Project proposal for: Soil pollution processes – modelling and inclusion in advanced digital decision-support tools (TOPIC ID: HORIZON-MISS-2023-SOIL-01-02)

1. Excellence Life on Earth intrinsically relies on the integrity of soil systems, but soil health, defined as the enduring capacity to sustain ecosystem services, is in decline across the globe. In addition, climate change exerts further pressures, propelling soil degradation through mechanisms such as accelerated erosion, loss of fertility, and reduced water availability. Over the years, several measures and strategies have been implemented to safeguard soils health, from the policy design to the operational level, mainly focused on three aspects: 1) waste management to prevent soil contamination; 2) contaminated site remediation (using a vast array of remediation techniques to clean up contaminated sites and restore soil quality); and 3) reducing the use of chemicals, i.e., lowering the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides in the agricultural sector to prevent the accumulation of harmful substances in the soil. However, most mitigation efforts target discrete problems without a systemic perspective that accounts for interconnected chemical, physical, and biological dimensions of soil systems. They concentrate spatially on localised areas and temporally on proximate rather than long-term impacts. Key knowledge gaps remain regarding contaminant fate and transport pathways, microbiome community shifts, nutrient cycle disruptions, and cascading effects propagating across environmental media. Moreover, the emergence of novel contaminants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), or microplastics makes fragmented management and pollution mitigation much less effective, if not impossible, due to the persistence, potential for long-term environmental impacts, and complex pathways of entry into soil and groundwater systems of a massive number of contaminants. Even though European standards have effectively lowered pollution levels, it's important to acknowledge that the shifting political situation in Ukraine is expected to contribute to an escalation in the extent of contaminated land. This increase is anticipated due to factors such as the excessive use of ammunition and rocket fuels that contain highly toxic elements and their associated impact on the environment. Overall goal: DigiSoil supports the integration of a high standard of environmental protection and enhance the quality of the environment within the framework of EU policies. This aligns with the principle of sustainable development articulated in Article 37 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and supported in parallel with the obligation to safeguard the right to life from Article 2 of the same Charter. In addition to address soil pollution, enhance soil health, and support ecosystem services in line with the EU Action Plan 'Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil' and the objectives of the Mission 'A Soil Deal for Europe', namely the objectives to reduce soil pollution and enhance rehabilitation, increase re-use of urban soils and improve soil literacy in society. DigiSoil will foster the implementation of the EU Soil Strategy, and the attainment of its 2050 vision that “all EU soil ecosystems are in healthy condition and are thus more resilient”. DigiSoil aims: DigiSoil will create an integrated modelling platform for soil systems by consolidating and advancing predictive models to generate scenario simulations of soil processes, and responses to contamination/pollution and management practices. The models will be empirically verified and interfaced with real-time monitoring data to enable robust projections. The platform will provide science-based decision support for policy-makers and land managers to evaluate prevention and remediation strategies that safeguard soil health. The platform will seamlessly integrate with key stakeholders, including 'Destination Earth,' and establish connections with prominent EU networks like EUSO, UN FAO, and IMPEL, given that certain DigiSoil partners are actively engaged in collaborative efforts with these organizations. By catalysing coordinated access to soil intelligence, DigiSoil seeks to promote responsible worldwide soil stewardship where economic development and ecosystem integrity co-exist. Core Concept: 'One size fits all' approaches to soil processes, and hence the health of (each) type of soil are inadequate considering the differences in soils and climate across Europe. Soil systems and pollution processes are context-dependent and should consider site-specific conditions, agro-ecological practices, climatic conditions, and financial and societal factors. In addition, linkages and interactions between soil, air, and water, as well as climate and food are numerous, complex and evolving spatially in time. Together they constitute relationships dynamic in nature that need to be integrated and investigated holistically. Hence, improving soil contamination and pollution prevention demands a nexus-based framework integrating associated environmental spheres to accurately model contamination flows, processes, and causal relationships. This involves the integration of disparate data streams into cohesive spatio-temporal digital platforms, effectively connecting previously isolated soil-related data sources. Leveraging these interlinked soil intelligence systems will ensure data quality, reliability and credibility. This process enables a comprehensive and dynamic multi-dimensional approach to policy development and governance, improving the overall responsiveness and effectiveness of decision-making processes. Groundbreaking approach: DigiSoil uses Building Information Modelling (BIM) as an integrated modelling platform for soil systems. This is a groundbreaking approach for six key reasons: 1. Novel application - BIM has transforming design and engineering for the built environment, but remains untapped regarding natural systems modelling. It represents an innovative adaptation of BIM to soil systems. 2. Multi-dimensional - BIM's six dimensions allow the incorporation of physical, chemical, biological, temporal, social, and environmental data seamlessly into one collaborative soil model. This enables new holistic insights. 3. Scalability - BIM models can flexibly scale from micro-level soil processes to macro-level watershed or landscape visualisations. This supports decision-making across spatial boundaries. 4. Interoperability - BIM's standardised object-oriented structure facilitates model integration and data sharing across disciplines and platforms. This enables consolidated soil knowledge. 5. Prediction - Dynamic BIM models can effectively simulate soil responses over time and DigiSoil will develop an Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) predictive tool that will use large datasets to make accurate predictions based on patterns, data trends, and historical information. This provides a virtual test-bed for contamination/pollution and land use scenarios. 6. Accessibility - BIM's visual interface and immersive 3D presentation of model outputs make complex soil data interpretable for diverse users. Moreover, DigiSoil combines Copernicus remote sensing data streams with blockchain-enabled cybersecurity to pioneer a digital twin framework for integrated soil pollution management. Soil sciences will be combined with high-resolution Earth observation data from Copernicus Sentinel satellites and feed continuous, real-time insights into the BIM multidimensional, scalable digital platform, operationalising proactive, large-scale decision support to identify and mitigate emerging soil pollution threats pre-emptively. Underlying blockchain architecture will provide immutable records of soil parameter data while enforcing access permissions, transparency, and cybersecurity via smart contracts. Main output: The fusion of cutting-edge space assets and encryption in DigiSoil signifies a paradigm shift towards democratised soil intelligence, where a digitally unified representation of actual soil conditions guides collective action to safeguard ecosystem health based on trusted, secured data. By engendering trust and accountability across public and private stakeholders, DigiSoil facilitates capacity building and cooperative data sharing and verification of compliance with soil pollution regulations and remediation plans. Furthermore, it will support and capitalise on transversal projects and initiatives linked to Missions ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’, ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’ and ‘Adaptation to Climate Change’. 1.1 Objectives and ambition The scope of the call has been structured into six specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives. These objectives, coined as specific objectives (SOs), were designed to form the foundation pillars of the project's work packages (WPs) that seamless interface, constantly translating exchanged data into actionable information. At the heart of the project's essence lies the construction of an interconnected suite of comprehensive models. Designed to elevate the comprehension of the intricate interplay between various forms of soil pollution and the fabric of soil processes, functions, and their interconnected ecosystem services. A hallmark of distinction for these models is their inherent capacity to quantify uncertainty, predict dynamic interactions within soil systems, and anticipate the ripple effects of soil-related processes. SO1: Develop an integrated modeling system for soil processes and pollution to enhance understanding (related to WP1) The purpose of the objective is to integrate a modeling system for soil processes and utilize it for Drivers-Pressures-States-Impacts-Responses assessment that links with SO5 (see further below). This identifies drivers affecting soil health and develops relevant resolution strategies and policy recommendations. Essential components of soil systems, incl