Innovative practices, tools and products to boost soil fertility and peat substitution in horticultural crops

Project Information

SPIN-FERT

Grant agreement ID: 101157265

DOI

10.3030/101157265

EC signature date 21 May 2024

Start date 1 June 2024

End date 30 November 2027

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

€ 7 092 190,00

EU contribution

€ 6 497 816,14

Coordinated by

INSTYTUT OGRODNICTWA - PANSTWOWY INSTYTUT BADAWCZY
Poland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SPIN-FERT (Innovative practices, tools and products to boost soil fertility and peat substitution in horticultural crops)

Reporting period: 2024-06-01 to 2025-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The wide adoption of peat-free substrates and of soil management practices supporting soil health is hindered by some critical bottlenecks, common to several EU countries. Such bottlenecks are tackled by SPIN-FERT, which is expected to develop feasible and sustainable alternatives to peat in plant growth substrates and provide a validated and optimized integrated approach of soil management for horticultural crops.
To achieve these objectives, SPIN-FERT adopts a complex and integrated approach, exploiting also circular economy principles: from one side developing new inputs by transforming agro-food by-products into resources that will (i) be reutilized for the production of innovative formulations of fertilising products (organic and microbial biostimulants), (ii) become sustainable alternatives to peat in substrates. On the other side, SPIN-FERT is developing various tools useful to increase our understanding of soil processes, and support the monitoring and management of soil quality. The innovative products of SPIN-FERT are integrated with various agronomic practices of soil management (for example green manuring), which foresees the use of pre-, pro- and post-biotics (i.e. organic fertilisers or amendments, microbial biostimulants and non-microbial organic biostimulants, respectively) to propose a sustainable soil management strategy suitable for various highly demanding horticultural cropping systems (including vegetable, fruit and ornamental plants).
To foster the adoption of these practices, SPIN-FERT is developing several tools, including a Soil Holistic Quality Index, which will be suitable for the agronomical assessment of soil quality, and useful for policy benchmarking. In relation to policies, a production standard for the peat-free substrates is planned to be developed considering also the possibilities of defining a sensorial quality of such substrates, aiming at a voluntary certification standard.
The holistic approach to the research and development activities is accompanied by the involvement of all stakeholders of the various value chains that should encourage the adoption of systemic solutions combining multiple innovations.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The main achievements obtained after 18 months of project implementation include:
a) Applying both common and unconventional methods, particularly science-art approaches, in communication and dissemination. The artistic touch introduced on any post, newsletter, video or document produced increased their outreach capacity. The involvement of various stakeholders’ groups in artwork co-creation through the development of the “Breath of Soil: Memory Nexus” has created what can be defined as SPIN-FERT community, strengthening the awareness of people about the importance of soil and its health for public wellness.

b) The optimization of production processes and products that will improve the efficacy of biostimulants and the characteristics of plant growing substrates. Both microbial and non-microbial biostimulants have been developed so far, identifying 10 microbial strains suitable for the preparation of microbial biostimulants formulations, for which multiplication conditions were optimized for a up scaled production. The production process and relevant characteristics were optimised for different formulations of artificial humic substances (AHS), making possible to scale up the production. Moreover, the processes to produce a new compost-based plant growing substrate and to recondition spent coir were optimized. Both are meant to substitute peat or virgin coir in the preparation of growing substrates.

c) The establishment of several trials carried out to screening bacterial strains and optimize their application with AHS in efficacy and strategy trials planned to improve soil health and defining an optimal strategy of integrated soil management, respectively. Eight biostimulants, each with optimal application method, out of a total of 49 combinations were selected. Moreover, three blends of the recycled coir were evaluated for their suitability as growing substrate of lettuce.

d) Successfully implement a technology to identify Bacillus species in soil on a gravimetric sensing platform (QCM-D), which is the starting point for developing a portable tracking device for these microorganisms

e) Upgrade and field validate a robot designed for automated soil sampling and microscopic biodiversity analysis through image analysis;

f) Develop a method for the measure of volatile organic compounds with a portable e-nose suitable to build a predictive model for soils classification;

g) Design a protocol for seed respiration tests and the structure of a device for its implementation;

h) Define a framework based on AI protocols for the classification of soil quality based on physical, chemical and biological parameters, aiming at the definition of a Soil Holistic Quality Index.

i) Develop a conceptual approach and initial implementation of multiomics data integration allowing a better understanding of soil microorganisms’ functional characteristics and their contribution to ecosystem services.

l) Design a methodological approach to establish a standard for peat-free or peat-less substrates, together with a method for sensorial evaluation of composts or substrates aiming at the definition of a quality standard based on e-nose determination of microbial activity. Moreover, an array of focus group discussions and a survey with non-professionals were carried out collecting data on stakeholders’ opinions suitable for the definition of policy recommendations on peat-free or peat-less growing substrates.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

SPIN-FERT is planning to deliver several results that will bring knowledge and products beyond the current state of the art, among which can be listed:

New Peat-Free Growing Media
SPIN-FERT will deliver novel substrates alternatives to peat enriched with specifically selected microbial inoculants and innovative waste-derived humic substances.

Innovative Formulations of Biostimulants
Biostimulants formulations of both microbial and non-microbial categories and their blends are developed to tailor the needs of diverse application methods and cropping systems.

Integrated Soil Management Strategy
SPIN-FERT is validating novel strategies combining different agronomical practices and the application of biostimulants or organic amendments, for the management of soil.

Innovative Tools for Soil Quality and Health Assessment
SPIN-FERT will deliver innovative tools that are meant to support the quest for a healthy and resilient soil. They include: i) an automated soil biodiversity assessment device; ii) a device for tracking the fate of specific soil microbial inocula; iii) a portable electronic nose for detection of soil microbial activity via VOC patterns; iv) a bioassay to assess biostimulants’ efficacy; v) a Soil Holistic Quality Index (SHQI) to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the soil quality.

Innovation in Education and Training
Learning about soil health should be fun and easy! SPIN-FERT puts this motto at its core of communication and dissemination activities, with art-based activities engaging end-users.

Innovation in Multi-actor Approach
SPIN-FERT is integrating social, economic, technical and environmental aspects to develop products and practices bringing together professional operators, manufacturers, local communities of non-professional users and scientists to co-design solutions that are workable across the entire value chain.

SPIN-FERT activities