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Strategic Analysis
To secure a winning proposal for HORIZON-MISS-2026-05-SOIL-04, the consortium must position itself as the ultimate bridge between legacy agronomic science and cutting-edge artificial intelligence. The core strategy relies on establishing a high-performing multi-actor network of at least 50 Long-Term Field Experiments (LTEs) that feeds a highly interoperable, open-access data platform. By leveraging Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) to engage agile AgTech developers, the project will deliver intuitive, AI-driven mobile applications that translate complex soil dynamics into actionable, real-time decisions for small-scale farmers.
There is a need for standardized methods in collecting and reporting soil data to ensure consistency and comparability across different studies and regions.
Opportunities exist to integrate soil data from long-term field experiments with other data sources (including the Mission Soil projects results, but not only) to provide a more comprehensive understanding of soil health dynamics and trend, as well as response to policies and management strategies.
Enhancing the accessibility and interoperability of soil data across platforms and sources can facilitate collaborative research and accelerate advancements in soil health management.
More high-resolution temporal and spatial data are needed to capture short-term soil dynamics and site-specific variations that can influence broader interpretations of soil health trends.
design and implement standardised protocols and procedures for harmonised soil data collection, ensuring consistency and comparability, from different LTEs and regions across the EU and Horizon Europe Associated Countries;
develop robust frameworks for integrating LTE data with other relevant soil health datasets, including outputs from Mission Soil projects, to create comprehensive soil health databases;
develop open-access and user-friendly interoperable systems and platforms to improve data sharing and accessibility, allowing researchers, advisors, land managers and other stakeholders to easily access and utilize comprehensive soil health information;
build a network of at least 50 LTEs covering most representative pedo-climatic regions in the EU and Associated Countries involving at least 7 owning institutions, to test and validate the developed infrastructure;
promote the use of the developed infrastructure for widespread collection and integration of as many as possible soil-health relevant databases (LTEs and others) by, for example, developing intuitive interfaces and user-friendly platforms, partnering with relevant organizations managing LTEs and/or generating datasets, demonstration projects, feedback and improvement loops or training and support services;
develop AI-driven tools to analyze integrated datasets (including publicly available such as CORDIS, SoilWise repository or repositories like Zenodo), extracting meaningful patterns, and generating predictive models that inform soil health dynamics and management strategies;
examine potentially correlated explanatory covariates and their relative contribution to the outcome to facilitate spatial downscaling and forecasting in data poor regions and areas by using pre-trained deep learning models;
develop and train open-source and/or modular AI components, providing comprehensive documentation and tutorials, and establish and nurture open-source communities by, for example, hosting hackathons, workshops, or online platforms to encourage the development, sharing, and integration of the developed modular AI components into commercial applications for land managers and advisors, with a focus on small-scale producers;
mine large data from publicly available databases (e.g. CORDIS, SoilWise repository or repositories like Zenodo) to pre-train deep learning models and artificial intelligence mobile apps that will facilitate real-time soil status assessments.
enhanced adoption of impactful sustainable soil management solutions and strategies supported by AI-powered decision support systems by land managers;
harmonised, standard, robust, interoperable and accessible methods, protocols and logical architecture for long-term field experiments (LTEs) data collection and integration (including with other datasets) are in place;
scientists, policymakers, and land managers gain enhanced access to comprehensive, high-quality soil data, enabling better research, informed decision-making, and effective land management practices.
No expected impacts identified for this destination.
Mission Soil
highThe EU Mission 'A Soil Deal for Europe' aims to lead the transition to healthy soils by 2030 by establishing 100 living labs and lighthouses, funding research, and developing a harmonized framework for soil monitoring. It addresses key threats like erosion, compaction, and loss of organic matter across various land uses.
Evaluators look for proposals that align with the Mission's specific objectives, particularly in creating open-access, AI-ready datasets and decision support tools that can be integrated into the Mission's monitoring framework. Proposals should demonstrate how they will engage with living labs, contribute to the soil health indicators, and support the goal of transitioning to healthy soils by 2030.
EU Soil Strategy for 2030
highThe EU Soil Strategy for 2030 aims to ensure that by 2050, all soil ecosystems in the EU are healthy and resilient, with concrete actions to be taken by 2030. It focuses on protecting soil biodiversity, reducing erosion, preventing desertification, and restoring degraded soils, recognizing soil as a vital, non-renewable resource.
Proposals must directly address how their activities contribute to achieving healthy soils, including monitoring, protection, and restoration measures, particularly in forest environments. The concept of 'living labs to enhance soil health' is a direct application of this strategy's objectives.
Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive
highThe Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive provides a legal framework to achieve healthy soils across the EU by 2050. It establishes a robust monitoring framework, defines indicators for soil health, and mandates member states to implement sustainable soil management practices and address soil contamination.
