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Interaction with plant roots impacts soil health. Photo: Philip Halling CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 GenericPhilip Halling CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

Why restoring soil health is a win-win for farmers and the environment

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More than half of Europe’s soils are degraded. Researchers are showing that restoring soil through better farming makes both ecological and financial sense
Tiny pockets of water trapped within ice accelerate mineral dissolution, altering biogeochemical processes in cold regions. Photo: PIXNIO public domain Creative Commons Zero CC0 free to usePIXNIO public domain Creative Commons Zero CC0 free to use

Ice comes alive: a new challenge for climate models

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La ricerca dell'Università di Umeå: lungi dall’essere inerte, il ghiaccio favorisce il rilascio di ferro dai minerali, con possibili conseguenze per il ciclo del carbonio e le previsioni sul clima
Cover manuale "Buone pratiche che curano il suolo"

Soil erosion, drought and fertility loss: the practices that can help save the land

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On World Day to Combat Desertification 2026, a new report showcases real-world solutions from researchers, farmers and experts. At its core is the Lighthouse Farms network led by Re Soil Foundation
The LandISPortal platform currently contains over 250,000 field observations and more than 30,000 detailed descriptions of soil profiles, as well as hundreds of specialist publications and thematic maps. Photo: Siegfried Makedanz Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC 2.0 DeedSiegfried Makedanz Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC 2.0 Deed

Half a century’s data on British soil now available to the public

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La Cranfield University apre il LandISPortal, un database online costruito con oltre 30 mila campioni di suolo e 250 mila osservazioni sul campo raccolte nell’arco di mezzo secolo
On 27 May in Brussels, a meeting of the promoters of seven EU initiatives to identify opportunities and develop operational recommendations for the advancement of the rural bioeconomy. Image: © 2026 BBioNets consortium Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International CC BY-NC 4.0 DeedBBioNets consortium Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International CC BY-NC 4.0 Deed

From local action to European strategy: a Policy Lab for the bioeconomy

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On 27 May in Brussels, a meeting of seven EU-funded initiatives. The aim: to bridge the gap between local experimentation and European policymaking, and to deliver actionable recommendations for the rural bioeconomy
Vaste aree della Grande Pianura ungherese sono sempre più soggette a processi di aridificazione. FOTO: GaborLajos via Wikipedia

Thermal waters against desertification: the Hungarian experiment

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In the Central European country, a grassroots project is bringing together citizens and local farmers. The goal: redirect thermal waters to the fields, restoring natural cycles and countering the drying out affecting agricultural land in the Great Plain
The study, conducted in the forests of Yunnan Province, demonstrated how altitude-driven environmental changes shape the genetic potential for phosphorus mineralization in the soil. At the same time, soil pH acts as a constant filter, limiting the microbial community capable of performing this vital function across different landscapes. Photo: Rod Waddington Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 DeedRod Waddington Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed

Elevation, pH, and calcium are key factors in the phosphorus cycle

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A Chinese study has identified the key factors influencing the distribution of available phosphorus in tropical and subtropical forests, by modelling the genetic potential for phosphorus mineralization in soil
Brazil's wetlands cover an area of 167,000 km² and have a carbon density per hectare six times higher than forests. Photo: Thpelin Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 DeedThpelin Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed

Beyond the Amazon: a forgotten carbon reserve in Brazil’s wetlands

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In the Brazilian savanna, wetlands store enormous amounts of carbon, but they are threatened by climate change and agricultural expansion. Moreover, conservation policies, which focus almost exclusively on forests, tend to ignore them
Insect frass is a natural soil amendment that improves soil fertility and is attracting increasing interest in agriculture. Photo: Angal insect Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 DeedAngal insect Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed

Insect frass improves soil health and protect crops

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An American study shows how insect frass can increase nutrient efficiency and reduce pest damage in crops, contributing to a more sustainable, circular agriculture
Announced in February this year, the SOUL bioproducts project brings together 16 partners from five EU countries, including Spain's Fundación AITIIP (coordinator of the initiative) and Italy's Novamont, Re Soil Foundation, and Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna. In the photo: SOUL experts at the kick-off meeting. Image: SOULSOUL

SOUL project gets started, five EU countries will test new bio-based products

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The initiative brings together 16 partners for the development and field testing of new-generation products designed to biodegrade in the soil at the end of their life cycle, thus minimizing their environmental impact