Monitoring soil health in practice: equipping stakeholders to sample, analyse, and interpret soil health indicators

The grant opportunity titled "HORIZON-MISS-2026-05-SOIL-01: Monitoring Soil Health in Practice" is part of the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically targeting improvements in soil health management and monitoring across Europe. The total budget for this initiative is €5 million, with the aim of supporting one grant.

The grant opens for applications on February 4, 2026, and the deadline for submission is September 23, 2026. The submission process is a single-stage approach, where applicants must provide a complete proposal, including all necessary documentation and budget details, by the deadline.

Eligible applicants include universities, research institutions, SMEs, public research organisations, and other legal entities qualified to engage in relevant activities related to soil health. The program encourages collaboration, suggesting a multi-actor approach even though technically a single applicant can apply. The geographic eligibility extends to all EU member states and associated countries, aligning with the EU Soil Strategy for 2030.

The focus of this initiative is on enhancing agricultural practices, soil science, and environmental management, specifically in relation to soil health assessment methodologies. Applicants are expected to address issues such as standardisation, knowledge transfer, and the integration of diverse soil data sources. This includes organizing capacity-building activities, promoting standardized methods for soil sampling and analysis, and developing tools to facilitate the interpretation of soil health indicators.

While there is no mandatory co-funding requirement, demonstrating financial or in-kind contributions from partners may strengthen the proposals. Success rates are not explicitly stated, but due to the highly competitive nature of Horizon Europe calls, the anticipated rates may be between 15 to 35 percent.

The nature of financial support will be in the form of a lump sum grant, which simplifies cost reimbursement and reduces administrative burdens. Successful applicants will also gain access to additional resources such as the SOILL structure, the EU Soil Observatory, and other relevant networks.

This initiative aims to improve the reliability of soil health data, enhance the understanding of soil functions, and promote effective land management practices across Europe. The overarching goal is to achieve better soil health outcomes in line with EU environmental policies and objectives, demonstrating the importance of coordinated efforts in this area.

This is a description of a funding opportunity under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically the call "Supporting the implementation of the Soil Deal for Europe Mission" (HORIZON-MISS-2026-05). The general objective is to support the Mission Soil's goals and contribute to the EU Soil Strategy for 2030 and the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive. The call aims to improve soil management and environmental performance in line with the Common Agricultural Policy.

The expected outcomes of funded projects include:

Enhanced reliability and accessibility of soil health data for laboratories, land managers, advisors, and policymakers.
Improved understanding of soil data limitations and uncertainties by land managers, practitioners, and policymakers, especially regarding data, indicators, methodologies, and tools developed by Mission Soil projects.
Increased collaboration and interaction among stakeholders on soil health data issues.
Support for developing standards, norms, reference frameworks, and guidelines for soil sampling and monitoring, promoting best practices.

The scope of the projects should address the following:

Organize networking and capacity-building activities to equip stakeholders with tools and skills to improve soil data quality and interpretation.
Compile and promote standardized methods and protocols for soil sampling and analysis, and for designing soil health monitoring programs.
Facilitate the integration of soil data from various sources and methods, including direct sampling, proximal and remote sensing.
Identify and promote practical tools (guides, apps) for soil analysis and monitoring, emphasizing new methods and technologies.
Conduct case studies or pilot collaborative platforms to explore opportunities and limitations of soil data sharing, considering privacy, fragmentation, standardization, IPRs, interoperability, and access policies.
Actively interact with standardization bodies to ensure standards meet stakeholder needs and align with regulations.

Projects are expected to build on existing knowledge and collaborate with relevant projects and initiatives, including MRV4SOC, BENCHMARKS, Echo Horizon - EchoSoil, and integrated platforms like TUdi Homepage. They should also collaborate with the European Union Soil Observatory (EUSO) and the SoilWise project to ensure open access, longevity, sustainability, and interoperability of knowledge and outputs, making data available through the EUSO and ensuring FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable).

The call includes four specific topics:

HORIZON-MISS-2026-05-SOIL-01: Monitoring soil health in practice: equipping stakeholders to sample, analyse, and interpret soil health indicators. This is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (CSA) with a budget of 5,000,000 EUR and an indicative number of 1 grant.
HORIZON-MISS-2026-05-SOIL-02: Improving understanding of soil functions and their links to soil health for better management. This is a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (RIA) with a budget of 14,000,000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants.
HORIZON-MISS-2026-05-SOIL-03: Developing innovative business models for soil health. This is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (CSA) with a budget of 5,000,000 EUR and an indicative number of 1 grant.
HORIZON-MISS-2026-05-SOIL-04: Deploying digital technologies for soil health monitoring and management. This is a HORIZON Innovation Action (IA) with a budget of 9,000,000 EUR and an indicative number of 1 grant.

