Eco-Friendly Nature-based solutions to mitigate soil degradation

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B IPA Adriatic-Ionian

Date of latest update: 2024-12-23

Description

Description (EN):

Soil degradation is a significant problem worldwide and is a cause for alarm, as it is an essential ecosystem related to food production, energy, carbon sequestration, water purification, and nutrient regulation. When soil degrades, it causes a decline in soil health, biodiversity, and productivity. This leads to issues at all levels of many ecosystems and significant environmental consequences such as floods and mass migration. Soil degradation is a cause for alarm, as it is an essential ecosystem related to food production, energy, carbon sequestration, water purification, and nutrient regulation. The main objectives of the ECOBASE project are the joint development of methods and strategic solutions harmonized with EU legislation to manage and improve soil health, reduce environmental pollution, and improve the protection and preservation of ADRION Region biodiversity. The second main objective is to provide innovative tools to help policymakers and farmers better understand and assess soil degradation's economic risks and social and ecological impacts and evaluate and implement different mitigation strategies/methodologies. By implementing sustainable soil management practices, the ECOBASE project helps to reduce soil erosion, prevent contamination of water bodies, and preserve natural habitats, leading to cleaner and healthier environments for the general public to enjoy. Also, the project's emphasis on sustainable agriculture and soil health directly impacts the quality and safety of food produced in the ADRION Region. This leads to healthier and safer food products reaching the market, benefiting the general public's nutritional well-being and reducing potential health risks associated with food contamination. The outputs of the project (training, soil remediation methodology, integration of innovative technologies, and continuous monitoring of soil quality) will directly benefit land operation stakeholders, promoting long-term, sustainable regional development and competitiveness, offering a significant impact on the economy, society, and environment of selected areas; increasing business opportunities; securing environmental sustainability & biodiversity; improving soil health; cleaning up pollution, and finally improving current techniques and preventing future contamination. The ECOBASE project is an absolute novelty for sustainable soil management within the broader EUSAIR strategy in the ADRION region and a preliminary step toward the future development of multiannual soil management plans.

Expected Achievements (EN):

The general objective is to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of soil health management among policymakers, authorities, agencies, academia, business organizations, and SMEs in the AD Region, leading to their active support and implementation of the transnational action plans. SOs provide a joint development and seven action plans that will help the audience understand and assess the economic risks and ecological impact of soil degradation, evaluate and implement different soil degradation mitigation strategies and methodologies to improve soil health, and reduce environmental pollution. The change we are targeting is to improve coordination and alignment of soil health management efforts across the AD Region, to increase understanding of soil health issues, leading to evidence-based recommendations for sustainable soil management practices, and to offer the ability to measure the effectiveness of soil management initiatives and make better decisions. Development of innovative platforms for information sharing, collaboration, and access to soil health data and research findings, and implementation of pilot actions targeting authorities, the public, researchers, soil scientists, and agricultural advisors. The most significant change will be the improvement of accessibility and the exchange of knowledge, leading to informed decisions in soil health management. After the end of WP2, we will be able to standardize soil assessment methodologies tailored to the AD Region's needs, benefiting researchers and agricultural advisors by helping them adopt consistent and reliable soil assessment methodologies and enabling an understanding of soil health conditions. Decision support tools & risk assessment frameworks will inform policymakers, agricultural advisors, farmers, business organizations & SMEs to increase their ability to evaluate risks associated with soil degradation & make informed choices for sustainable soil management practices Establishment of a 1 ADRION transnational cluster with over 200 stakeholders (managing authorities, policymakers, researchers, farmers, etc) for supporting environment preservation and protection of biodiversity related to soil degradation in all the involved territories. Performing, through the transnational cluster, over 10 joint actions towards improving climate resilience devoted to providing knowledge and sharing innovative technological tools to protect and promote the reduction of all forms of pollution and soil improvement. Establishment of 7 living labs/lighthouses to co-create knowledge, test solutions, and demonstrate their value in real-life conditions. The most significant change after the end of WP3 is the generation of clear strategic directions for soil health management, guiding actions & resource allocation for improved soil health outcomes, & finally, the learning from successful soil health management initiatives, leading to improved practices & increased awareness.

