Comprehensive Guidelines for Soil Health Policy: A Roadmap to Sustainable Management

NOVASOIL Project, funded by the European Union’s HORIZON-AG research and innovation programme under the GA grant agreement 101091268, is focused on developing innovative business models to improve soil health. Innovative business models require an enabling institutional and policy conditions for their adoption.

Today we present you the report (deliverable 4.1.), mainly created by Fabio Bartolini and Greta Winkler (University of Ferrara), part of the WP4 work package that aims to envision incentives and policy solutions for sustainable soil management.

Basis and Objectives of the Deliverable

The deliverable “Guidelines for Policy” provides guidelines for analyzing policy conditions and needs, as well as private and public-private solutions affecting soil health. This document combines an initial review of the policy literature with a first mapping exercise of relevant actors and policy needs assessment in each case study related to soil health.

The key objectives of this deliverable were:

1. Assess the Existing Policy Framework: Analyse current policies that influence soil health and their effectiveness.
2. Identify Needs and Barriers: Map the policy needs and barriers faced by stakeholders involved in land management.
3. Provide Guidelines for Policy Innovation Labs (PILs): Establish a template for individual PIL reports, standardising case study activities.

Structure of the Deliverable

The authors have developed a user-friendly structure of the deliverable to make it easy for readers to read and understand; it is divided into several chapters and detailed sections covering the following aspects:

1. Objective: Describe the specific objectives of the deliverable and how they relate to the description of the action (D.o.A.).
2. Policy Inventory: A review of current policies relevant to soil health at EU level, identifying the main instruments in use.
3. PIL preparation: Explains the objectives and methods of the policy innovation labs, including the pentagonal problem exercise and stakeholder mapping.
4. PIL activities: Details planned interviews and workshops to collect data and develop policy recommendations.

Development of the Deliverable

The development of the “Guidelines for Policy” deliverable of the NOVASOIL Project involves a series of planned and structured activities designed to assess and improve policies related to soil health. 

This process comprises several key stages, each aimed at providing detailed analysis and practical recommendations. 

Below is a breakdown of the main stages in the development of the deliverable carried out by our researchers:

1. Policy Review: A comprehensive review of EU literature and policies related to soil health was conducted, identifying gaps and areas for improvement.
2. Stakeholder and Needs Mapping: A mapping of key stakeholders was carried out in each case study, assessing their influence, interest and expertise in soil health.
3. Preparation of the LIPs: Specific problems and challenges were defined for each case study using the pentagonal problem approach, and policy innovation labs were prepared to explore viable solutions.
4. Interviews and Workshops: Key informant interviews and participatory workshops were planned to collect data and develop policy recommendations.
5. Structured Report: A template was created for individual LIP reports, standardising the format and content to facilitate comparison and analysis across case studies.

Next steps

Once the “Guidelines for Policy” document of the NOVASOIL Project has been developed, the next step is to implement and evaluate the recommendations and guidelines proposed in the Policy Innovation Labs (PILs). The steps to follow are detailed here:

Implementation of the Guidelines in the PILs

The guidelines set out in the document should be applied in the different case studies through the PILs. This implies the implementation of the recommended policy and practical solutions to improve soil health. The key actors identified in the stakeholder and needs mapping will actively participate in these laboratories.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Once the guidelines have been implemented, a rigorous monitoring and evaluation process must be carried out. This includes collecting data on the effectiveness of the policies implemented, the impact on soil health and stakeholder satisfaction. Pre-defined metrics and evaluation tools should be used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the results.

Adjustments and Improvements

Based on the results of monitoring and evaluation, adjustments and improvements should be made to the policies and practices implemented. This is an iterative process that ensures that solutions are adaptive and responsive to emerging needs and challenges.

Documentation and Dissemination

It is crucial to document the entire process, including findings, lessons learned and best practices. These documents should be disseminated to all project partners, stakeholders and the general public to ensure transparency and facilitate replicability of solutions.

Training and Ongoing Support

Providing ongoing training and support to stakeholders is essential for long-term success. This may include additional workshops, educational resources and technical assistance to ensure that sustainable land management practices are maintained and evolve.

Final Report and Publications

Finally, a final report should be prepared that synthesises all individual PIL reports, from implementation to final results. This report should be complemented by publications in scientific journals and presentations at conferences to share the knowledge generated and contribute to the scientific and policy community.

With these steps, the NOVASOIL Project will not only implement the developed guidelines, but also ensure that their effects will be long-lasting and beneficial for soil health in Europe.