Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SIEUSOIL (Sino-EU Soil Observatory for intelligent Land Use Management)
Période du rapport: 2020-12-01 au 2022-11-30
The SIEUSOIL H2020 project embarked on a transformative mission to redefine soil and land resource monitoring through its groundbreaking China-EU Web Observatory platform. This visionary platform harnessed the power of Linked (Open) Data to furnish a wealth of information on soil and land resource status and threats. The platform fostered sustainable and climate-resilient agroecosystems and land management by providing decision-makers with comprehensive insights.
One notable highlight of the SIEUSOIL project lies in its remarkable contribution to the scientific community. The project yielded an extensive array of scientific publications, serving as a testament to its pioneering research efforts and dedication to advancing knowledge in the field. These publications encompassed various topics, covering soil management practices, carbon sequestration techniques, soil fertility enhancement strategies, and sustainable land productivity methodologies.
The Observatory platform, a key product of the project, played an instrumental role in facilitating and validating these scientific findings. By providing a robust foundation for data-driven research and analysis, the platform empowered scientists and researchers from the EU and China to delve into the intricacies of soil and land management. It served as a catalyst for knowledge exchange, enabling the dissemination of best practices and innovative approaches to sustainable soil management.
Furthermore, the SIEUSOIL project's impact extended far beyond its scientific publications. Through meticulous testing and rigorous assessment, the project showcased the practical implications of its innovative practices and tools. These real-world demonstrations not only validated scientific research but also paved the way for their effective implementation and adoption in diverse agricultural landscapes in Europe and China.
In essence, the SIEUSOIL project's commitment to scientific excellence and knowledge dissemination propelled it to the forefront of soil and land resource research. By generating a wealth of scientific publications and leveraging its Observatory platform, the project not only revolutionized soil management practices but also fostered a collaborative environment for global advancements in sustainable agriculture and land management.
One notable highlight of the SIEUSOIL project lies in its remarkable contribution to the scientific community. The project yielded an extensive array of scientific publications, serving as a testament to its pioneering research efforts and dedication to advancing knowledge in the field. These publications encompassed various topics, covering soil management practices, carbon sequestration techniques, soil fertility enhancement strategies, and sustainable land productivity methodologies.
The Observatory platform, a key product of the project, played an instrumental role in facilitating and validating these scientific findings. By providing a robust foundation for data-driven research and analysis, the platform empowered scientists and researchers from the EU and China to delve into the intricacies of soil and land management. It served as a catalyst for knowledge exchange, enabling the dissemination of best practices and innovative approaches to sustainable soil management.
Furthermore, the SIEUSOIL project's impact extended far beyond its scientific publications. Through meticulous testing and rigorous assessment, the project showcased the practical implications of its innovative practices and tools. These real-world demonstrations not only validated scientific research but also paved the way for their effective implementation and adoption in diverse agricultural landscapes in Europe and China.
In essence, the SIEUSOIL project's commitment to scientific excellence and knowledge dissemination propelled it to the forefront of soil and land resource research. By generating a wealth of scientific publications and leveraging its Observatory platform, the project not only revolutionized soil management practices but also fostered a collaborative environment for global advancements in sustainable agriculture and land management.
During the 2nd reporting period, the SIEUSOIL project continued to make significant progress, building upon the achievements of the 1st reporting period. The work carried out and results achieved during this period include:
1) Further Development of the Geo-database: The harmonized Eurasian soil and land geo-database, established in the 1st reporting period, continued to be enhanced. The data model developed in SIEUSOIL served as the basis for the Global Soil Information System (GloSIS), a significant milestone. Pilot data from SIEUSOIL was utilized to evaluate and refine the data model for future applications.
2) Definition of Biophysical Quality Indicators: The project successfully defined a set of biophysical quality indicators for soils and crops, along with their methodologies. Additionally, a common definition of soil quality was elaborated for use in the project's pilots. Notably, a scientific paper based on an assessment of socioeconomic and management factors and soil properties in the dynamics of Phosphorus in agricultural soils of Hungary was published in a peer-reviewed journal.
3) Implementation of Mapping and Management Techniques: SIEUSOIL made progress in implementing mapping and management techniques in different pilot areas. For example, in Belgium and Spain, maps for MZ (management zone) and variable rate fertilization were successfully implemented in four fields. In the Czech pilot farm, maps were developed for bulk density, packing density, moisture content, subsoiler draft, and yield productivity zones, demonstrating within-field variability.
4) Development of Land Suitability Methodology: A land suitability methodology was developed to evaluate factors influencing effective land management, considering aspects such as crop growth, meteorology, landscape, soil, and water. The methodology aimed to assess current conditions and future climate change scenarios.
5) Advancements in the Decision Support System (DSS): Connections among different components of the SIEUSOIL project were identified, as well as dependencies on external data sources. Methods for integrating data into the DSS, especially regarding precision farming services and the land suitability tool, were defined. The development of the Prototype DSS test version commenced, ensuring its timely delivery for testing and validation by project partners.