Project outputs: Formulate a transnational action plan that outlines strategic objectives, key activities, and an implementation framework for improving soil health and mitigating degradation across the ADRION Region.(EN)
Identify and implement pilot actions that demonstrate best practices and innovative approaches to soil health management. Showcase tangible benefits and outcomes achieved in 7 participated countries.(EN)
Develop digital solutions (SOIL QUALITY MONITORING SYSTEM, PREDICTION WARNING SYSTEM) providing access to information, knowledge & collaboration among stakeholders involved in soil health management.(EN)
Fostering collaboration and cooperation among organizations across borders to development of Transnational Plan and address soil degradation and biodiversity preservation challenges.
(EN)

Thematic information

Soil and air quality

Priority: (VI-B_IPA-A_2) Supporting a greener and climate resilient Adriatic-Ionian region

Priority specific objective: RSO2.7. Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 079 Nature and biodiversity protection, natural heritage and resources, green and blue infrastructure

Partners (10)

Lead Partner: ΠΑΝΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΙΟ ΠΑΤΡΩΝ, ΤΜΗΜΑ ΓΕΩΠΟΝΙΑΣ

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999894528

Partner’s ID if not PIC: EL998219694

Department: Soil Science Laboratory (SSLab)

Address: UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, RIO, 26504 PATRAS, Greece

Department address: Nea Ktiria, University Campus, 30200 Messolonghi, Greece

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.upatras.gr/en/

Total budget: EUR 301 800.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 256 530.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 45 270.00

Kmetijsko gozdarska zbornica Slovenije, Kmetijsko gozdarski zavod Ptuj (KGZ Ptuj)

Name: Kmetijsko gozdarska zbornica Slovenije, Kmetijsko gozdarski zavod Ptuj (KGZ Ptuj)

Department: Department of Public Agricultural Service

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 896601459

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 62299964 | 5095859 | Legal Registration (EN)

Address: Ormoška cesta, 2250 Ptuj, Slovenia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: http://www.kgz-ptuj.si/

Total budget: EUR 107 300.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 91 205.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 16 095.00

Gospodarska zbornica Slovenije – Zbornica kmetijskih in živilskih podjetij

Name: Gospodarska zbornica Slovenije – Zbornica kmetijskih in živilskih podjetij

Department: CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD ENTERPRISES

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999780165

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SI73354376

Address: Dimičeva ulica, 1504 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: https://www.gzs.si/zkzp

Total budget: EUR 103 240.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 87 754.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 15 486.00

Ministarstvo poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede

Name: Ministarstvo poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 895977264

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 02030802

Address: Rimski trg, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro

Legal status: public

Organisation type: National public authority

Website: http://www.gov.me/mpsv

Total budget: EUR 99 584.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 84 646.40

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 14 937.60

Универзитет „Св. Кирил и Методиј“, Земјоделски институт

Name: Универзитет „Св. Кирил и Методиј“, Земјоделски институт

Department: Department of Soil Science and Plant Protection

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999588493

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 6462766 | UINRR (EN)

Address: 16-ta Makedonska Brigada, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.zeminst.ukim.edu.mk

Total budget: EUR 106 260.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 90 321.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 15 939.00

Univerzitet u Beogradu, Poljoprivredni Fakultet

Name: Univerzitet u Beogradu, Poljoprivredni Fakultet

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999824688

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 100198802

Address: Nemanjina, 11080 Belgrade-Zemun, Serbia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://agrif.bg.ac.rs

Total budget: EUR 118 038.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 100 332.30

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 17 705.70

Centar za klimatske promjene, prirodne resurse i energiju Univerziteta Donja Gorica

Name: Centar za klimatske promjene, prirodne resurse i energiju Univerziteta Donja Gorica

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 901882624

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 11022448 | PIB (EN)

Address: Oktoih, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: https://ccc.udg.edu.me/

Total budget: EUR 124 949.58

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 106 207.14

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 18 742.44

Bashkia Gjirokaster

Name: Bashkia Gjirokaster

Partner’s ID if not PIC: K43025617O

Address: Sheshi “Çerçiz Topulli”, 6001 Gjirokaster, Albania

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://bashkiagjirokaster.gov.al/

Total budget: EUR 112 320.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 95 472.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 16 848.00

Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato e Agricoltura di Padova

Name: Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato e Agricoltura di Padova

Department: Promotion and Territorial Development Projects Unit

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 943826588

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT00654100288

Address: Piazza Insurrezione XXVIII Aprile 1945, 35137 Padova, Italy

Department address: Piazza Insurrezione XXVIII Aprile 1945, 35137 Padova, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: https://www.pd.camcom.it/it

