Last August, SoilValues participated in the EAAE Congress in Bonn, where Marco Moretti presented the poster: โ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ: ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ฑ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ข๐๐ฌโ
Soil degradation represents a pressing challenge in Europe. This has prompted not only policy responses but also the emergence of numerous bottom-up, grassroots initiatives centred on soil health โ collectively referred to as ๐๐จ๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฌ (๐๐๐๐๐ฌ). These models often entail changes in social relations, yet such dimensions remain largely overlooked compared with the technological and economic aspects of SHBMs.
The aim of this study was therefore to examine how SHBMs reshape social relations, and how these evolve over time, by adopting a ๐๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง perspective. A descriptive case study approach was employed within the SoilValues project, with six SHBMs selected across different European contexts. This poster discussed three of these cases. Preliminary findings highlighted:
๐นThe ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ, as SHBMs are deeply embedded in local contexts;
๐นThe ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ฌโ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ as land stewards and key members of rural communities, beyond their function as food producers;
๐นThe ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง as a key driver, often in response to political inertia or to surpass legal requirements;
๐นThe potential of SHBMs arising from ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐ฐ๐๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ค๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ, generating benefits for society as a whole.
This work illustrates how innovative business models can drive both ecological and social change โ contributing to a more resilient and sustainable future for Europeโs soils. Many thanks to Marco Moretti, Kato Van Ruymbeke, Kasper Krabbe, Martin Thorsรธe and Erik Mathijs for their valuable contributions to this research and their commitment to advancing sustainable, farmer-centered innovation!
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