At SAT4SPACE, we are proud to present SOILTECH, a cutting-edge project recently submitted under the HORIZON-MISS-2023-SOIL-01 call. The project, titled “Soil Monitoring Technologies for Better Agriculture and Healthier Food Production,” brings together a consortium of 11 prestigious partners from across Europe. Together, we aim to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time: soil health.

Why is Soil Health Important?

Soil health is fundamental to the entire food chain, with direct implications for biodiversity, crop health, and, ultimately, the health of citizens. Practices such as soil conservation agriculture and regenerative agriculture are increasingly being implemented globally. However, a major challenge persists: how can we continuously and accurately measure soil quality to make better, more timely decisions?

The SOILTECH project tackles this problem head-on. Our core objective is to advance a comprehensive set of diagnostic tools that can accurately assess and monitor soil health. These tools will employ cutting-edge technologies, from in-situ IoT measurement probes to UAV and space-based hyperspectral remote sensing, supplemented by advanced modeling techniques. By providing real-time, actionable insights into soil composition, we aim to empower farmers, policymakers, and environmental experts with the knowledge they need to protect and revitalize our soils.

Meet the SOILTECH Consortium: Experts from Across Europe

The SOILTECH consortium is composed of 11 partners, each bringing unique expertise and experience to the project:

• BIOSENSE INSTITUTE – Research and Development (Serbia) – Project Coordinator
• SAT4SPACE (France)
• ASSOCIATION LASER PHOTONIQUE HYPERFREQUENCES (France)
• Carbón Emergente (Spain)
• COMMISSARIAT A L’ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES (France)
• NetCarbon (France)
• TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY (Finland)
• ATHINA-EREVNITIKO KENTRO KAINOTOMIAS STIS TECHNOLOGIES (Greece)
• Brad Technology (France)
• BIOMEDE (France)
• MAIZE RESEARCH INSTITUTE ZEMUN POLJE (Serbia)

This diverse consortium reflects our strong commitment to building cross-disciplinary teams that can address complex, large-scale challenges like soil health. Each partner brings unique expertise, from advanced technology development to environmental monitoring, making SOILTECH one of the most promising soil health initiatives in Europe.

Cutting-Edge Soil Monitoring Technologies

At the heart of SOILTECH lies a suite of advanced technologies designed to revolutionize soil monitoring. These include:

1. In-Situ IoT Probes: These sensors will provide continuous real-time data on key soil parameters such as moisture, temperature, and nutrient content.
2. UAV-Based Hyperspectral Remote Sensing: By using drones equipped with hyperspectral cameras, we can capture detailed images of large agricultural areas, identifying variations in soil quality with high precision.
3. Space-Based Hyperspectral Sensing: Complementing the UAV data, space-based sensors will offer a broader, global perspective on soil health, tracking changes over time.
4. Advanced Modeling Techniques: These models will integrate the data collected from in-situ probes and remote sensing, offering actionable insights and predictive analytics for soil management.

Real-World Applications: Demonstrating Effectiveness

SOILTECH goes beyond developing cutting-edge tools. Our project will demonstrate the effectiveness of these technologies in real-world conditions by applying them to contaminated lands. We will evaluate two distinct remediation techniques and assess their impact on soil revitalization. By doing so, we aim to offer a technical, digital solution for continuous soil health monitoring and to prove the effectiveness of these remediation methods.

Europe Leading the Way in Soil Health Monitoring

With SOILTECH, we position Europe at the forefront of soil monitoring technology. Our goal is to make these advanced tools accessible and affordable, enabling widespread adoption across the continent. Through collaboration with five innovative start-ups and four technological research institutes, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of soil health technology.

Moreover, the project’s consortium includes two prominent European clusters, which will play a vital role in disseminating our findings and promoting the link between SOILTECH and other related EU projects. This ensures that the project’s outcomes will have a broad impact and contribute to Europe’s efforts in addressing soil degradation.

The Future of Soil Health Monitoring

As we await the outcome of our submission for further funding, we are confident that SOILTECH will make a significant contribution to addressing soil health—a critical issue that Europe must tackle to ensure sustainable agriculture and food security for future generations.

At SAT4SPACE, we are honored to lead this initiative and leverage our network of partners to make this vision a reality.

Contact SAT4SPACE to Join the Future of Soil Monitoring

As a company committed to innovation in space technology and environmental monitoring, SAT4SPACE is always eager to explore new partnerships and collaborations. We have a proven track record of assembling strong, multi-disciplinary consortia to tackle large-scale challenges, and we are ready to work with new partners across the globe.

Are you interested in enhancing soil health and revolutionizing agriculture through cutting-edge technologies? Reach out to SAT4SPACE to learn more about our work and explore opportunities for collaboration. Together, we can help shape a healthier, more sustainable future for agriculture and the environment.