Total budget: EUR 177 003.21

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 150 452.72

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 26 550.49

ΕΠΙΜΕΛΗΤΗΡΙΟ ΑΙΤΩΛΟΑΚΑΡΝΑΝΙΑΣ

Name: ΕΠΙΜΕΛΗΤΗΡΙΟ ΑΙΤΩΛΟΑΚΑΡΝΑΝΙΑΣ

Department: Commercial & Industrial affairs department

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 912408676

Partner’s ID if not PIC: EL90202430

Address: PAPASTRATOU 53 & SMIRNIS 1, 30131 AGRINIO, Greece

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.epimetol.gr

Total budget: EUR 167 275.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 142 183.75

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 25 091.25

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Eco-Friendly Nature-based solutions to mitigate soil degradation

Project acronym: ECOBASE

Project ID: IPA-ADRION00239

Project start date: 2024-09-01

Project end date: 2027-08-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

EU research network: "FACCE-JPI" - The Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change (FACCE-JPI) brings together European research funding organizations to address challenges related to agriculture, food security, and climate change. (EN) | ECOBASE will try to engage with FACCE-JPI to exchange knowledge, research findings, and best practices related to sustainable agriculture, food security, and climate change. This collaboration can help ECOBASE benefit from the expertise and research outputs generated within the FACCE-JPI network. (EN), H2020 project: "SoilCare" - This project focuses on sustainable soil management practices and aims to develop and promote innovative soil-improving cropping systems across Europe.
Similar H2020 projects are LANDMARK, RECARE, and SustainFARM can serve as sources of knowledge, tools, and methodologies that can complement ECOBASE's efforts. (EN) | The ECOBASE project will explore collaboration opportunities with other Horizon Europe-funded projects that focus on sustainable agriculture, soil health, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation. This collaboration can facilitate knowledge exchange, data sharing, and the identification of best practices. (EN), SmartAgriHubs: SmartAgriHubs is a European network of digital innovation hubs for agriculture, aiming to boost the adoption of digital technologies in the farming sector. (EN) | ECOBASE, with its focus on developing digital platforms and tools for soil health management, will explore synergies with SmartAgriHubs to enhance digital solutions for sustainable agriculture practices. (EN), ALPARC is a network of protected areas in the Alpine region, working together to promote ecological connectivity, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development in the Alpine ecosystems. (EN) | ECOBASE will actively engage with similar projects (like ALPARC) by participating in the network to develop, inviting partners and stakeholders to conferences and workshops, and seeking opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing. By doing so, ECOBASE can leverage the expertise and experiences of similar projects to contribute to a broader regional approach to sustainable soil management and environmental conservation. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 417 769.79

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 205 104.31

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 85.00%

Co-financing sources:

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Comprehensive report on regional soil health.
Transnational action plan document
Development of the Transnational sustainability plan
Monitoring and evaluation framework document.
Functional digital platforms
Functional platforms collecting data
Decision support tools and risk assessment frameworks
Standardized soil assessment methodologies
Capacity building and training programs
purchase and sharing soil quality free kits (around 1500)
Purchase and installation ground monitoring stations (around 15)
Soil analysis in certified labs (around 500)
Data collected from different sources.
Report on pilot actions implementation.
Evaluation framework and report on pilot actions.
Communication Events / Presentation for results of Pilot Actions
Soil health management strategy document
Building the project knowledge
Dissemination plan and activities
Report on stakeholder engagement activities
Development of Project Transferability Plan
Communication Material