Evaluators expect proposals to align their data structures, indicators, and decision support systems with the harmonized soil monitoring criteria proposed in the Directive. Projects should demonstrate how their AI-ready datasets and tools can help Member States monitor, report, and achieve the 'healthy soil' status defined by the regulation.
Specific requirements
EU space data infrastructures
If the project uses satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation or timing data/services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other sources may be added but not substitute EU infrastructures.
Civil applications only
Horizon Europe funds exclusively civil applications. Research with exclusive military or dual-use application is excluded.
Gender Equality Plan
Having a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) is an eligibility criterion for public bodies, research organisations, and higher education institutions from Member States and Associated Countries.
Open Science
Mandatory open access to peer-reviewed scientific publications and responsible management of research data (FAIR principles, DMP required).
Multi-actor approach required
Proposals must apply the multi-actor approach as defined in the introduction to this work programme part.
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described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
Proposals must apply the multi-actor approach. See definition of the multi-actor approach in the introduction to this work programme part.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties to involve developers in creating or improving AI-powered applications that provide tailored advice to farmers and advisors, enhancing soil management and benefiting small-scale producers. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 60 000.
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
Information on financial support to third parties (HE)
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 12. Missions
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Evaluators will prioritize proposals that demonstrate immediate feasibility and high stakeholder buy-in. They will look for: 1) Signed commitment letters from at least 7 institutions owning the 50+ LTEs across diverse pedo-climatic zones; 2) Concrete integration plans with SoilWise and the EU Soil Observatory; 3) A clear, legally compliant FSTP mechanism (max €60k per sub-grantee) to co-design AI tools with smallholders; and 4) A robust multi-actor approach that actively involves agricultural advisors as key intermediaries to ensure the long-term adoption of the decision support systems.
Everything the call asks for, seen from the call's point of view. Each line shows what answers it, and which partner carries it.
This matrix lists everything the call asks for: outcomes, impacts, scope, the requirements buried in the call text, and policy alignment. Sign up free and GrantForge tracks each line against the concept you build.
| Requirement | Covered by | Carried | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope activities | |||
| SC1There is a need for standardized methods in collecting and reporting soil data to ensure consistency and comparability across different studies and regions. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC2Opportunities exist to integrate soil data from long-term field experiments with other data sources (including the Mission Soil projects results, but not only) to provide a more comprehensive understanding of soil health dynamics and trend, as well as response to policies and management strategies. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC3Enhancing the accessibility and interoperability of soil data across platforms and sources can facilitate collaborative research and accelerate advancements in soil health management. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC4More high-resolution temporal and spatial data are needed to capture short-term soil dynamics and site-specific variations that can influence broader interpretations of soil health trends. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC5design and implement standardised protocols and procedures for harmonised soil data collection, ensuring consistency and comparability, from different LTEs and regions across the EU and Horizon Europe Associated Countries; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC6develop robust frameworks for integrating LTE data with other relevant soil health datasets, including outputs from Mission Soil projects, to create comprehensive soil health databases; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC7develop open-access and user-friendly interoperable systems and platforms to improve data sharing and accessibility, allowing researchers, advisors, land managers and other stakeholders to easily access and utilize comprehensive soil health information; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC8build a network of at least 50 LTEs covering most representative pedo-climatic regions in the EU and Associated Countries involving at least 7 owning institutions, to test and validate the developed infrastructure; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC9promote the use of the developed infrastructure for widespread collection and integration of as many as possible soil-health relevant databases (LTEs and others) by, for example, developing intuitive interfaces and user-friendly platforms, partnering with relevant organizations managing LTEs and/or generating datasets, demonstration projects, feedback and improvement loops or training and support services; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC10develop AI-driven tools to analyze integrated datasets (including publicly available such as CORDIS, SoilWise repository or repositories like Zenodo), extracting meaningful patterns, and generating predictive models that inform soil health dynamics and management strategies; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC11examine potentially correlated explanatory covariates and their relative contribution to the outcome to facilitate spatial downscaling and forecasting in data poor regions and areas by using pre-trained deep learning models; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC12develop and train open-source and/or modular AI components, providing comprehensive documentation and tutorials, and establish and nurture open-source communities by, for example, hosting hackathons, workshops, or online platforms to encourage the development, sharing, and integration of the developed modular AI components into commercial applications for land managers and advisors, with a focus on small-scale producers; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC13mine large data from publicly available databases (e.g. CORDIS, SoilWise repository or repositories like Zenodo) to pre-train deep learning models and artificial intelligence mobile apps that will facilitate real-time soil status assessments. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected outcomes | |||
