AREFLH is a partner of LivingSoiLL – “Healthy Soil to Permanent Crops Living Labs”, an Horizon Europe project funded by the European Commission.

 

On 29 April 2026, the Institut Français de la Vigne et du Vin (IFV), leader of the Loire Valley and Beaujolais Living Lab within the LivingSoiLL project, successfully hosted its first webinar of the “Soil Health” series. Held online, the event brought together growers, researchers, agricultural advisors, and other stakeholders interested in understanding the evolving European policy framework for soil health and environmental sustainability.

As a partner of the LivingSoiLL project, AREFLH had the privilege of presenting the main thematic areas of European soil legislation and their relevance for agricultural stakeholders. The webinar aimed to introduce the French Community of Practice and provide participants with an overview of key European policy instruments that influence soil management and environmental governance.

The session covered several important policy frameworks, including:

• The upcoming European Soil Monitoring and Resilience legislation;
• The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP);
• The Nature Restoration Law;
• The Water Framework Directive;
• Other relevant environmental and sustainability policies.

Particular attention was given to the links between these policy instruments and their contribution to sustainable land management, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity protection, and water resilience. By examining these interconnections, participants gained a clearer understanding of how European policies work together to support healthier soils and more sustainable agricultural systems.

 

Beyond the presentations, the webinar provided an opportunity for dialogue and exchange among participants. Discussions focused on how these policies can be implemented effectively at local and regional levels and how they can support ongoing initiatives related to soil health and environmental sustainability.

One of the main achievements of the webinar was demonstrating the importance and practical relevance of European environmental and soil legislation for the French Community of Practice. Participants strengthened their understanding of how different policy frameworks interact and how these instruments can be applied in practice within their professional activities.

 

The strong engagement throughout the session reflected a clear interest in the topic. Participants actively contributed to the discussion and raised numerous questions, seeking not only to better understand the concepts presented but also to identify whether the examples discussed could already be considered good practices. Their contributions highlighted a desire to connect policy frameworks with concrete, real-world applications and to assess their relevance within their own contexts.

The success of this first webinar demonstrated the strong interest of the French Community of Practice in understanding the European policy landscape for soil health. Through active participation and lively discussions, stakeholders explored how policy frameworks can be translated into practical actions that support sustainable agriculture and environmental resilience.

Building on this momentum, the webinar series will continue with a second session dedicated to Carbon Sequestration, taking place online on 17 June 2026 at 13:00 (CET). The webinar will explore the role of soils in climate mitigation and present practical approaches to enhancing carbon storage in agricultural systems.

Interested in joining? Register here

Missed the first webinar? You can watch the recording of the first Soil Health webinar on YouTube here and discover the key European policy frameworks shaping soil health and environmental governance: 

 

We look forward to welcoming you to the next session and continuing the exchange of knowledge and best practices within the LivingSoiLL Community of Practice.

 

Know more about the project 

• Website : livingsoill.eu

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

• Instagram : @LivingSoiLL

• Join the  Community of Practice  by filling this  questionnaire (6 languages available) 

• You an also read all previous articles written by AREFLH on this project here

 

This project receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement Nr. 101157502.