Soil is where food begins: The European research strategy to implement the One Health vision

Event organized by SITEIA PARMA.

The conference is organized by the SITEIA PARMA Interdepartmental Center in collaboration with the CINSA Consortium. SITEIA PARMA promotes research and teaching in the agri-food sector, fostering innovation in agricultural product production and processing, as well as environmental research. CINSA brings together leading Italian universities engaged in environmental research and the development of technologies for environmental protection, with a particular focus on the agricultural sector.

Session Contents

The conference will be dedicated to soil health, with a specific focus on agricultural soils and their role in the safety and quality of food production. Following the European One Health approach, soil will be presented as a key element of an integrated system where ecosystem, crop, and human health are closely interconnected.

The event will provide an overview of the main results achieved over more than twelve years of research through EU-funded projects under the Mission Soil, including SIMBA, DELISOIL, and MULTISOIL. These initiatives have developed and validated innovative strategies to improve soil health by promoting the use of new soil improvers and biofertilizers, sustainable management practices, and solutions aimed at conserving the fertility and functionality of agricultural ecosystems.

Alongside European experiences, the regional projects Stream2Be and MEATICO will also be presented, addressing complementary topics related to the connection between soil health, food quality, and the sustainability of agri-food supply chains. Comparing these experiences will highlight how research across different territorial scales can contribute to developing more resilient and sustainable agricultural models capable of meeting future environmental and food challenges.

Session Program

The conference will feature a series of technical-scientific presentations dedicated to the latest European and regional policies and projects on soil health and the One Health approach.

• Representative of the European Mission Soil network (presentation in English) – Introduction to European strategies and the role of the Mission Soil in promoting research and innovation for soil protection.
• Coordinators of the European projects SIMBA, DELISOIL, and MULTISOIL (presentations in English – speakers TBC: Anne Pihlanto, Ansa Palojärvi, Pirjo Yli-Hemminki) – Presentation of key scientific results and innovations developed within their respective projects.
• Project Leads for the regional projects MEATICO and STREAM2BE (presentations in Italian – speakers TBC: Lucrezia Lamastra and Federica Baldassarre) – Overview of research activities and their impact on the local area and agri-food supply chains.
• Roundtable discussion (in Italian) with representatives from academia, institutions, and the agricultural sector, focusing on the prospects for sustainable and regenerative agriculture and the contribution of research to implementing the One Health approach.

During the event, the video "Terra Madre" (Mother Earth)—produced by the University of Parma's Department of Environmental Sciences—will also be screened as an educational contribution highlighting the value of soil and its central role in the health of ecosystems and food production.

  Italian / English translation available (see below)