Predicting the future of soil health with AI
2025-10-13 11:30 - 13:00 (Europe/Amsterdam) | Online
Join the third session in the AI 4 Soil Health project webinar series “Envisioning the future of soil health monitoring”.
Book your ticket via Eventbrite
Predicting the future of soil health with AI

Part of the “Envisioning the future of soil health monitoring” series for AI4SoilHealth, hosted by Soil Association.
What role can AI play in assessing soil degradation, mapping vulnerabilities, and identifying the drivers of soil health decline? Can machine learning and process-based models provide reliable insights into Soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics? And how can indicator frameworks be integrated into modelling projects to strengthen our ability to track and safeguard soil health?
Sign up to this free webinar to join leading experts to discuss these topics and learn more about the future of soil science.
In this webinar we are joined by AI 4 Soil Health project partners and a member of the European Commission to discuss AI, modelling and soil health indicator frameworks. The panel will discuss what these methods mean for the future of soil health, explore challenges and opportunities, and share lessons learned from applying models across Europe.
We are joined by:

Prof. David Robinson, Principal Research Scientist, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH)

Dr. Emanuele Lugato, Project-Scientific Officer, European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC)

Dr. Mehdi Afshar, Research Associate, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH)

What to expect

Join AI 4 Soil Health Project leaders David Robinson, UKCEH, and Mehdi Afshar, TUHH. David will introduce a range of indicator frameworks, questioning how the framing of key terms such as ‘quality’ and ‘soil health’ can influence choices in monitoring and modelling projects. Mehdi will share insights from current research into using predictive modelling for mapping soil vulnerability to degradation across Europe.
Hear from Emanuele Lugato, European Commission’s JRC, about lessons learned in predicting Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) with artificial intelligence and process-based models. He will describe some concrete published studies, the issues encountered, and the pros and cons of the different methodologies.

Ask your questions to David, Emanuele and Mehdi through a live Q&A.

This webinar series for AI 4 Soil Health explores how AI, open data and new research is transforming soil health monitoring and management across Europe.
Find out more about the AI 4 Soil Health project: https://ai4soilhealth.eu/about

What is the relevance of soil monitoring and soil health predictive models for farmers, researchers and policy makers?
The EU “Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive”, agreed in April 2025, is the first of its kind to set legal standards for assessing and improving soil health across member states. Its goal is for all EU soils to reach a healthy condition by 2050, supporting broader environmental targets like the European Green Deal.
But why is soil monitoring making its way up the agenda?

Across the EU and UK, significant areas of soil are under pressure – everything from compaction to loss of organic matter – and the effects aren’t always visible until productivity declines or flooding worsens.
Soil biology, encompassing microorganisms like bacteria and fungi, is fundamental to nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and overall soil fertility.
Robust soil health data, derived from consistent measurement practices, provides policymakers with the evidence. This evidence is needed to create stronger, more targeted agricultural and environmental policies that are inclusive of soil and ultimately deliver meaningful impact for people, food, and the environment.

Who should attend?

Policy makers and civil servants who are engaged in soil-related strategies, projects, or regulatory initiatives.

Research leaders and scientific experts involved in soil monitoring programmes, Living Labs and the development of research and innovation policy recommendations.

Practitioners and innovators working on soil health and using or testing new monitoring approaches.

Stakeholders from civil society, NGOs, and grassroots movements with an active interest in soil health.

Private sector representatives contributing to or benefiting from soil health innovations.

Building soil monitoring into policy
2025-11-12 11:00 - 12:30 (Europe/Amsterdam) | Online
Join the fourth session in the AI 4 Soil Health project webinar series “Envisioning the future of soil health monitoring”.
Book your ticket via Eventbrite
Please note, this has been rescheduled for Wednesday 12th November in line with the timeframe for the Soil Monitoring Law being processed, allowing for a richer discussion in the webinar.

Building soil monitoring into policy
What data do policymakers need to protect soils, and how will the new EU Soil Monitoring Law help deliver it? How can projects like AI4SH support member states in turning the Soil Monitoring Law into effective monitoring systems on the ground? What lessons can we learn from Denmark’s approach to integrating soil monitoring into its national environmental monitoring programme?
Sign up to this free webinar to join leading experts to discuss these topics and learn more about how soil science is being used to develop European policies.
In this webinar we are joined by AI 4 Soil Health project partners and policy experts to discuss the opportunities and challenges of implementing the new Soil Monitoring Law across Europe. The panel will explore how robust soil data can bridge the gap between science and policy, what practical steps are needed to embed monitoring into national programmes, and how collaborative projects can accelerate progress towards healthier soils across the EU.

