MultiSoil aims to co-create, test, and demonstrate agricultural practices that enhance soil and plant health, thereby supporting the maintenance of soil functional biodiversity.

This contributes to pest control with reduced reliance on chemical inputs, aligning with the specific objectives of Horizon Europe’s Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe” — namely, reducing soil pollution, promoting restoration, and improving soil structure to boost soil biodiversity and crop production.

Soil organic amendments, microbial inoculants, and diversified cropping systems are co-developed with local stakeholders as innovative tools to complement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. Their effectiveness is assessed in a site-specific manner through experimental field trials and demonstration sites located across six European pedoclimatic zones (in seven countries). These innovations are applied to a selection of commercially important crops, including potato, sugar beet, maize, winter rye, olives, and wheat. The evaluation is further supported by existing data drawn from other projects, long-term field trials, and ongoing Living Labs, allowing for monitoring of the long-term impacts of these practices. 

MultiSoil is developed in close collaboration with farmers and adopts a multi-actor approach to ensure the continuation of effective practices beyond the project's lifespan.

Activities will include knowledge exchange, capacity building, and training initiatives, focusing on the tools and expertise generated by the project.

MultiSoil will engage with relevant research and innovation (R&I) initiatives and projects to maximise knowledge sharing and explore synergies and collaborations. 

By the end of the project, local actors will be equipped with a Toolbox of tailored best practices and guidelines for improving soil health and supporting soil biodiversity. Additionally, data on the social, economic, and environmental impacts, as well as the potential risks associated with the developed practices, will be made available to support informed decision-making.