The Bioeconomy Strategy of Catalonia (EBC2030) aims to support the sustainable production of biological resources, with a goal of eliminating net carbon emissions by 2050. It focuses on two key objectives related to soil: improving the quality of agricultural and forest soils to enhance carbon sequestration through organic fertilisation and sustainable practices, and promoting ecosystem services by establishing payment mechanisms for services such as carbon capture. As part of the EBC’s 2022-2024 Action Plan, a working group on soil carbon (GTCS) was created, bringing together various government units and research centres.

In line with the EBC2030 goals, the Technical Office of the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food for the Catalan Government is promoting a national Soil Cluster to spark the research and exchange of information regarding soil health developed by various centres over the last years. 

Through this was born the Government-funded project Carboni al Sòl, seeking to improve the quality of soils in Catalonia and enhance their capacity to capture carbon through knowledge transfer and the promotion of more sustainable agronomic and forestry practices. 

The initiative ends in 2025, but the Technical Office’s efforts to sustain and continue the work done to structure a Soil Cluster persevere. 

During a consortium meeting of the project, taking place on 13 March at the Institute of Agrifood, Research and Technology (IRTA), SOLO partners Frances Castro Cirac (LEITAT) and Salvador Lladó (University of Barcelona) held a session presenting the Soils for Europe project. During the session, they introduced the project, as well as set the groundwork for future collaboration among institutions, projects, government bodies and other interested stakeholders.