Modelling pollutant transport across the soil-water-atmosphere conituum, and impacts on ecosystem services

ongoing

Thanks to a unique upgrade of knowledge and advanced digital tools, SOILPROM will improve the modelling of soil pollution processes for metals, PFAS, nutrients, microplastics, and pesticides through soil, air, water, and plants compartments, to reach reduced levels of pollution and healthier soils across Europe. Using both existing European databases and local newly collected standardised datasets in accordance with DestinE and EUSO requirements, project partners will upgrade, integrate and validate existing soil pollution models under field conditions in its 6 diversified use-cases. The upgraded and integrated models will be usable in an open-access Modelling Platform for scientists coupled with a decision-support tool for practitioners. It will allow to gain knowledge and to increase the capacities in describing key pollution processes and their long-term impacts with respect to the different soil processes, functions, and related ecosystem services. Particularly, emphasis will be placed on quantifying ecosystem services in the 6 SOILPROM use-cases and the related impact of local policies and practices, leading to the development of scenarios. Thus, SOILPROM will deliver suitable recommendations to enhance the uptake of policies and sustainable soil management practices for environmental and human well-being. All along the project and through regular workshops, consultations, and meetings, SOILPROM will work in close collaboration with its end-users, ranging from the R&D community to local, national, and EU policymakers, but also various land managers and related EU projects.