6) Establishment of Multi-Actor Process and Pilots: The framework for the multi-actor process and validation was further developed, and a detailed baseline description of all pilots was compiled. The co-creation process in all pilots was initiated, engaging stakeholders and incorporating their inputs and perspectives.
7) Impact Analysis and Environmental Assessment: Impact analysis of proposed scenarios for managing soils towards sustainable intensification was performed, considering agro-ecosystem services delivery, socio-economic benefits, and adoption by policymakers. The environmental assessment included aspects of land-use change analyzed through life cycle analysis (LCA). Notably, promising results were obtained with the framework for LCA and its initial tests using pilot data.
8) Emphasis on Communication and Stakeholder Engagement: The project placed significant effort into implementing the communication plan and preparing various communication tools. A strong and results-oriented communication approach was considered crucial for achieving visibility, raising awareness, engaging stakeholders, and meeting key performance indicators (KPIs). The project aimed to establish a recognizable "footprint" for SIEUSOIL as an active and impactful Horizon 2020 project.
9) Finally, the project invested efforts into developing and deploying an optimized management and coordination framework, aligning resources and maximizing the impact of SIEUSOIL in both the European Union and China. The framework aimed to ensure efficient coordination and synergy among project resources, ultimately working towards the achievement of project goals.
1) Further Development of the Geo-database: The harmonized Eurasian soil and land geo-database, established in the 1st reporting period, continued to be enhanced. The data model developed in SIEUSOIL served as the basis for the Global Soil Information System (GloSIS), a significant milestone. Pilot data from SIEUSOIL was utilized to evaluate and refine the data model for future applications.
2) Definition of Biophysical Quality Indicators: The project successfully defined a set of biophysical quality indicators for soils and crops, along with their methodologies. Additionally, a common definition of soil quality was elaborated for use in the project's pilots. Notably, a scientific paper based on an assessment of socioeconomic and management factors and soil properties in the dynamics of Phosphorus in agricultural soils of Hungary was published in a peer-reviewed journal.
3) Implementation of Mapping and Management Techniques: SIEUSOIL made progress in implementing mapping and management techniques in different pilot areas. For example, in Belgium and Spain, maps for MZ (management zone) and variable rate fertilization were successfully implemented in four fields. In the Czech pilot farm, maps were developed for bulk density, packing density, moisture content, subsoiler draft, and yield productivity zones, demonstrating within-field variability.
4) Development of Land Suitability Methodology: A land suitability methodology was developed to evaluate factors influencing effective land management, considering aspects such as crop growth, meteorology, landscape, soil, and water. The methodology aimed to assess current conditions and future climate change scenarios.
5) Advancements in the Decision Support System (DSS): Connections among different components of the SIEUSOIL project were identified, as well as dependencies on external data sources. Methods for integrating data into the DSS, especially regarding precision farming services and the land suitability tool, were defined. The development of the Prototype DSS test version commenced, ensuring its timely delivery for testing and validation by project partners.
6) Establishment of Multi-Actor Process and Pilots: The framework for the multi-actor process and validation was further developed, and a detailed baseline description of all pilots was compiled. The co-creation process in all pilots was initiated, engaging stakeholders and incorporating their inputs and perspectives.
7) Impact Analysis and Environmental Assessment: Impact analysis of proposed scenarios for managing soils towards sustainable intensification was performed, considering agro-ecosystem services delivery, socio-economic benefits, and adoption by policymakers. The environmental assessment included aspects of land-use change analyzed through life cycle analysis (LCA). Notably, promising results were obtained with the framework for LCA and its initial tests using pilot data.
8) Emphasis on Communication and Stakeholder Engagement: The project placed significant effort into implementing the communication plan and preparing various communication tools. A strong and results-oriented communication approach was considered crucial for achieving visibility, raising awareness, engaging stakeholders, and meeting key performance indicators (KPIs). The project aimed to establish a recognizable "footprint" for SIEUSOIL as an active and impactful Horizon 2020 project.
9) Finally, the project invested efforts into developing and deploying an optimized management and coordination framework, aligning resources and maximizing the impact of SIEUSOIL in both the European Union and China. The framework aimed to ensure efficient coordination and synergy among project resources, ultimately working towards the achievement of project goals.
During the 2nd reporting period of the SIEUSOIL project, significant progress and achievements were made, building upon the accomplishments of the 1st reporting period. The main highlights include: 1) Advancements in the Harmonized Geo-database, 2) Refinement and Expansion of DSS Tools, 3) Improved Soil Management and Climate Adaptation, 4) Strengthened Knowledge Exchange and Collaboration. The achievements of the 2nd reporting period demonstrate the project's commitment to advancing precision agriculture, sustainable soil management, and climate adaptation. The harmonized geo-database and the refined DSS tools have empowered stakeholders with valuable insights, enabling them to make informed decisions for optimizing soil management practices and developing effective climate adaptation strategies. The project's efforts in knowledge exchange and collaboration have further enhanced the collective expertise and capacity of the stakeholders involved, fostering a lasting impact on the EU and China agricultural sectors.