1. SoilCare introduction
Rudi Hessel, Erik van den Elsen, Simone Verzandvoort, Falentijn Assinck
Wageningen Environmental Research (Alterra)

2. Why SoilCare
Aims of SoilCare
Set-up of SoilCare
Impacts foreseen

3. Why SoilCare?
European crop production is facing more and more difficulties in remaining competitive in the global market. Concerns:
Competitiveness of EU farmers
Profitability of crop production
Massive use of expensive external inputs
Environmental sustainability of agricultural systems
Decreasing soil quality

4. Aim and objectives
Aim: ‘to assess the potential of soil-improving CS and to identify and test site-specific soil-improving CS that have positive impacts on profitability and sustainability in Europe’
To identify “soil-improving cropping systems” (SICS) which have positive impacts on profitability and sustainability in Europe
To assess the potential of SICS in 16 sites in Europe
To facilitate the adoption & implementation of SICS in practice (incl. an analysis of policies affecting adoption)
To develop an interactive tool for the selection of SICS throughout Europe

5. Approach
Multi-disciplinary team to provide evidence on the value of soil-improving CS
Multi-actor approach: stakeholder involvement, barriers & opportunities for the uptake of measures
Multi-scale approach: site-level to EU-level
Multi-temporal approach: literature data, Long-term & short-term experiments

6. Set-up of SOILCARE
The basic concept of SOILCARE is that profitability and sustainability of crop production in Europe should be combined and enhanced.
When impacts on soil quality and environment are positive, and the balance between production costs and revenues is also positive, the dual targets of farm profitability and environmental sustainability are reached.
The term cropping system (CS) refers to crop type, crop rotation, and the agronomic management techniques used on a particular field over a period of years

7. Set-up of SOILCARE

8. Set-up of SOILCARE
Long term experiments (LTE), and 16 Study Sites located in different parts of Europe, covering different pedo-climatic, socio-economic and political conditions.
Building on earlier work (e.g. SmartSOIL, RECARE) and collaborating with ongoing projects (e.g. LANDMARK, iSQAPER)
Three scales are covered by the SOILCARE approach: farm scale, Study Site scale, and European scale.
The basic assumption behind this approach is that different conditions require the use of different CS, and that the applicability, profitability and environmental impacts of the different systems and techniques will therefore vary across Europe

9. Set-up of SOILCARE - focus
Very broad subject, so focus needed
‘The focus of the SS is more on FML3, since soil, water, nutrient and pest management can be adapted in the course of the year, and as these choices generally have more immediate effects than choices made at FML1 and FML2’
‘LTE are mainly used to investigate the effects of decisions taken at FML1 and FML2, as such strategic choices are made infrequently in farming systems, and as effects of such changes may only become apparent in the long term’
‘literature and other published data (including on policies) are mainly used to assess external drivers and factors’

10. Set-up of SoilCare

11. Set-up of SoilCare – Study Sites
1. Flanders, BE
2. Akershus, NO
3. Keszthely, HU
4. Frauenfeld, CH
5. Viborg, DK
6. Loddington, GB
7. Tachenhausen, DE
8. Draganesti Vlasca, RO
9. Legnaro, IT
10. Szaniawy, PL
11. Caldeirão, PT
12. Chania, Crete, GR
13. Orup, SE
14. Prague-Ruzyně, CZ
15. Almeria, ES
16. Brittany, FR

12. Set-up of SoilCare – Study Sites
Different farm types (FML1), but focus not to compare these; rather to look for ways to improve all
Different pedo-climatic, socio-economic, policy conditions
CS include crop choice, crop rotation, agronomic management (of soil, water, nutrients, pests)
Looking at main (categories of) crops in Europe
Focus on arable cropping systems
Basic question: which SICS to use where to best effect?
3 SICS to be selected per Study Site, with stakeholders, so 48 for 16 Study Sites
Need for upscaling to EU scale

13. Scientific Innovation
Scientific innovation can be summarised as follows:
Development of a comprehensive methodology to assess benefits, drawbacks and limitations of soil-improving cropping systems and agronomic techniques, looking at soil quality, environmental impacts, crop yield and effects on profitability and sustainability,
Development of a harmonized method to upscale Study Site results to European level, taking into account different conditions in different parts of Europe,

14. Scientific Innovation
Application of a novel approach to investigate how CS affect soil biological health, and how this influences the chance of plant disease and the ability of the soil to perform its functions. This has direct consequences for crop yield and crop quality,
Development of an interactive tool for selection of soil-improving CS throughout Europe,
Increased insight in bio-physical, economic, social and political barriers for adoption, including ways to overcome such barriers.

15. Impact of SoilCare The main impacts of SoilCare will be that:
SICS, techniques and machinery have been identified across Study Sites, representing the different pedo-climatic zones and different socio-economic conditions in Europe,
insight is obtained on how barriers to adopt these techniques can be minimized and overcome, and
opportunities for and effects of upscaling of adoption at European level are assessed.
Adoption of SICS by farmers will improve soil quality, while at the same time improving profitability and thus competitiveness of European farmers.

16. Impact of SoilCare – FML3

17. Impact of SoilCare Specific impacts mentioned:
Improved soil and water quality, more resilient to degradation
Improved environmental quality, e.g. less GHGs
Scientific support to EU and national policies (agricultural, environmental & nature, Europe 2020 Strategy, Climate)
Evaluation methodology for SICS, scientifically sound and relevant to society (as views and priorities of stakeholders, SMEs and Industry are taken into account)
Increased competitiveness, e.g. through reduced need for external inputs, less impact of land degradation

18. SoilCare facts Partners: 28 Countries: 17 Study sites: 16
Start date: March 1st, 2016
End date: February 28th, 2021

19. Summary
Focus on soil-improving cropping systems (SICS) that are profitable and sustainable
Trans-disciplinary approach looking at bio-physical conditions, policies and socio-economic issues
Multiple study sites covering range of conditions in Europe
Basic question: which SICS can be applied where in Europe to best effect?

20. Thank You! www.soilcare-project.eu @SoilCare_eu SoilCare project
Visit us on LinkedIn!