ProPollSoil
Understanding and managing soil health impacts to protect soil-dependent pollinators
- Description
Pollinators are the unsung heroes of our ecosystems, playing a vital role in plant reproduction and boosting crop yields by transferring pollen between flowers or different flower parts. Many pollinators spend critical parts of their lives on or beneath the soil—nesting, resting, or overwintering underground. Despite this, the role of soils in pollinator health remains largely overlooked and we know little of what these soil-dwelling pollinators need to thrive or how modern soil management practices may be putting both pollinators and the essential ecosystem services they provide at risk.
ProPollSoil aims to dig deep into the relationship between pollinators and soil health and is set to explore how we can better protect pollinators – starting from the ground up. To reach this goal, the team gathers and shares data on the links between soil and pollinators, and builds long-term hubs that bring farmers, researchers, policymakers and communities together. The project creates and applies real-world solutions, strengthening collaboration across existing and new EU projects focused on soils and pollinators. In nine case study regions across Europe, ProPollSoil liaises farmers, scientists, land managers and other local actors to co-design hands-on experiments that tackle real-world challenges. Citizens also play a key role in helping monitor biodiversity and sparking greater awareness and appreciation for nature in their own communities.
- Coordinator
- Programme
- Horizon Europe & sub-programmes
- Duration
- 48 months (October 2025 - September 2029)
- Project funding
- € 7,719,159.32
- Project partners
- 23
- Project website
- https://propollsoil.eu