In November 2025, Maria Anastasi from GroundWork Coordination team at CYRIC, attended the 3rd European Mission Soil Week (EMSW) in Aarhus, Denmark. The event brought together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and stakeholders to exchange experiences, lessons learned, and approaches for strengthening collaboration towards healthier soils across Europe.
During Day 1, participants heard a range of inspiring perspectives from the agricultural and investment sectors. Danish farmer Klaus Kristensen presented the benefits of Arla’s “Big 5” indicator system, while Anders Spohr, Managing Partner at NOVO Holdings, highlighted how investment and financing mechanisms can support soil health improvements and accelerate innovation in the farming sector.
Maria also had the opportunity to engage with several Soil-health focused projects during the project trail, identifying strong synergies and shared objectives with GroundWork. Particularly noteworthy were the soil health indicator system developed by SOB4ES and the business models presented by EDAPHOS, among others.
The breakout sessions offered valuable insights into ongoing project results and practical implementation experiences. One highlight was a presentation by architect Alessio Tamiazzo on the ambitious large-scale urban development project “La Courrouze” in Rennes, Brittany’s dynamic capital, spanning 118 hectares. In addition, Linda Maring, Project Manager for the Dutch Urban Resilience & Spatial Transformation Department, shared innovative public engagement initiatives from the Netherlands, including the “Tile-Flipping Championship” and the “Derby of the Lowlands,” both designed to encourage citizens to remove sealed surfaces and restore soil functions in urban environments.
At the close of Day 1, all newly established Living Lab projects received recognition awards for their anticipated contributions towards the objectives of the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe.” Diego Canga Fano, Mission Soil Manager and Acting Deputy Director-General for DG AGRI, concluded the day by emphasizing the importance of collaboration, describing the community as “a soil family” that must continue to grow together.
Day 2 focused on the Danish Tripartite Green Agreement . a landmark agreement between the Danish government and representatives from industry, agriculture, and environmental organisations aimed at reducing agricultural carbon emissions while restoring nature. While the agreement demonstrated strong ambition and significant potential, discussions also raised important questions about how similar approaches could be adapted in countries with fewer financial resources available to compensate farmers.
In the afternoon sessions, discussions centred on market incentives to support sustainable soil management, particularly regenerative soil management practices – a key pillar of GroundWork’s approach to improving soil health. Participants also exchanged experiences and lessons learned regarding stakeholder engagement and co-creation processes within Living Labs. These reflections provided valuable insights that will help inform and strengthen GroundWork’s own co-creation activities moving forward.
A particularly inspiring message from the event that resonated strongly with GroundWork’s mission was shared by Diego Canga Fano:
“We do not inherit the land from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children.”
– Diego Canga Fano, Mission Soil Manager and Acting deputy director general (DG-AGRI)