The call follows a single-stage submission process. The planned opening date is 4 February 2026, and the deadline for submission is 23 September 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum.

The general conditions for participation include:

Admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form.
Eligibility of countries, as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries.
Other eligible conditions, as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria, as described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds, as described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Submission and evaluation processes, as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement, as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Legal and financial set-up of the grants, with eligible costs taking the form of a lump sum.

Applicants should use the standard application form (HE CSA) and evaluation form templates, with guidance provided in the HE Programme Guide and Lump Sum MGA. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and other related guidelines and regulations.

The Funding & Tenders Portal provides various support services, including an Online Manual, FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, and CEN-CENELEC/ETSI Research Helpdesks. A partner search tool is also available.

In summary, this funding opportunity aims to improve soil health monitoring and management practices in the EU by supporting projects that enhance data reliability, promote standardized methods, facilitate data integration, and equip stakeholders with the necessary tools and skills. The call encourages collaboration, open access to data, and alignment with EU policies and initiatives related to soil health and sustainable agriculture.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given the nature of Horizon Europe calls and the focus on research, innovation, coordination, and support actions, eligible applicants could include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, non-profit organizations, governmental organizations, and other legal entities capable of conducting relevant activities. The call is open to a number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, as indicated by the Type of MGA (Model Grant Agreement) being "HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]". The call includes HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA), HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA), and HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA).

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, given the scope and objectives of the call, particularly the need for networking, capacity-building, and integration of diverse data sources, it is highly likely that a consortium of multiple applicants would be more competitive, if not required. Partner search announcements are available, suggesting that consortia are expected.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic eligibility appears to be focused on EU member states and associated countries, as the activities are designed to support the EU Soil Strategy for 2030 and the implementation of the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive. However, the text mentions that "A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects," suggesting some level of international participation is possible.

Target Sector: The primary target sector is agriculture/food, environment, and climate, with a specific focus on soil health, soil monitoring, and sustainable land management. The call also targets research and innovation in methodologies for soil sampling, analysis, and data integration.

Mentioned Countries: The text refers to the EU and non-EU associated countries.

Project Stage: The project stage varies depending on the type of action. Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) typically support networking, coordination, and dissemination, suggesting a focus on development, validation, and demonstration stages. Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) focus on research and development, while Innovation Actions (IA) focus on demonstration and commercialization.

Funding Amount: The funding amount varies depending on the specific topic and type of action:
HORIZON-MISS-2026-05-SOIL-01 (HORIZON-CSA): EUR 5,000,000 (around EUR 5,000,000 per grant, 1 grant)
HORIZON-MISS-2026-05-SOIL-02 (HORIZON-RIA): EUR 14,000,000 (around EUR 7,000,000 per grant, 2 grants)
HORIZON-MISS-2026-05-SOIL-03 (HORIZON-CSA): EUR 5,000,000 (around EUR 5,000,000 per grant, 1 grant)
HORIZON-MISS-2026-05-SOIL-04 (HORIZON-IA): EUR 9,000,000 (around EUR 9,000,000 per grant, 1 grant)

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant.

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly stated, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight. Given the competitive nature of Horizon Europe calls, the success rates are likely to be below 40% and potentially below 10%.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. However, Horizon Europe projects often require some level of co-funding, which may be detailed in the specific call documents.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Supporting the implementation of the Soil Deal for Europe Mission," aims to improve soil health assessments and data reliability across the EU. It focuses on enhancing the skills and tools available to land managers, laboratory personnel, and policymakers for better soil data interpretation and management. The call encourages projects that organize networking and capacity-building activities, promote standardized methods for soil sampling and analysis, facilitate the integration of diverse soil data sources, and develop practical tools for soil monitoring. It also emphasizes collaboration with existing initiatives like the European Union Soil Observatory (EUSO) and the project SoilWise to ensure open access, longevity, and interoperability of knowledge and outputs. The call is structured around four main topics: Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) with a budget of EUR 5,000,000, Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) with a budget of EUR 14,000,000 and Innovation Actions (IA) with a budget of EUR 9,000,000. The call is a single-stage submission process with a planned opening date of February 4, 2026, and a deadline of September 23, 2026. It seeks to support the objectives of the Mission Soil, the EU Soil Strategy for 2030, and the implementation of the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive, ultimately advancing sustainable land management and environmental performance in agriculture and food production.