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CORDIS

Excellence in Mediterranean Soil Regeneration

Objective

Soils are the basis of 95% of our food and underpin vital ecosystem services like clean water, carbon storage, and biodiversity. Yet, over 60% of EU soils are unhealthy, due to land degradation, non-adapted land use practices, and climate change. This threatens food security, ecosystem services, and rural economies particularly in vulnerable Mediterranean regions like southern Portugal, which still lacks an integrated strategy for soil health regeneration and monitoring. MEDSoil+ directly addresses this gap by establishing a Centre of Excellence at the University of Évora’s Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED), building national capacity to support both land managers and the agri-food sector in the transition to soil regenerative practices, and the administration in the implementation of the EU Soil Monitoring Law. The project delivers a robust, policy-aligned infrastructure to produce high-quality data, train experts and end-users, and enable evidence-based decision-making. MEDSoil+ follows a transformative pathway: converging fragmented knowledge into a soil intelligence hub; driving regeneration through nature-based solutions, circular practices, and smart technologies; co-creating solutions in Living Labs; designing new business models to enhance financial robustness; and scaling up from pilots to systemic territorial transitions. It will modernise research infrastructure, strengthen scientific excellence in a Widening Country, and apply precision agriculture, remote sensing, and AI- and IoT-based smart monitoring systems. In partnership with Germany’s ATB and ZALF, MEDSoil+ blends advanced soil science with Mediterranean realities. It will improve soil health indicators, water retention, and equip land managers and communities with the tools and knowledge for long-term sustainability. Aligned with EU soil policies and the SDGs, MEDSoil+ positions Portugal as a key contributor to Europe’s soil and land restoration efforts.

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Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-ACCESS-01

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Coordinator

UNIVERSIDADE DE EVORA
Net EU contribution
€ 6 500 000,00
Address
LARGO DOS COLEGIAIS 2
7000 803 Uniao das Freguesias de Evora
Portugal
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost
€ 6 500 000,00

Participants (2)