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

European Commission

Expected Outcome:

Activities under this topic will support the objectives of the Mission Soil and contribute to meeting the targets of the EU Soil Strategy for 2030 and the implementation of the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive. Furthermore, these activities should advance improvement of soil management and environmental performance outlined in the Vision for Agriculture and Food and the Common Agricultural Policy.

Project results are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes:

enhanced reliability and accessibility of soil health data by and for laboratories, land managers, advisors and policymakers;
improved understanding by land managers, other relevant practitioners and policymakers of the conditions, limitations and uncertainties of soil data and outputs and tools (e.g. datasets, indicators, descriptors, methodologies, pedo-transfer functions) developed by Mission Soil projects and initiatives (among others);
increased collaboration and interaction among stakeholders, including end-users, around soil heath data issues;
support the development of standards, norms and reference frameworks as well as national and international guidelines of soil sampling and monitoring and promote best practices.

Scope:

Soil health assessments will be key in the EU, especially with initiatives like the upcoming Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive. Assessments will provide critical data to support adaptive management practices that optimise soil health enhancing competitiveness and resilience.

Soil analyses are subject to variabilities arising from sampling methods, handling and transport of soil samples, variations in laboratory equipment and calibration, lack of standardised testing methods, human error, and the natural variability of soil properties. Moreover, farmers and land managers usually lack a comprehensive understanding of soil health indicators. This undermines their ability to accurately interpret soil analysis results and implement effective interventions, like adjusting fertilisation practices or crop rotation strategies. Limited training in proper sampling techniques and the use of modern diagnostic tools further hinders their ability to make informed decisions and manage soil health effectively. To address these gaps, it is essential to implement rigorous protocols and training for laboratory personnel, as well as enhance farmers’ and land managers’ decision-making capabilities.

Reliable soil data is also crucial as it underpins models predicting future soil health scenarios, supports the formulation of evidence-based policies and enhances decision-making processes for sustainable land management.

Proposals should:

organise networking and capacity-building activities to equip stakeholders, mainly land managers, laboratory personnel and advisors, with practical tools and skills to improve soil data quality and soil data interpretation;
compile and promote (standardised) methods and protocols for soil sampling (timing, depth, tools, representativeness, uncertainties), soil analysis (equipment, calibrations, inter-comparisons, uncertainties), and for the design of soil health monitoring programmes;
facilitate and promote the integration of soil data, datasets and databases from different sources and methods allowing for the combination of results from direct sampling, proximal and remote sensing and other state-of-the-art methodologies;
identify and promote existing (and, if missing, develop) practical tools (such as guides or apps) on soil analysis and monitoring: indicators, sampling and analysis methods, data management and analysis, interpretation of results, etc., based on solid scientific expertise with emphasis on new methods and technologies;
conduct activities, such as case studies or piloting collaborative platforms to explore opportunities and limitations of soil data sharing (privacy, fragmentation, lack of standardisation and reference framework, IPRs, interoperability, restricted access policies);
actively interact or collaborate with relevant standardisation bodies establishing communication and cooperation to ensure that the standards being developed or applied meet the needs of stakeholders and align with existing regulations.

The resources and opportunities offered by the project must be accessible to stakeholders even if they are not involved in the project as partners, contributing to address existing imbalances in soil analysis and data availability across the EU.

Proposals are expected to build on existing knowledge (e.g. data from national soil health monitoring, LUCAS) and solutions developed and tested at national scale or in the frame of other Horizon projects including those funded under the Mission Soil. Proposals should therefore include dedicated tasks and appropriate resources for collaboration with relevant projects and initiatives[1] and engage in relevant Mission Soil clustering activities.

Proposals should demonstrate a route towards open access, longevity, sustainability and interoperability of knowledge and outputs through close collaboration with the European Union Soil Observatory (EUSO) and the project SoilWise. In particular, proposals should ensure that relevant data, maps and information can potentially be available publicly through the EUSO. Concrete efforts should be made to ensure that the data produced in the context of the funded project is FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Re-usable).

