The DeepHorizon Kick-Off Meeting: Unveiling Groundbreaking Research on Soil Health
The DeepHorizon meeting, which will take place from 23 to 25th October 2021 in the beautiful city of Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium), will mark the start of the official launch of a research programme to change the approach to soil health across Europe.
This event will bring gathered european and beyond partners with the aim of setting a course towards improving sustainable subsoil management.
As part of the European Union’s Horizon Europe initiative, DeepHorizon aims to unravel the enigma of soil health, a very vital but often neglected topic in the field of environmental sustainability.
DeepHorizon Kick-Off Meeting: A Key Milestone for Soil Research
DeepHorizon is an innovative project focused on the “critical zone” where rocks, water and life intersect. Although subsoils have historically received little attention, they must also be considered in terms of carbon sequestration, water retention and nutrient cycling.
This multidisciplinary project will therefore bring together a wide team of researchers who will use cutting-edge technologies to penetrate the depths of these vital ecosystems.
The KoM aims to inspire cooperation between project partners, setting the research agenda for the following annual meetings. It can be highlighted that some of the main topics to be addressed are soil sampling protocols, management plan data and soil sites in Europe to be sampled.
Agenda of the DeepHorizon Kick-Off Meeting
The very three-day meeting will be organized around various core matters touching upon diverse interests in ensuring that all project partners are aware regarding the objectives and methods by which DeepHorizon will be achieved. an aide-de-mémoire on activities scheduled:
- Tuesday, October 22, 2024: The event will start with an ice-breaking session from 19:00 to 21:00 at the ELI building. This informal gathering will allow participants to connect and set a collaborative tone for the days ahead.
- Wednesday, October 23, 2024: The first official day kicks off with a welcome address by the project coordinator, followed by presentations from all partners. In the morning, presentations will focus on the Bodium and ECOSYSmodels, which are central to the project’s research methodology. The day will end with discussions on sampling protocols and a working dinner.
- Thursday, October 24, 2024: A visit to a soil sampling site will be the highlight of the day, giving participants the opportunity to observe subsoil conditions firsthand. This visit will be followed by group discussions on the organization of core soil sites, crucial for the project’s field research.
- Friday, October 25, 2024: The final day will focus on data management and communication plans, ensuring that all research findings are shared effectively across Europe. The day will end with a wrap-up session that consolidates the discussions and outlines the next steps for the project.
Understanding the DeepHorizon Project: A Step Toward Sustainable Land Management
The main goal of DeepHorizon is to enhance our understanding of subsoils, which are crucial for ecosystem services but often neglected in soil research. The project will focus on developing process-based models that assess subsoil functions and their role in sustainable agricultural practices.
Why Focus on Subsoils?
Topsoils have been the focal point of most agricultural research, but subsoils play an equally important role in climate regulation and crop productivity. Subsoils store large amounts of carbon, and managing them properly could significantly contribute to mitigating climate change. DeepHorizon seeks to generate new data from 40 core sampling sites across Europe to better understand the biological, chemical, and physical properties of subsoils under various land uses, such as forests, grasslands, and croplands.
Stay Updated: Results from the DeepHorizon Sessions
If you are keen to stay informed about the progress and outcomes of the DeepHorizon Kick-Off Meeting and the research sessions on soil health, subscribe to receive regular updates. We will be sharing detailed reports, key findings, and future steps following the event. Don’t miss out on how DeepHorizon is shaping the future of sustainable land management in Europe.
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