| EO1enhanced adoption of impactful sustainable soil management solutions and strategies supported by AI-powered decision support systems by land managers; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO2harmonised, standard, robust, interoperable and accessible methods, protocols and logical architecture for long-term field experiments (LTEs) data collection and integration (including with other datasets) are in place; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO3scientists, policymakers, and land managers gain enhanced access to comprehensive, high-quality soil data, enabling better research, informed decision-making, and effective land management practices. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Other requirements | |||
| REQ1Multi-actor approach involving primary production sector and actorsThe project(s) must implement the multi-actor approach and ensure an adequate involvement of the primary production sector and all relevant actors (landowners, farmers, scientists, advisors, local/regional/national public authorities) throughout the project. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ2Collaboration with SoilWise project and EU Soil ObservatoryProposals should build on the work done by the SoilWise project and collaborate with the EU Soil Observatory. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ3Collaboration with Mission Soil projects and African Union Soil ObservatoryProposals should include a dedicated task and appropriate resources to collaborate with other Mission Soil projects developing soil information systems, specifically the African Union Soil Observatory (AUSO) and other initiatives funded in the EU, Associated Countries, and Africa. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ4Encouraged participation of African organizationsParticipation of African organizations is encouraged within the context of collaborating with soil information systems projects and initiatives in Africa. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ5Open-access interoperable platforms and open-source AI community buildingActivities include developing open-access interoperable systems and platforms for data sharing, as well as developing open-source and modular AI components and establishing open-source communities via hackathons, workshops, or online platforms. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected impacts | |||
| No expected impacts in this call. | |||
| Underlying policies | |||
| POL1mission soilThe EU Mission 'A Soil Deal for Europe' aims to lead the transition to healthy soils by 2030 by establishing 100 living labs and lighthouses, funding research, and developing a harmonized framework for soil monitoring. It addresses key threats like erosion, compaction, and loss of organic matter across various land uses. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| POL2eu soil strategy for 2030The EU Soil Strategy for 2030 aims to ensure that by 2050, all soil ecosystems in the EU are healthy and resilient, with concrete actions to be taken by 2030. It focuses on protecting soil biodiversity, reducing erosion, preventing desertification, and restoring degraded soils, recognizing soil as a vital, non-renewable resource. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| POL3soil monitoring and resilience directiveThe Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive provides a legal framework to achieve healthy soils across the EU by 2050. It establishes a robust monitoring framework, defines indicators for soil health, and mandates member states to implement sustainable soil management practices and address soil contamination. | · | · | Sign up to track |
The binding rules of this call. Items marked auto are verified by GrantForge from the call and the template. The others are yours to confirm.
LMIC entities auto-eligible
Low/middle-income country entities are automatically eligible for funding.
EU space data infrastructures
If the project uses satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation or timing data/services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other sources may be added but not substitute EU infrastructures.
Civil applications only
Horizon Europe funds exclusively civil applications. Research with exclusive military or dual-use application is excluded.
Gender Equality Plan
Having a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) is an eligibility criterion for public bodies, research organisations, and higher education institutions from Member States and Associated Countries.
Open Science
Mandatory open access to peer-reviewed scientific publications and responsible management of research data (FAIR principles, DMP required).
Multi-actor approach required
Proposals must apply the multi-actor approach as defined in the introduction to this work programme part.
5 key insights you must internalise before writing. Each is grounded in the call text and tells you what evaluators will actually look for. Share these with your consortium before drafting.
To secure a winning score, the consortium must include signed commitment letters from at least 7 institutions that collectively own a minimum of 50 Long-Term Field Experiments (LTEs). These LTEs must span diverse pedo-climatic zones, making geographic and institutional diversity a strict evaluation prerequisite rather than just a competitive advantage.
Source: Evaluation criteria (pre-award)
While technically listed as an option in the general annexes, evaluators are explicitly instructed to look for a clear Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) mechanism capped at €60,000 per sub-grantee. The consortium must design this cascade funding structure to actively engage external software developers in co-designing AI-powered mobile applications for smallholders.
Source: Evaluation criteria (pre-award)
Although the ultimate end-users are small-scale farmers, the proposal must position agricultural advisors as the primary adoption vehicle. Evaluators will heavily penalize proposals that lack a robust multi-actor approach embedding these advisors to guarantee the long-term uptake of the AI decision support systems.
Source: Evaluation criteria (pre-award)
The proposed data infrastructure cannot operate as a standalone silo. Evaluators will prioritize proposals that present concrete, technically sound integration plans with the SoilWise repository and the EU Soil Observatory, meaning the project's logical architecture must be interoperable with these platforms from day one.
Source: Evaluation criteria (pre-award)
Because this call operates under a Lump Sum Grant Agreement, financial cash flow is entirely dependent on the completion of work packages. The consortium must strategically design its payment milestone structure so that major technical deliverables—such as the deployment of the interoperable platform or the FSTP hackathons—trigger timely financial reimbursements without creating cash-flow bottlenecks.
Source: Eligibility rules
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