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1️⃣ Strong, Mission-Aligned Impact (Most Important Across EC Calls)

The EC is impact-driven: proposals must show how the project will:

Solve a major European or global societal challenge

Deliver measurable, lasting benefits for EU citizens

Produce outputs that can be used by policymakers, industry, or society

Align with Horizon Europe missions, priorities, and strategic agendas

Predictor: Clear, quantifiable, EU-level impact → strongest scoring factor.

2️⃣ Clear, Ambitious, but Achievable Objectives

Successful proposals show:

2–4 well-defined objectives linked to the Work Programme call text

Clearly articulated research questions or innovation goals

Logical, realistic expected outcomes and deliverables

Feasible scientific and technical approaches

Predictor: Balanced ambition + feasibility.

3️⃣ Excellent, Cutting-Edge Science or Innovation

For RIA/IA/CSA or ERC-level grants, reviewers expect:

High novelty and innovation

Strong grounding in current state-of-the-art

Clear advancement beyond existing approaches

Solid theoretical or experimental foundations

Robust methodological design

Predictor: Scientific excellence is essential for competitive scoring.

4️⃣ Strong Consortium with Complementary Expertise

EC proposals are consortium-driven (except ERC/EIC Accelerator).

High-scoring consortia:

Cover all needed competencies (science, industry, policy, ethics, dissemination)

Include SMEs, industry partners, NGOs, and public bodies when relevant

Are geographically diverse across EU Member States and Associated Countries

Demonstrate strong leadership and communication structures

Predictor: Well-constructed consortium with clear roles.

5️⃣ Clear Pathway From Outputs → Outcomes → Impact

Evaluators look for a credible trajectory showing:

How research leads to specific outputs (data, tools, prototypes)

How outputs lead to uptake or use

How use produces societal, economic, scientific, or policy impact

Strong Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and impact metrics

Predictor: Clearly mapped impact pathway.

6️⃣ Strong Implementation Plan (Work Packages, Deliverables, Gantt Chart)

Winning proposals have:

Well-designed Work Packages (WPs) with clear scope and responsibilities

Interdependencies identified and risk-mitigation strategies

Detailed milestones and deliverables

Feasible budget aligned with tasks

Strong project management plan

Predictor: High implementation quality boosts the “Excellence” and “Implementation” scores.

7️⃣ Policy Relevance and Contribution to EU Strategies

Especially critical for health, climate, digital, and social calls.

Proposals score higher when they link to:

EU Cancer Mission

EU Green Deal

Digital Europe strategy

EU Biodiversity Strategy

EU Health Union & One Health

Open Science & FAIR data mandates

Predictor: Clear alignment with EU policies.

8️⃣ Strong Stakeholder & Citizen Engagement (Especially in Social & Health Missions)

EC values inclusivity:

Patient groups

Civil society organizations

Public sector bodies

Regulatory agencies

Citizen science components

Stakeholder letters of intent or commitment strengthen credibility.

Predictor: Engagement adds impact and relevance.

9️⃣ Robust Data Management, Open Science, and Ethics

Mandatory components include:

FAIR Data Management Plan

Open access publications

Ethics self-assessment

GDPR compliance

Data security, governance, and ethical approvals

Animal-use reduction and justification (if applicable)

Predictor: Clear compliance with ethical and data obligations.

10️⃣ Well-Justified Budget and Resource Allocation

Budget must be:

Proportional to tasks

Transparent and reasonable

Efficiently distributed among partners

Free from padding or unjustified costs

Predictor: Realistic budgets improve Implementation scores.

🚫 COMMON PITFALLS THAT LEAD TO EC GRANT REJECTION

Pitfall	Why It Fails
Weak connection to Work Programme text	Immediate score reduction
Vague or generic impact statements	Poor Impact score
Overly ambitious, unrealistic scope	Feasibility concerns
Poorly structured consortium	Low Implementation score
No policy relevance	Weak strategic alignment
Lack of concrete KPIs or outcomes	Impact unclear
Weak data or ethics plan	Eligibility/score penalties
No exploitation or dissemination plan	Insufficient impact credibility
Budget misalignment	Reviewer distrust

Specialties

Public Health

Eligibility Requirements

General conditions

1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout

described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.

Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

2. Eligible Countries

described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

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. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

3. Other Eligible Conditions

described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: European Commission

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: Berlaymont Building, Rue de la Loi 200, 1040 Brussels

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