A Soil Deal for Europe

This journal article reviews over fifty citizen science initiatives focused on soil connectivity, illustrating the scalability of such projects through diverse global examples. The article emphasises how simplifying scientific methods, leveraging technology (like smartphone apps), and fostering continuous communication with participants can enhance engagement and data collection across varied demographics. The study demonstrates that these strategies not only expand participation but also contribute significantly to environmental education and policy development.

This journal article reviews various citizen science methods and platforms that can complement traditional soil monitoring to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to soil health. By identifying cost-effective, accessible, and reliable tools for monitoring soil indicators like structure, organic carbon, and biodiversity, it highlights scalable approaches for engaging farmers and the public in large-scale data collection. This contributes to building comprehensive soil health databases that inform national and international policies.

This journal article from the PREPSOIL project synthesizes data from 96 initiatives and provides actionable guidance on standardizing protocols, integrating remote sensing, and enhancing data quality and volunteer engagement to lay out a robust, policy-aligned framework for expanding citizen-led soil monitoring across Europe.

This report from the ECHO project is systematically evaluates and selects the most suitable, user-friendly, and scientifically robust citizen science methods for soil monitoring across diverse European contexts. By offering tested toolkits, quality criteria, and recommendations for harmonisation and adaptability, it provides a practical foundation for building large-scale, high-impact citizen science initiatives that align with the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe.”

This journal article reviews 24 European projects, identifies key success factors like co-creation, long-term engagement, and data openness, and proposes harmonised, scalable approaches providing a strategic guide for expanding high-quality citizen science initiatives that support soil health monitoring, biodiversity tracking, and policy alignment.