The EU Mission "A Soil Deal for Europe", or Mission Soil, is an initiative launched by the European Commission to protect and restore soils in Europe. The Mission aims to put soils at the centre of attention, promote sustainable land management practices and improve soil health across all types of land uses and territories in Europe.

Healthy soils are of central importance to society and key for sustainable food production, to reach climate neutrality and adapt to climate change, for clean water provision and biodiversity. Yet, despite their immense importance, soils often receive little attention in the public discussion. To change that, the Mission has identified four building blocks:

1. developing a research and innovation programme,
2. improving soil monitoring,
3. establishing a network of 100 living labs and lighthouses, and
4. increase soil literacy and raising people's awareness of the importance of soils.

Furthermore, the project identifies the following five tasks to deliver the objectives of the four building blocks:

1. Establish an effective Mission Implementation Platform for Horizon Europe Mission 'A Soil Deal for Europe'
2. Technical assistance for the development of a Mission project portfolio and the Mission's project hub
3. Technical assistance to track Mission progress
4. Services to promote Soil Mission communities across territories and sectors
5. Communication, outreach, and citizen/stakeholder engagement.

Ecologic Institute is responsible for Task 4, which aims to support the Mission Soil by creating ownership from key stakeholders, building their commitment, and developing a Mission Soil community. Task 4 directly contributes to building block 4. Central to task 4 but also task 5 is increasing the visibility and awareness of the Mission Soil and its objectives by motivating and engaging stakeholders' interest in raising soil literacy and citizen engagement. Both tasks work very closely together.

Concretely, Ecologic Institute is responsible for:

• Mission Soil Manifesto, which was launched in April 2023
• Stakeholder database
• Activation of Manifesto signatories and supporters
• Mission Soil Ambassador Concept