Special Programme Group Session led by Panos Panagos, Calogero Schillaci, Arwyn Jones, Nils Broothaerts, Diana Vieira, Carmen Sanchez Garcia

Soil System Sciences face urgent challenges: accelerated depletion of soil resources, land degradation, climate extremes, and rising food security demands requiring coordinated scientific and policy responses.

The European Soil Observatory (EUSO) was established to provide a robust evidence base for soil policy and management at European scale. Its Stakeholder Forum fosters partnerships with academia, research communities, and organisations such as the Soil System Sciences (SSS) Division. This Special Session will examine scientific priorities in the SSS community and explore how collaboration with the EUSO can address research gaps and inform policy.

Key policy initiatives include:
• The proposed Soil Monitoring and Resilience Law (European Commission, July 2023) for monitoring soil health, sustainable management, and restoration of contaminated sites.
• Mission Soil, which will create 100 Living Labs to achieve healthy soils by 2050.
• The Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation, a voluntary EU framework for certifying carbon removals, soil emission reduction, and biodiversity co-benefits.

The session will feature a panel discussion with experts from the Joint Research Centre, relevant Directorate-Generals, EU agencies (EEA, EFSA), FAO, ESA, and COPERNICUS. Panelists will address challenges in soil monitoring, data harmonisation, and technology development, and showcase how EUSO’s centralised platform supports soil data flows, policy development, and restoration efforts.

Emphasis will be placed on transdisciplinary research, collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders, and adoption of emerging tools such as digital soil mapping, soil sensing, and precision agriculture to enhance soil conservation and climate resilience.

Expected outcomes include a stronger EUSO–SSS partnership, improved cross-institutional collaboration, and broader awareness of EUSO’s role in supporting soil policy and management. Structured discussion will encourage knowledge exchange and highlight strategies for effective soil data integration and conservation initiatives across Europe and the Mediterranean.

This session welcomes all stakeholders engaged in soil monitoring and policy and aims to advance cooperation between the research and policy communities to safeguard soils for future generations.