Policy Briefs

Soil is far more than just the ground beneath our feet; it is a strategic environmental asset essential for food security, climate neutrality, and the livelihoods of our rural communities. However, today, over 60% of EU soils are in poor condition. To turn the tide, we need more than just awareness—tenacious policy innovation is required to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and real-world implementation.

The NOVASOIL D4.2 Roadmap provides a strategic and operational framework to restore European soil health by 2050. This is not just a theoretical document; it is the result of Policy Innovation Labs (PILs) implemented across diverse European landscapes—from integrated olive groves in Spain and vineyards in Bulgaria to carbon credit trials in the Netherlands and organic systems in Germany.

For decision-makers, this report identifies the critical leverage points needed to transform soil governance. Our research highlights that current frameworks often suffer from institutional fragmentation and misaligned economic incentives that reward mere compliance rather than actual environmental performance.

To achieve the goals of the European Green Deal and the EU Soil Strategy, this roadmap proposes:

• Performance-Based Incentives: Shifting from administrative burdens toward outcome-oriented payments that reflect the real costs and risks faced by farmers.

• Regulatory Coherence: Creating stable, flexible legal frameworks that reduce uncertainty and encourage long-term private investment in soil health.

• Co-Creation Ecosystems: Leveraging the “Policy Innovation Lab” model to bring together scientists, farmers, and industry to co-design and test regulatory innovations before they are scaled.

Presented below is the final report detailing the conclusions obtained from each of the NOVASOIL project case studies. This deliverable allows for an understanding of the perceptions regarding soil health held by key stakeholders, while also defining a possible roadmap to enhance policy implementation. Subsequently, the reports generated for each individual case study are provided.

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Following, individual Policy Innovation Lab’ reports are available