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Communication at the 3rd Global Soil Biodiversity Conference

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Soil metal contamination is a worldwide problem of great magnitude. Phytomanagement is based on the use of plants to reduce and control risks arising from soil pollution while at the same time restoring and generating other wider site services. The PHY2SUDOE project maintains a network of contaminated sites that have been under phytomanagement for many years in Portugal, Spain, and France. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of phytomanagement with Populus sp.  on soil biodiversity and complexity at different levels of the trophic web. Composite soil samples were taken in the contaminated sites ST Médard D’Eyrans (Gironde, FR), Chaban-Delmas (Girode, FR), Borralha (Montalegre, PT), Ariñez (Vitoria-Gasteiz, ES), and Touro (Galicia, ES), both under phytomanagement and non-phytomanaged controls. Then, metabarcoding analyses of 16SrRNA, ITS, 18S rRNA and COI genes were carried out. The diversity, composition and complexity of the soil prokaryotic, fungal, and invertebrate communities were affected by the long-term phytomanagement practices. Site-specific soil characteristics also had a significant influence on the edaphic biota. Given the essential functions it performs in contaminated soils, phytomanagement practices should aim to restore soil biodiversity. Read More

Documentary on sustainable food production

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We have taken part in the recording of a documentary on sustainable food production for the Teknopolis programme of ETB. We have explained the soil health evaluation that we carry out in our lab, using the ReCROP project as an example.

https://teknopolis.elhuyar.eus/eu/erreportaiak/elikaduraren-erronkei-aurrea-hartzen/

https://teknopolis.elhuyar.eus/es/erreportaiak/anticipandose-a-los-retos-de-la-alimentacion/

Accelerating collection and use of soil health information using AI technology to support the Soil Deal for Europe and EU Soil Observatory (AI4SoilHealth; 2023-2026)

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The objective of AI4SoilHealth is to co-design, create and maintain an open access European-wide digital infrastructure, compiled using state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods combined with new and deep soil health understanding and measures. The AI-based data infrastructure functions as a Digital Twin to the real-World biophysical system, forming a Soil Digital Twin. This can be used for assessing and continuously monitoring Soil Health metrics by land use and/or management parcel, supporting the Commission’s objective of transitioning towards healthy soils by 2030.

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Relevant papers in the last years

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Authors: J Hidalgo, M Anza, L Epelde, JM Becerril, C Garbisu
Title: Zero-valent iron nanoparticles and organic amendment assisted rhizoremediation of mixed contaminated soil using Brassica napus
Journal: Environmental Technology & Innovation
Date: 2022
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2022.102621

Authors: C Monterroso, M Balseiro-Romero, C Garbisu, PS Kidd, NP Qafoku, PC Baveye
Title: Searching for solutions to soil pollution: underlying soil-contaminant interactions and development of innovative land remediation and reclamation techniques
Journal: Frontiers in Environmental Science
Date: 2022
https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2021.830337

Authors: L Epelde, M Mendizabal, L Gutiérrez, A Artetxe, C Garbisu, E Feliu
Title: Quantification of the environmental effectiveness of nature-based solutions for increasing the resilience of cities under climate change
Journal: Urban Forestry & Urban Greening
Vol: 67, 127433 Date: 2022
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127433

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