Spreading open and inclusive soil literacy and soil culture through artistic practices and education

SoilScape harnesses the power of cultural and creative industries (CCIs), artists and civil society organisations (CSOs) to promote soil preservation across Europe and beyond. Led by (Association Française pour l'Etude du Sol) AFES, this project brings together experts from soil science, the arts, decision-making and the humanities to cultivate soil literacy and celebrate soils through creative approaches, engaging citizens and professionals in this endeavour.

SoilScape's objectives include:

• understanding human-soil relations
• building a network of more than 120 relevant actors in 8 countries
• onboarding at least 320 individuals from the society
• providing 1,850,000 € as financial and technical support to CSOs, CCIs, schools, artists, and institutions
• distributing 375,000 € as awards and 80 soil literacy certifications to inspiring initiatives
• reaching international scales through UNESCO and Coalition of Action for 4 Soil Health

To achieve these objectives, SoilScape takes a multilingual and multi-actor approach. This involves cultivating artistic soil intelligence, promoting context-based soil literacy, and raising awareness through innovative communication strategies and a soil literacy portal. The project also organises two editions of national soil festivals across Europe, with the aim of extending its activities to 30 regions by 2028. The project unfolds through 4 key stages: (1) Contemplation (2) Preparation (3) Action: and (4) Sustainability.

During the project, interested soil experts and artists can join the SoilScape community.

• State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), Switzerland
• European Commission, Belgium

• European Commission – Horizon Europe

• Association Française pour l'Etude du Sol (AFES), France
• Organisation der Vereinten Nationen für Erziehung, Wissenschaft und Kultur - UNESCO (UNESCO), France
• FoodScale Hub (FSH), Greece
• Universität Göttingen (UGOE), Germany
• European Rural Development Network (ERDN), Poland
• CleanTech Bulgaria (CTBG), Bulgaria
• Fundação de Serralves (SRV), Portugal
• Deutsche Bodenkundliche Gesellschaft (DBG), Germany
• Clust-ER Industrie Culturali e Creative (CER), Italy
• Cologne Game Lab (CGL), Germany
• Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT), Finland
• Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), France
• Euroquality SAS (EQY), France
• ANCI Toscana (Koordinator HuMUS) (ATA), Italy
• Universidade de Coimbra (UoC) - (UNESCO Chair), Portugal
• Receptive Field (RF), Belgium
• World Agroforestry - Secretariat of Coalition Action for Soil Health (ICRAF), Kenya
• Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau (FiBL), Switzerland
• Berner Fachhochschule (HAFL), Switzerland

• Home Robert (Department of Food System Sciences)

• Bazrafshan Mahsa (Department of Food System Sciences)
• Dietemann Lauren (Department of Extension, Training & Communication)
• Grabovska Tetiana (Department of Food System Sciences)
• Nehrey Maryna (Department of Food System Sciences)
• Oehen Bernadette (Department of Extension, Training & Communication)
• Teuber Rike (Department of Extension, Training & Communication)

Project partner

• Advisory & Training (Department of Extension, Training & Communication, FiBL Switzerland)
• Society & Innovation (Department of Food System Sciences, FiBL Switzerland)