Europeans need multi-functional and healthy soils – safeguarded by effective urban and rural spatial planning and sustainable management. Best available knowledge has to be considered to maintain natural capital while satisfying the needs of a prosperous society. Research and knowledge dissemination are fundamental to securing soils and land for next generations, for competitive economies and healthy landscapes.
The Coordination and Support Action INSPIRATION (INtegrated Spatial PlannIng, land use and soil management Research AcTION) was to establish and promote a Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) for land use, land use changes and soil management in the light of current and future societal challenges. Coordinated by the German Environment Agency (UBA), 22 European partner institutions from 17 countries aimed at formulating, consulting on and revising an end-user oriented SRA, as well as to scope out models for implementing this SRA and prepare a network of funding institutions willing to fund it. The consortium applied a multi-stakeholder, multi-national and interdisciplinary, demand-driven approach engaging with the diversity of stakeholders (public bodies, business, science, citizens and society) and the variety of relevant public and private funders.
The SRA addresses societal challenges related to land and soil. It considers soil and land use management challenges, including the links between the soil-sediment-water (SSW) system and topics, such as health, energy, climate change, resilient water supply. It recognizes the need for new knowledge and new applications of knowledge to plan, manage and use land and the SSW system. The SRA is designed to help public and private research funders identify research they should invest in to innovate and contribute to a greener, more socially cohesive, smarter and more competitive Europe.
Sustainable land management requires the creation of new knowledge and the innovative application of new and existing knowledge in the way we plan, manage and use land and soil. The INSPIRATON SRA identifies what is needed according to over 500 Europeans funders, scientists, policy makers, public administrators, consultants, etc.
Effective funding models, e.g. for transnational co-funding, are key to creating synergies for organisations wishing to invest in research activities. INSPIRATION partners agreed to offer support for interested funders for at least 18 months following the funding phase. National Contacts are available for providing support and for facilitating cross-country contacts regarding specific research demands for co-funding. The complete SRA, background on its development and information about the National Contacts is available at www.inspiration-agenda.eu