We are joined by:

Giovanna Giuffrè, Senior Researcher and Partner at ISINNOVA
Prof. Mogens Humlekrog Greve, Head of Soil Section at Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University
Dr. Lucas de Carvalho Gomes, Postdoctoral Researcher at Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University

What to Expect
Giovanna Giuffrè (Senior Researcher and Partner at ISINNOVA) specialises in foresight, policy analysis, and stakeholder engagement to foster meaningful science–policy dialogue. With over 15 years of experience in EU research projects focused on sustainability, land management, and agriculture, she will share insights from AI 4 Soil Health’s stakeholder consultations, highlighting the need for detailed soil data to inform policy. Her contribution will focus on how the proposed Soil Monitoring Law can help close critical gaps in scale and scope to strengthen decision-making for soil health conservation and remediation.
Hear from Prof. Mogens Humlekrog Greve and Dr. Lucas de Carvalho Gomes of Aarhus University, who will share insights from Denmark’s experience in preparing for the implementation of the Soil Monitoring Law. They will discuss how their research has simulated the rollout of soil monitoring units, the role of national ministries in embedding soil into environmental monitoring programmes, and the practical challenges and opportunities of turning EU-level legislation into effective systems at the member state level.
Ask your questions to Giovanna, Mogens and Lucas through a live Q&A.
This webinar series for AI 4 Soil Health explores how AI, open data and new research is transforming soil health monitoring and management across Europe. Find out more about the AI 4 Soil Health project: https://ai4soilhealth.eu/about and watch our previous webinars: Envisioning the future of soil health monitoring – Youtube.

Why now?
On 29 September 2025, the European Council formally adopted the first-ever EU-wide directive for soil monitoring – a landmark step towards healthier and more resilient soils by 2050. The new Soil Monitoring Law requires member states to set up systems to track the physical, chemical and biological condition of soils using a common EU methodology. Regular reporting to the Commission and the European Environment Agency will ensure comparable data across the EU, enabling coordinated action on soil degradation. The law also extends monitoring to emerging contaminants such as PFAS, pesticides and microplastics.
With the European Parliament’s final vote scheduled for late October, this is a pivotal moment to explore what the law means in practice. How will monitoring be implemented across member states? What data will be needed? And how can projects like AI 4 Soil Health support the transition from policy to action?
Who Should Attend?

Policy makers and civil servants who are engaged in soil-related strategies, projects, or regulatory initiatives.
Research leaders and scientific experts involved in soil monitoring programmes, Living Labs and the development of research and innovation policy recommendations.
Practitioners and innovators working on soil health and using or testing new monitoring approaches.
Stakeholders from civil society, NGOs, and grassroots movements with an active interest in soil health.
Private sector representatives contributing to or benefiting from soil health innovations.

Decoding soil biology for soil health
2025-11-24 11:30 - 13:00 (Europe/Amsterdam)
Join the fifth and final session in the AI 4 Soil Health project webinar series “Envisioning the future of soil health monitoring”.
Book your ticket via Eventbrite
Decoding soil biology for soil health
Part of the “Envisioning the future of soil health monitoring” series for AI 4 Soil Health (AI4SH), hosted by Soil Association.
How can biological indicators, e.g. microbial communities and enzymatic activity, give us a clearer picture of soil health? Can real-time soil biology measurements combined with satellite data and models turn microbial signals into actionable intelligence for farm nutrient management? How do land use, climate and vegetation shape soil biodiversity and function across Europe, and what does that mean for monitoring and policy?
Sign up to this free webinar to join leading experts to discuss these topics and learn more about how soil science is advancing our understanding of the living processes that sustain healthy soils.
In this webinar we are joined by AI 4 Soil Health project partners and experts to discuss the latest research and innovations in decoding soil biology – from measuring microbial diversity and enzyme activity to transforming biological data into practical tools for soil health management. The panel will explore how biological indicators can enhance soil monitoring, how technology is bridging the gap between science and farm management, and what large-scale studies reveal about the relationships between soil life, land use and climate across Europe.
We are joined by:

Dr Lur Epelde, Researcher at NEIKER-Basque Institute of Agricultural Research & Development and the coordinator of its Soil Microbial Ecology Group
Dr. Sonia Meller, CTO and co-founder of the Swiss startup Digit Soil
Dr Maëva Labouyrie, Project Officer for Soil Biodiversity at European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC). Her work supports the EU Soil Observatory (EUSO), a platform providing knowledge and data flows necessary to safeguard and restore soils.
The webinar is being chaired by Joseph Gridley, CEO of Soil Association Exchange. Exchange unlocks science and data to help farmers and businesses measure, understand, and improve their environmental impact.

