what is euso? a platform to boost soil knowledge in EU

[pvgenuchten]

From ESDAC communication:

EUSO is a project that is more than a data infrastructure; it is also a community, a policy evaluation and communication tool, a monitoring framework that includes LUCAS Soil, etc.

What

Source 10.1111/ejss.13507

Monitoring soil health in a comprehensive manner, understanding the interplay between soils and the essential functions they deliver are pivotal to design solutions and policy intervention to ensure sustainable management of soils. In the European Union (EU), a pivotal role in this respect is played by a dedicated platform, the EU Soil Observatory (EUSO).

EUSO is developed by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the EC and published in a dedicated platform that is publicly accessible

EUSO contributes directly to the advancement of scientific knowledge on soils in the EU through its in-house research activities. In 2023, the scientists working in the EUSO published 46 papers in Scopus-indexed journals and numerous technical reports. Moreover, the EUSO hosted and mentored six PhD candidates in 2020–2023 in the context of the Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP)

EUSO is responsible for the soil monitoring elements of the Horizon Europe Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ (Soil Mission, 2021). The Soil Mission is providing funding of nearly 1 billion Euro over the period 2022–2030 to soil-relevant HORIZON Europe projects and 100 Living Labs

The EUSO Stakeholder Forum, organised annually by the EUSO, is an open and inclusive event providing an
opportunity to engage with the European and global soil community. The Stakeholder Forum brings together
soil scientists, policymakers, regional and national bodies and interested citizens

The Stakeholder Forum is organised around Working Groups (WGs), which are a key element of the EUSO involving stakeholders. The WGs are composed of relevant topical experts from academia, businesses or policy and are co-chaired by EUSO staff and external partners. Each WG develops its own work agenda, aiming to provide relevant advances to current
scientific and policy questions. In 2023, six WGs were active:

1. data sharing and integration,
2. soil erosion,
3. soil biodiversity,
4. SOC monitoring reporting and verification,
5. soil monitoring and
6. soil pollution.

Main objective

To provide the EC and the broader soil user community with the knowledge and data needed to monitor,
safeguard and restore soils at EU level. EUSO supports the EU policies by ensuring that the EC is able to fully capitalise on the information made available through integrated data flows by transitioning from simply monitoring to understanding

Sub objectives

1. Support the development of an operational EU-wide Soil Monitoring System.
2. Further consolidate and enhance the capacity and functionality of the ESDAC.
3. Monitor the state of soil health and the policies in place to enhance soil protection, through Soil Health and Policy Dashboards.
4. Support research and innovation through the implementation of Horizon Europe's Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’
5. Provide an open and inclusive European Soil Stakeholders Forum that supports citizen engagements and the drive towards a societal change in the perception of soil.

Activities:

• implementing an EU-wide soil monitoring system, supporting soil research and innovation
• enhancing the capacity and functionality of the European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC)
• monitoring soil health and policies in the EU
• supporting citizen engagements regarding soil matters

History

The ambitious objectives of the Soil Mission and the legislative proposal for a Soil Monitoring Law requested scientific evidence about the state of soil health in the EU. To support the Green Deal, the EUSO was launched by the EC in December 2019.

[pvgenuchten]

From above my main question still is, is the EUSO platform a tool, is it an organization with a budget and responsibilities, a community of stakeholders or all of this.