During March, Charlotte Chivers attended a workshop at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre to discuss the future of soil literacy across the EU. Several EU-funded projects and initiatives outlined how they plan to encourage broader public engagement with soil—ranging from “talking soil benches” to events, festivals, guidance, MOOCs, and various creative approaches.
Charlotte introduced the TERRASAFE EU project, highlighting its multi-actor approach to strengthening soil awareness. TERRASAFE emphasises collaboration with land managers and local communities in pilot areas, and will allow them to monitor the impact of new innovations on soil properties. By selecting user-friendly Key Performance Indicators, participants can measure changes in the field without the need for costly equipment or advanced training. She also spoke about a CaSTCo citizen-led science initiative, SoilSMaRT, and discussed how social science research can help frame messages in ways that resonate with different audiences.
Drawing on her experience, Charlotte suggested that efforts to boost soil literacy should ideally be participatory and co-designed, in part to recognise localised knowledge about soils. Before launching activities, it is useful to consult the intended audiences—finding out what they want to know and how they prefer to receive the information—while recognising that external factors can affect their ability to engage. She noted that linking soil to economics, food production, and human health can pique initial interest.
The workshop offered a valuable opportunity for knowledge-sharing, bringing together varied perspectives on how best to move forward, while acknowledging the potential for a roadmap to strengthen soil literacy across Europe. CCRI look forward to being involved in future efforts!
