation, and socio-economic practices in order to accelerate soil recovery and embed ecological restoration within mainstream business and investment frameworks. Its overarching goal is to design and demonstrate scalable, economically viable, and environmentally sound solutions for contaminated land management. Specifically, EDAPHOS focuses on improving monitoring systems for contaminated soils through multi-scale remote sensing and WebGIS integration; advancing ecological risk assessment and ecosystem service evaluation through the TRIAD approach and lab-on-chip technologies; demonstrating NBS performance across seven European case studies under varying pedoclimatic conditions; promoting phytoremediation as a sustainable economic opportunity through robust environmental, social, and financial metrics; and incorporating artificial intelligence into mapping, monitoring, and decision-support systems for risk analysis and investment modelling. By integrating environmental science, socio-economic modelling, and digital innovation, EDAPHOS seeks to create operational and investment-ready frameworks that enhance the resilience and value of Europe’s soil resources.
During the first two project years, the consortium achieved significant progress. In the field of land mapping, the project established and partially completed an in situ spectral signature database for soils and vegetation across the case studies. Drone, airborne, and satellite hyperspectral data were acquired and processed, including imagery from Sentinel-2, PRISMA, and EnMap. These efforts enabled the production of the first vegetation and contamination maps and the delivery of the beta version of the WebGIS platform.
Concerning ecological risk and ecosystem services, the consortium harmonised data collection protocols, produced the “Report of Available Methods and Data”, and conducted five major sampling campaigns. Ecotoxicological and ecological datasets were generated for five case studies, while a comprehensive framework for ecosystem service valuation was established based on the CICES v5.2 classification. A prototype microfluidic platform, or lab-on-chip, for nematode ecotoxicity assays was successfully developed and tested, representing a major technological step towards accessible, real-time soil toxicity assessment.
In the demonstration of Nature-Based Solutions, greenhouse trials were conducted to identify optimal plant and microbial assemblages, particularly focusing on poplar and companion species. Field-scale trials were launched in all seven European case studies, initiating long-term monitoring of soil, plant, and microbial indicators. These activities culminated in the delivery of the report on optimised plant–microbe systems for phytoremediation.
Progress was also made in defining the performance metrics and key performance indicators required to evaluate NBS effectiveness. Enviro-econometric models were developed to link biomass growth and decontamination rates with Soil Degradation Indicators, while a methodological framework for ecosystem service valuation and product environmental footprinting was finalised in alignment with EU SEEA and PEF standards.
On the business and financial side, the project designed a three-tier Decision Support System for NBS investment and risk management, drafted the structure of the EDAPHOS Green Bonds in compliance with the EU Green Bond Standards, and conceptualised the EDAPHOS Treasuries as a mechanism for monetising ecosystem services and incentivising sustainable land restoration.
Concerning ecological risk and ecosystem services, the consortium harmonised data collection protocols, produced the “Report of Available Methods and Data”, and conducted five major sampling campaigns. Ecotoxicological and ecological datasets were generated for five case studies, while a comprehensive framework for ecosystem service valuation was established based on the CICES v5.2 classification. A prototype microfluidic platform, or lab-on-chip, for nematode ecotoxicity assays was successfully developed and tested, representing a major technological step towards accessible, real-time soil toxicity assessment.
In the demonstration of Nature-Based Solutions, greenhouse trials were conducted to identify optimal plant and microbial assemblages, particularly focusing on poplar and companion species. Field-scale trials were launched in all seven European case studies, initiating long-term monitoring of soil, plant, and microbial indicators. These activities culminated in the delivery of the report on optimised plant–microbe systems for phytoremediation.
Progress was also made in defining the performance metrics and key performance indicators required to evaluate NBS effectiveness. Enviro-econometric models were developed to link biomass growth and decontamination rates with Soil Degradation Indicators, while a methodological framework for ecosystem service valuation and product environmental footprinting was finalised in alignment with EU SEEA and PEF standards.
On the business and financial side, the project designed a three-tier Decision Support System for NBS investment and risk management, drafted the structure of the EDAPHOS Green Bonds in compliance with the EU Green Bond Standards, and conceptualised the EDAPHOS Treasuries as a mechanism for monetising ecosystem services and incentivising sustainable land restoration.
EDAPHOS is generating innovative scientific and technological outcomes that extend well beyond the current state of the art. The integration of multi-scale soil mapping, combining UAV, airborne, and satellite hyperspectral data with artificial intelligence, represents a novel approach to high-resolution soil contamination and vegetation monitoring. The development of the portable microfluidic lab-on-chip platform for real-time ecotoxicity testing constitutes a significant advancement in the speed, affordability, and accessibility of environmental risk assessment.
The project’s AI-enabled WebGIS and Decision Support System form a unique digital ecosystem that connects soil health data, NBS performance indicators, and investment analytics in a unified framework. Furthermore, the creation of enviro-econometric models and the introduction of innovative financial instruments—such as Green Bonds and Treasuries based on ecosystem service valuation—pave the way for new investment pathways in soil restoration aligned with EU Green Deal objectives.
By combining expertise in environmental monitoring, biotechnology, socioeconomics, and artificial intelligence, EDAPHOS is establishing an unprecedented interdisciplinary foundation for large-scale soil remediation and sustainable land management.
The project’s AI-enabled WebGIS and Decision Support System form a unique digital ecosystem that connects soil health data, NBS performance indicators, and investment analytics in a unified framework. Furthermore, the creation of enviro-econometric models and the introduction of innovative financial instruments—such as Green Bonds and Treasuries based on ecosystem service valuation—pave the way for new investment pathways in soil restoration aligned with EU Green Deal objectives.
By combining expertise in environmental monitoring, biotechnology, socioeconomics, and artificial intelligence, EDAPHOS is establishing an unprecedented interdisciplinary foundation for large-scale soil remediation and sustainable land management.