Humanity's own survival depends on preserving the health and productivity of the soil - this is already stated in the European Union's soil protection strategy for the period up to 2030. Even today, entire value and supply chains as well as economic sectors depend on healthy farmland, which is also why it is essential that more and more detailed information about soils is available and that farmers and agricultural professionals incorporate this information into their daily practice. Innovation activity related to soil protection and soil health, as well as knowledge sharing between farmers and the flow of information, are of particular importance. This is served by the international cooperation, Soil-X-Change, launched with the participation of 9 European Union countries, which is implemented by the consortium led by innomine in cooperation with the actors responsible for the development of the Hungarian agricultural sector. The importance and details of the project were presented at a press conference by the representatives of the organizations concerned.

In order to create a healthy agricultural soil and a sustainable food production system, it is absolutely necessary to operate sustainable soil and agricultural practices. These may include the use of cover crops, minimum tillage or crop diversification, which improve the organic carbon stocks of the soil, the structure or water retention capacity of the soil, and which also serve as indicators of sustainable food production and soil management in agro-ecosystems. Sustainable crop production systems protect the natural environment, improve the efficiency of resource use, and integrate ecological, biological, physical and chemical principles without damaging the environment. Although research and development are constantly taking place in agriculture, the results and technologies related to soil management are difficult to reach farmers. In addition, innovative procedures and good solutions have been developed in everyday practice, which should be disseminated as widely as possible in order to preserve healthy agricultural soil. Among other things, the Soil-X-Change project serves this purpose.

The aim of the three-year collaboration with the participation of 13 international partners is to connect farmers, market players, political decision-makers, projects and initiatives involved in the field of sustainable soil and agricultural management in order to accelerate innovation. As a result, innovative solutions will spread faster and more widely throughout Europe than before. The goal of Soil-X-Change is to intensify cooperation between researchers, farmers and other stakeholders in EU countries, and thus contribute to the transfer of effective agricultural knowledge and innovation. All this by supporting the green transition, smart agriculture, climate neutrality and sustainability, as well as by exchanging and expanding the knowledge of the main actors. The project responds to the needs of 151 direct partners by collecting, combining, harmonizing, analyzing and integrating the results and data products developed by the various project partners. One of the missions of Soil-X-Change is to create a handbook that is summarizing proven innovative practices, which will be delivered to farmers in 9 member countries.

„It is a great pleasure for us to be the leader of a large European innovation network, in a key area, the subject of sustainability, sustainable soil and agriculture. This is extremely important regarding the healthy nutrition and security of supply, and Hungary has serious traditions and good qualities in this regard. However, in order to  domestic enterprises can remain competitive at the international level, they must advance in the use of technology, in the use of digitalization, and, for example, in the application of artificial intelligence. Among other things, this is supported by the Soil-X-Change project, in which we work together with two domestic partners; the Institute of Agricultural Economics and the Discovery Center," summarizes the significance of the project. Gábor Vicze Ph.D., managing director of the consortium leader innomine group Kft.

The decision-makers and professional organizations responsible for the Hungarian agricultural sector also joined the creation and operation of Europe's newest agricultural innovation network.

The Ministry of Agriculture's Deputy State Secretary for Agricultural Economy, Anikó Juhász Ph.D. believes: "Improving the condition of the soil and increasing the water retention capacity is a priority policy goal, which is supported with more means than ever before by the new Common Agricultural Policy since 2023. In accordance with the commitment of the producers, in addition to the conditionality that is mandatory for all grant applicants, it is also possible to apply for funds for voluntary practices (AÖP), non-productive investments (e.g. erosion protection elements), or the creation of innovation collaborations. The challenges can only be successfully answered by developing the domestic agricultural knowledge and innovation system and connecting it to an international network. Such and similar international projects can all be an important step towards this."

According to Petri Bernadett Ph.D., executive director of the Hungarian Development Promotion Office (MFOI), ministerial commissioner of the Ministry of Public Administration and Territorial Development, "the direct funds provided by the European Union play an extremely important role in the development and growth of Hungarian businesses, and offer an opportunity to increase their competitiveness on the international market. With the help of the grants, businesses can start implementing innovative projects, conquer external markets and expand into new areas. The Hungarian Development Promotion Office (MFOI), which operates as a background institution of the Ministry of Public Administration and Territorial Development, offers expert services to Hungarian businesses that help domestic and cross-border economic actors to participate effectively in direct EU programs, as well as to successfully apply for funding. Innomine's role as consortium leader in the Soil-X-Change program is a great example of when Hungarian enterprises initiate European projects with outstanding results and lead large international consortia."

"The tasks of the Institute of Agricultural Economics (AKI) have recently expanded in activities aimed at informing agricultural actors and increasing the transfer of knowledge, such as the unit commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture to assist the operation of the KAP network and to support digitization. The Soil-X-Change project implemented with the participation of international partners is closely related to these. The main task of the AKI is to convey the good practices that improve soil health and which have been tested by the EIP Operative groups to farmers, consultants and other players in the agricultural economy through plant demonstrations," says Pál Goda Ph.D., managing director of the Institute of Agricultural Economics.