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion The project aligns with EUSAIR’s objective of promoting environmental sustainability in the region. By addressing soil health and promoting sustainable soil management practices, the project contributes to the conservation of natural resources, protection of ecosystems, and reduction of environmental pollution. This supports EUSAIR’s efforts to achieve a sustainable and resilient environment.
The project's emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable land management has implications for the development of sustainable tourism, which is one of the key priorities of EUSAIR. By promoting sustainable agriculture practices and protecting natural landscapes, the project enhances the attractiveness and sustainability of the region as a tourist destination. It contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage, biodiversity, and scenic landscapes, which are important assets for sustainable tourism development.
The project involves collaboration between universities, research organizations, and other stakeholders, which aligns with EUSAIR’s objective of promoting research and innovation. Through research activities and the development of innovative tools, the project contributes to advancing knowledge and practices in soil health management. This fosters innovation in the agricultural sector, supports the transfer of technology and knowledge, and strengthens the region's research and innovation capacities.
The project's network and collaboration among various stakeholders, including universities, sectoral agencies, and local authorities, promote cross-sectoral cooperation, which is a fundamental principle of EUSAIR. By bringing together stakeholders from different sectors, the project facilitates knowledge exchange, coordination of efforts, and joint problem-solving. This enhances the implementation of integrated and coherent strategies, aligning with EUSAIR's cross-sectoral approach.
EuropeanGreenDeal ECOBASE aligns with the EU Green Deal's objective of promoting climate action. By improving soil health and implementing sustainable soil management practices, the project contributes to carbon sequestration, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing the region's climate resilience. Healthy soils play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by storing carbon and improving the efficiency of nutrients and water use.
ECOBASE’s emphasis on sustainable soil management practices directly contributes to the EU Green Deal's goal of promoting sustainable agriculture and food systems. By adopting regenerative agriculture techniques, optimizing nutrient management, and reducing chemical inputs, the project supports the transition towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices. This contributes to the production of healthier and more sustainable food, reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture.
ECOBASE’s focus on soil health and sustainable land management aligns with the EU Green Deal's objective of preserving and restoring biodiversity. Healthy soils provide a habitat for numerous organisms and support biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. By promoting practices that enhance soil biodiversity, reduce soil erosion, and protect natural ecosystems, the project contributes to the conservation of biodiversity and the restoration of degraded land.
ECOBASE’s collaboration with universities, research organizations, and other stakeholders aligns with the EU Green Deal's focus on research and innovation. Through research activities, the development of innovative tools, and the exchange of knowledge, the project contributes to advancing scientific understanding and finding innovative solutions to address soil health challenges. This supports the EU Green Deal's goal of fostering research and innovation to drive the transition toward a sustainable and climate-neutral economy.
Other ECOBASE aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) - promoting sustainable agriculture and improving food security. By implementing sustainable soil management practices, ECOBASE enhances agricultural productivity, increases crop yields, and improves the nutritional value of food. This helps to ensure access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food for all, supporting efforts to eradicate hunger and achieve food security.
Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) - improving soil health and reducing environmental pollution. Healthy soils provide a foundation for nutrient-rich crops and contribute to the production of safe and healthy food. By minimizing the use of agrochemicals and promoting sustainable farming practices, ECOBASE helps to mitigate health risks associated with contaminated food.
Goal 13 (Climate Action) - addressing climate change through soil management and sustainable agriculture. Healthy soils can sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By implementing practices that enhance soil carbon storage and improve soil water-holding capacity, ECOBASE contributes to climate change mitigation, supporting efforts to combat climate change.
Goal 15 (Life on Land) - promoting the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. By improving soil health, ECOBASE enhances biodiversity and supports the restoration of degraded land. Healthy soils provide habitat for soil organisms, support plant growth, and contribute to the overall resilience and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems.
Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) - Fostering partnerships and collaboration. ECOBASE promotes multi-stakeholder engagement and knowledge exchange by bringing together universities, research organizations, sectoral agencies, local authorities, and other stakeholders. This supports the implementation of the SDGs by mobilizing resources, sharing expertise, and strengthening partnerships for sustainable development.
Other Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
It also supports the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) by protecting ecosystems, preserving biodiversity, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
ECOBASE's focus on sustainable soil management practices, regenerative agriculture, and agroforestry supports CBD's goal of promoting sustainable agriculture. By minimizing the use of agrochemicals, reducing soil erosion, and enhancing soil fertility, the project contributes to the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. Sustainable agriculture practices help to protect biodiversity, conserve natural resources, and promote the sustainable use of ecosystems.
ECOBASE's commitment to continuous monitoring and reporting aligns with UNCCD's emphasis on monitoring and evaluation. By assessing soil health indicators, evaluating the effectiveness of sustainable soil management practices, and reporting on progress, the project contributes to the monitoring and reporting requirements of the UNCCD. This information helps to track the impacts of land degradation and the effectiveness of interventions, supporting evidence-based decision-making.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSAIR

EUSAIR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSAIR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B IPA Adriatic-Ionian

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2024-12-23

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

67 / 69 (97.1%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

606 / 713 (84.99%)

Notes on the data

Programme's webpage past visited on 2025-03-17.

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Eco-Friendly Nature-based solutions to mitigate soil degradation

Description

Thematic information

Partners (10)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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