TP Organics is organising the high-level event 'A Soil Deal for Europe and Beyond' on 30 May 2023.

Food security, biodiversity and climate resilience rely heavily on healthy soils. However, it is estimated that around 60-70% of EU soils are unhealthy. The main goal of the EU Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe‘, which is part of the EU’s main research & innovation framework programme Horizon Europe, is to establish 100 living labs and lighthouses to lead the transition towards healthy soils by 2030. The event, taking place on 30 May 2023 from 16:00-19:00 at The Square – Convention Centre Brussels, is complementing the EU AgriResearch Conference starting the day after and supported by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Tentative agenda:

Panel 1: From Soil to Society: Promoting Research and innovation for Healthy Soils

• Alice Ruhweza, Africa Region Director for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) & CGIAR System Board Member

• Dr. Shamie Zingore, Director, Research and Development for the African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI; TBC)

• Juern Sanders, President, FiBL Europe

• Leonard Mizzi, Head of Unit Sustainable Agri-Food System and Fisheries, European Commission, DG INTPA

Panel 2: Celebrating Accomplishments and Charting the Way Forward

• Kerstin Rosenow, Head of Unit Research and Innovation, Soil Mission Manager, European Commission DG AGRI

• Dr. John Gilliland OBE, Soil Mission Board (TBC)

• Eduardo Cuoco, Head of Secretariat, TP Organics

• Christian Witt, Soil and Fertiliser Lead, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

The discussions will be moderated by Julia Dahm, journalist at EurActiv.

A networking reception (from 18:00 - 19:00) will follow the panel discussions. To take part, please register here (the venue has limited capacity; if the maximum capacity is reached, a waiting list will be created).