No life without a living soil

We’ve all seen the disaster films: a scorched planet, barren soil, nothing growing. But while the image is dramatic, research teams across the EU are working to ensure it remains fiction.

Their focus is the ground beneath our feet — and the vast world we rarely think about. Beneath the surface lives an entire universe of bacteria, fungi and insects, each playing a critical role in keeping ecosystems alive.

“We humans are not the only users of the soil,” said Jokin Garatea in Bilbao, Basque Country. “There is so much life in it, and the healthier the soil, the healthier the planet.”

Garatea is the Business Director of International Projects at GAIA, a cluster organisation promoting the shift to a more sustainable society. In Bilbao, he works with a “living lab” — real-world environments where companies, researchers, citizens and civil society join forces to tackle environmental challenges.
Together with five other living labs across the European Union, their shared goal is ambitious: achieve healthy soils by 2030.

“We are working with different indicators in the air and in the soil, like birds and insects. One example is the dragonfly. The more dragonflies, the more insects in general, and that indicates healthier water,” Garatea explained.

Soil samples from the Bilbao region are taken once to twice a year. These samples offer a window into how climate change is reshaping local landscapes.

“Then we can follow the effects of climate changes, like the increasing drought and heavier tropical rainfalls. The climate changes are affecting our soil.”

Farmers in the area are taking part in the Basque living lab. “They have an almost spiritual relationship to the soil, and we all need to cooperate in order to get a healthier soil,” Garatea said.

The Basque living lab seeks to develop an ecosystem, a network, a methodology, and a space for experimentation. “I have high expectations, and I am very proud to work together with living labs in Italy, Greece, Sweden, and Bulgaria,” he said.

Located in the heart of Bulgaria, Plovdiv is known for its vineyards. Here, the Bulgarian Viticultural Soil Health living lab is located. It is connected to the Agricultural University of Plovdiv. Professor Vladislav H. Popov, PhD, former Vice Rector of the Agricultural University of Plovdiv, works with the living lab.

“During the last five or six years, we have observed the severe impact of rising temperatures and long periods of drought. We’ve had warm spells as early as February, which trigger fruit trees and vines to flower too soon. Then colder weather returns, and the flowers fail to develop.”

When drought hits later in spring, irrigation offers only temporary relief. “Even with watering, the soil dries out within hours,” Popov explained. “Microorganisms and earthworms die quickly, and without them the soil can no longer hold minerals or feed the vines properly.”

One solution now being tested is remarkably simple: grow grass between the vines. When it’s cut, the grass remains on the ground, creating a protective layer that keeps soil cooler and prevents moisture loss. “We combine this with a digital monitoring system that constantly tracks climate conditions,” Popov said.

Ten vineyards — including the university’s own experimental site — are part of the study. Farmers are not just observers but co-creators.

“Quite recently, we advised farmers on how microorganisms in the soil can indicate what the soil needs. You can describe it as the soil is speaking to you.”

The idea of grassing soil is not new. Popov saw it in orchards in Belgium fifteen years ago. “I appreciate the idea of collaborating with different Living Labs, and that farmers are active participants in this study. This is not a ‘top-down’ project — we listen to farmers’ opinions and take their suggestions into account.”

Both Garatea and Popov are optimistic about the EU-wide collaboration, which will run for another five years. But the urgency is clear. “Recently, a Chinese delegation came to visit,” Garatea recalled. “They were deeply concerned about soil degradation in China, and they have almost 1.5 billion people to feed. They wanted to know what they could learn from us.”

For Garatea, the living lab model stands out not only for its science but for its spirit.

“I have seen many types of European framework programmes, but this is the first time I have experienced something that is not only a structure, but also a philosophy. We are working with soil — but also with other values like participation and democracy, European values that we can consider to be at risk. Doing this kind of participatory research is a very good approach.”

illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability & Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.

Track the real‑world impact behind the sustainability headlines. illuminem’s Data Hub™ offers transparent performance data and climate targets of companies driving the transition.