Science Meets Policy in Brussels: Building a Dialogue on Soil Governance in Europe

Summary: Key features in a nutshell

• A European-level event co-organised by University of Granada (UGR) and BETA Technological Center (University of Vic) within the Erasmus+ ENGAGEgreen project
• Included representatives from the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) of the European Commission, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), and multiple universities and research institutes
• Combined a general debate, two roundtables (water & soil), and a poster session
• Focused on the implementation of the EU Soil Strategy 2030, Horizon Europe’s Soil Mission, and the Soil Monitoring Law
• Addressed both governance structures and science-policy knowledge transfer mechanisms
• Identified institutional gaps, emerging tools, and the role of social sciences and citizen engagement
• Highlighted the importance of inclusive dialogues involving academia, policymakers, and civil society
• Demonstrated the importance of Living Labs, transdisciplinary research, and participatory governance models

Description

This contribution presents a case study from the ENGAGEgreen Dissemination and Stakeholder Conference held on 12 June 2025 in Brussels. The session titled ‘Water and Soil: From Research to Public Policies for Environmental Protection’, co-organised by the University of Granada (UGR) and the BETA Technological Center of the University of Vic, brought together researchers, policy officers, and civil society actors to explore how science-policy interfaces can support more sustainable environmental governance in Europe. The session focused on two critical elements – water and soil – and addressed how scientific evidence, social sciences, and participatory governance can shape public policies aligned with ecological and social realities.

The roundtable on soil governance addressed a pressing challenge: how to accelerate knowledge transfer and institutional cooperation in the implementation of the EU Soil Strategy and the Soil Monitoring Law.

The session aimed to strengthen science-policy dialogue on soil and water governance on the European level by

• Creating a structured space for exchange between researchers, policymakers and civil society actors on soil and water governance
• Exploring how scientific evidence, social sciences, and participatory approaches can better inform EU environmental policies, particularly the EU Soil Strategy, the Soil Monitoring Law and the Horizon Europe Soil Mission
• Identifying barriers and gaps in current science-policy interfaces related to soil and water governance
• Highlighting existing tools and mechanisms for knowledge transfer used by the European Commission and EU-funded projects
• Promoting inclusive and transdisciplinary governance models, including the role of Living Labs and citizen engagement in soil and water policy design

How does the format work?

The session was structured around three parts:

1. A general discussion, where participants advocated for stronger links between science, policy, and civil society;
2. A roundtable on water, focusing on ecosystemic governance, participatory models, and European initiatives like Water4All;
3. A roundtable on soil, centred on Horizon Europe projects, the EU Soil Mission, the Soil Monitoring Law, and knowledge transfer mechanisms used by the European Commission.

Participants addressed

1. 1. The current challenges in implementing soil-related legislation at EU and national levels;
   2. The need for integrating qualitative data and social dimensions into soil health metrics;
   3. Examples of research-policy collaboration, including Horizon Europe projects, and advisory mechanisms;
   4. Proposals to make soil science more accessible and politically actionable.

Each roundtable featured a mix of researchers and policy officers, allowing a two-way exchange that balanced scientific insight with institutional experience. Moderators facilitated open dialogue and ensured inclusive participation across all sectors. Emphasis was placed on identifying systemic gaps and mapping out opportunities to institutionalise science-policy interfaces around soil.

Challenges

• Language and framing barriers between scientists and policymakers were repeatedly highlighted
• Scientists often lack clear entry points or guidance for engaging with EU-level decision making
• Civil society is still underrepresented in policy dialogues concerning natural resources despite their direct impact
• The social dimension of soil and water governance is often overlooked in favour of technical or environmental approaches
• Policy timelines and research cycles are often misaligned, reducing the usability of scientific findings in legislation
• Lack of dedicated knowledge brokers to mediate between academic expertise and public administration needs

Tasks and resources

Academics & researchers

• Presented scientific findings and recommendations on pest control, river ecosystem preservation, and participatory governance
• Shared experiences on barriers to engaging with public administration and the need for social sciences in policy evaluation
• Proposed formats for co-creating indicators that integrate scientific and local knowledge
• Highlighted risks of limiting soil governance to narrow metrics

Policy officers (European Commission, DG AGRI)

• Provided insights into how scientific input is accessed and used at the EU level
• Explained the internal mechanisms of science-policy collaboration (e.g., expert databases, advisory boards, Living Labs, scientific panels)
• Emphasised the role of research outputs in influencing legislative proposals
• Advocate for coordination with CAP advisory services and national implementation bodies

NGOs and think tanks

• Brought critical perspectives on the need for systemic change and democratisation of soil governance
• Stressed the urgency of including the civil sector and farmers in the policy design process

Knowledge brokers & coordinators

• Ensured cross-sectoral communication
• Acted as facilitators to help researchers better align with institutional needs and timing
• Gathered and documented insights for policy-oriented dissemination

Examples

• EU Soil Mission: A Horizon Europe initiative to pilot Living Labs and Lighthouses for soil health across member states
• Soil Monitoring Law: Legal framework aiming to create EU-wide soil data infrastructures
• Living Labs for soil: Promoted as multi-stakeholder platforms for applied experimentation and for a governance framework

Sources and further reading

• ENGAGEgreen Session 3 report – Soil Roundtable conclusions (UGR & BETA, June 2025)
• EU Soil Mission portal: https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/missions/soil-health-and-food_en
• IEEP briefings on soil strategy: https://ieep.eu
• Knowledge4Policy – Soil section: https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/soil

Case studies

Brussels, 12 June 2025 – ENGAGEgreen Dissemination and Stakeholder Conference
Session 3: Water and Soil: From Research to Public Policies for Environmental Protection
 Organisers: University of Granada & BETA Technological Center (University of Vic)

How was the format implemented?

What works? What doesn`t? (Lessons learnt)

What works

• Co-organising sessions with moderation and academic-institutional balance
• Including general discussions + topic-specific roundtables strengthens engagement
• Framing discussions within ongoing EU strategies (e.g. Soil Mission, CAP)
• Engaging NGOs and academic researchers alongside policymakers

What doesn’t

• The lack of structured access points for researchers to influence EU policymaking
• Limited formal structures for civil society or citizen science participation in EU soil governance
• Technical complexity can lead to disengagement if the language used is not clear

How are the activities evaluated?

• Feedback was gathered via live interaction and informal networking
• Indicators: diversity of speakers, institutional interest in follow-up actions, and ongoing connections made during the event. Engagement during the roundtable was high and balanced across institutions
• Clear expressions of interest for future collaboration
• Dissemination through press releases and policy briefings (University of Granada and BETA – University of Vic)

Do you want to know more about the policy engagement toolkit?

Do you want to share your experience in policy engagement? Do you think about contributing to the policy engagement toolkit? Feel free to contact Tome Sandevski via science-policy@pvw.uni-frankfurt.de