SSH CENTRE - Mini-reports : Focus groups on "A Soil Deal for Europe: 100 living labs and lighthouses to lead the transition towards healthy soils by 2030"

SSH CENTRE (Social Sciences and Humanities for Climate, Energy aNd Transport Research Excellence) is a Horizon Europe project, engaging directly with stakeholders across research, policy, and business (including citizens) to strengthen social innovation, SSH-STEM collaboration, transdisciplinary policy advice, inclusive engagement, and SSH communities across Europe, accelerating the EU’s transition to carbon neutrality.

SSH CENTRE is based in a range of activities related to Open Science, inclusivity and diversity – especially with regards Southern and Eastern Europe and different career stages – including: development of novel SSH-STEM collaborations to facilitate the delivery of the EU Green Deal; SSH knowledge brokerage to support regions in transition; and the effective design of strategies for citizen engagement in EU R&I activities. Outputs include action-led agendas and building stakeholder synergies through regular Policy Insight events.

 

This is captured in a high-profile virtual SSH CENTRE generating and sharing best practice for SSH policy advice, overcoming fragmentation to accelerate the EU’s journey to a sustainable future.

 

The aim of the focus groups was to gather citizen's perspectives, their hopes, concerns and ideas related to the Horizon Mission of A Soil Deal for Europe: 100 living labs and lighthouses to lead the transition towards healthy soils by 2030. The focus group discussion topics while remaining close to the Mission, avoid specific technical references to allow citizens to contribute based on their differing levels of understanding. As part of the SSH CENTRE project, in total, four focus group series have been conducted relating to Adaptation to Climate Change; Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030; 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030; A Soil Deal for Europe.

 

Notes were taken during each focus groups and turned into mini-reports. These mini-reports sum up the essence of the discussion: the participants' main ideas and some interesting quotes.