What to Expect?
Lur Epelde (NEIKER) will provide an overview of the advantages and limitations of using soil biological properties as indicators of soil health, presenting the tools employed in the AI4SH project and the ongoing work being conducted across 13 pilot sites.
Sonia Meller (Digit Soil) will explore ongoing work in Soil Enzymatic Activity, addressing the critical gap between science and farm management by focusing on dynamic nutrient fluxes, not static measurements. She will demonstrate their new portable device (SEAR) that reduces complex biological analysis time from weeks to hours. Digit Soil merge this real-time soil data with satellite imagery and farming practices to produce a predictive application that gives farmers actionable intelligence on fertilizer timing and amount, helping to optimize yield and reduce nutrient loss.
Maëva Labouyrie (JRC) will present the Lucas Soil Biodiversity 2018 survey and share insights into the distribution patterns of bacterial and fungal communities and their functions across Europe, exploring their relationships with environmental drivers and soil pressures. She will also discuss the key implications of this work for soil biodiversity assessment, highlighting current gaps and future directions. See here for a recent publication:
Ask your questions to Lur, Sonia, Maëva and Joseph through a live Q&A, and give live interactive thoughts and feedback through Mentimeter.
This webinar series for AI 4 Soil Health explores how AI, open data and new research is transforming soil health monitoring and management across Europe. Find out more about the AI 4 Soil Health project: https://ai4soilhealth.eu/about and watch our previous webinars: Envisioning the future of soil health monitoring – Youtube.

Who should attend?

Policy makers and civil servants who are engaged in soil-related strategies, projects, or regulatory initiatives.
Research leaders and scientific experts involved in soil monitoring programmes, Living Labs and the development of research and innovation policy recommendations.
Practitioners and innovators working on soil health and using or testing new monitoring approaches.
Stakeholders from civil society, NGOs, and grassroots movements with an active interest in soil health.
Private sector representatives contributing to or benefiting from soil health innovations.

Find out more:
Maëva’s 2023 publication linking soil bacterial and fungal communities to soil properties, climate and vegetation cover, with key implications regarding soil biodiversity assessment, for gaps and avenues. Patterns in soil microbial diversity across Europe | Nature Communications
Tutorial on how to operate Digit Soil’s soil enzymatic activity reader and a further publication.
Soil Association Exchange: By combining digital tools with expert agricultural advice, Exchange provides clear insights across six key areas — Soil Health, Water, Carbon, Biodiversity, Animal Welfare, and Social Impact — helping farmers access tailored support and funding to drive sustainable, profitable farming that benefits both nature and the bottom line. For corporates, it offers a trusted, data-driven way to invest in on-farm improvements and report impact with confidence. Learn more: Profitable and sustainable farming | Soil Association Exchange

Soil Health and Nature Restoration: Governance, Methods & Data
2026-05-08 11:00 - 12:30 (Europe/Rome) | Online
The first webinar of AI4SoilHealth’s Cross-Policy Soil Dialogues Series:
Friday 8 May 2026
11:00–12:30 CEST
Online (Zoom) – Register Now
This webinar will bring together researchers, policy experts, practitioners and stakeholders to explore how soil monitoring data, AI-powered indicators and field-tested methodologies can support the implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation.
The session is hosted and moderated by Dr. Giovanna Giuffrè (ISINNOVA) and will feature contributions from:

Dr Eleonora Peruzzi– CNR-IRET, Pisa
Dr Vito Emanuele Cambria– Sapienza Università di Roma & BiodivRestore Knowledge Hub
Christine Alewell– University of Basel
Dr Vince Chukwu– University of Aberdeen

View the preliminary agenda.
Topics will include:

linking the Soil Monitoring Lawand the Nature Restoration Regulation,

soil health indicators for nature-based solutions,
methods for baseline setting and trend assessment,
monitoring soil carbon in peatland and forest systems,
practical use of AI4SoilHealth tools and indicators.

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required here: https://forms.gle/s5sYqH2tGEssRHhG8

Soil Health Now! 2026
2026-12-07 - 2026-12-10
Join us for the 2026 Soil Health Now! & AI 4 Soil Health Final Event. This four-day international conference and the final AI4SoilHealth project event with feature keynotes, discussion forums, oral talks, workshops and demonstrations + fieldwork: science, technology and business intelligence for measuring monitoring and increasing soil health. The event will be held at Aristotle University Research Dissemination Center (KEDEA), in Thessaloniki, Greece, from 7th-10th December 2026.
Book your ticket via the event website
What to expect
Soil Health Now! seeks to create a space for exchanging ideas on soil monitoring, science, technology, and business intelligence for measuring, monitoring, and increasing soil health. The event will feature collaborations with key stakeholders; presentations of AI4SoilHealth and other Soil Mission project outputs, pilot sites, soil instruments demos, and panel discussions with farmers and agricultural experts that will encourage a collaboration among parties.
Submit your proposal
We’re also inviting submissions for oral talks, posters and workshops / demos. You can directly submit your proposal via Pretalx. Applications will close on 1st June 2026.
Who is the event aimed at?
The conference is designed for a diverse group of participants, including: Project Partners from the AI4SoilHealth and Soil Health Benchmarks projects; Soil Health Experts: Researchers and scientists specialising in soil health; EU Agencies and Programs: Representatives from the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Environment Agency (EEA), and other relevant EU bodies; Institutions: Universities and research institutions engaged in soil health studies; Farmer Associations: Groups representing farmers, including both established and young farmers; Industry Members: Companies involved in agricultural technology and business intelligence related to soil health; Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs): Organisations focused on environmental sustainability and soil health.
