Programme Category
Programme Name
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
The SoilTribes project aims to increase soil literacy and promote its preservation through a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach. It addresses soil degradation by promoting innovative communication campaigns, creative activities, and citizen engagement in sustainable practices. The project provides financial support for collaborative initiatives involving science, art, and society, aiming to transform behaviors regarding soil protection and restoration.
SoilTribes is rooted in the European Union mission “A Soil Deal for Europe” and aligns with its goals to restore soil health, engage communities, and increase soil literacy
Detailed Call Description
At its core is the SoilTribes Community of Practice (CoP), a vibrant, mission-driven network made up of members from academia, business, government, civil society, and the natural environment. Through co-creation, design thinking, and resource sharing, CoP members co-develop tools, campaigns, events, and policy proposals that drive systemic change for healthier soils.
To support this ecosystem, SoilTribes offers four rounds of €750 Lump Sum Micro-Grants, with a total of 32 grants available between 2025 and 2026. These grants enable CoP members to attend trainings, events, and implement activities that boost soil awareness and community engagement.
As a member of the CoP, applying for a micro-grant offers you the opportunity to:
- Amplify Your Work Use the micro-grant to participate in key events – such as conferences, exhibitions, or community gatherings – where you can present your work, share your perspective, and contribute to the growing dialogue on soil literacy, climate action, and sustainability.
- Access Tailored Support whether you’re seeking expert advice, mentoring, or technical guidance, the grant allows you to access services that help you grow professionally and strengthen the impact of your initiatives.
- Contribute to a Collective Mission.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
The SoilTribes project has allocated a total budget of €24.000 to support the Lump Sum Micro-Grants scheme for members of the CoP.
A total of 32 micro-grants will be awarded during the project. These will be distributed across four calls, with approximately 8 grants per call. The call for proposals defines a fixed lump sum of € 750 (VAT included) and the budget requested by applicants in the proposal must be equal to this fixed lump sum.
Each CoP member may receive a maximum of €1.500 (VAT included) in micro-grants over the course of the SoilTribes project. Since each grant is capped at €750 (VAT included) per call, this means a CoP member can be awarded no more than two micro-grants in total and only one grant per call.
SoilTribes will last 36 months, starting from January 2025 and it’s a Horizon Europe project under the Call “Mission Soil – Soil Deal for Europe”, funded by the European Research Executive Agency (REA).
Thematic Categories
- Environment and Climate Change
Eligibility for Participation
- Associations
- Educational Institutions
- Local Authorities
- Natual person / Citizen / Individual
- NGOs
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
Eligibility For Participation Notes
The call is seeking a diverse group of individuals and organizations with an interest in soil sustainability and soil literacy. The target groups within the quintuple helix system are:
- Academia: Higher Education Institutions, Research Centers and Schools; Soil Scientists, Technologists, Advisors, Educators and Trainers, Students and Trainees;
- Business: Business Associations, Companies, and Start-ups; Farmers, Foresters, Urban and Spatial Planners.
- Political: Local/ Regional/ National public authorities, European organizations; Policymakers, Civil Servants;
- Society: CCIS; Artists, Communicators, Creatives, Citizens;
- Environment: Environmental Organizations.
If you’re an active member of the SoilTribes CoP and ready to contribute to the mission of strengthening soil literacy across Europe you can apply.
To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be natural persons;
- Be established in one of the Member States of the European Union and its Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) or Associated Countries to Horizon Europe, that, on the date of the publication of the call, participate in the Horizon Programme; and,
- Be registered in the SoilTribes CoP
To become a member of the SoilTribes CoP, simply fill out the Expression of Interest (EoI) form to share your expertise, interests, and preferred level of engagement.
All CoP members are encouraged to sign the Soil Manifesto, a voluntary commitment by individuals and organisations who pledge to support the transition toward healthy soils by 2030.