Acronym: SPADES
Title: Spatial Planning and Design with Soils
Research and innovation project funded under the Horizon Europe program.
It aligns with the objectives of the European Green Deal and the EU Soil Mission, which aim to enhance soil health and integrate it into spatial planning and design across urban, peri-urban, and rural contexts.
General description
SPADES seeks to develop and implement soil-inclusive spatial planning strategies to sustain and restore the Soil-Sediment-Water (SSW) system. By connecting soil health objectives to spatial planning and policy, it aims to support healthy soils that deliver ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, water management, and biodiversity conservation. The project recognizes soil as a non-renewable resource and addresses its degradation caused by urbanization, contamination, and unsustainable land use. SPADES bridges the gap between soil science, policy, and planning, focusing on co-creation with stakeholders across 17 pilots in 10 European countries.
Components of SPADES
1. Soil Literacy and Awareness:
SPADES emphasizes soil literacy, aiming to educate stakeholders, policymakers, and planners about soil’s role in spatial planning. It will develop training programs, skill-building workshops, and shared tools to enhance understanding of soil’s ecosystem services. Activities include creating a shared language and ontology to facilitate communication between planners and soil scientists, as well as organizing community training to build awareness at local levels.
2. Development of Planning Instruments:
The project will create and refine fit-for-purpose tools and methodologies for soil-inclusive planning. These tools will help planners and policymakers address challenges such as land degradation neutrality, no net land take, and soil restoration. Key outputs include the SPADES Navigator, an online guidance platform for selecting tools and approaches tailored to specific planning phases, and the SPADES Manual, which consolidates best practices and practical strategies for soil integration.
3. Pilot Projects and Co-Creation:
SPADES features 17 pilot sites across urban, peri-urban, and rural areas to test and implement soil-inclusive strategies. These pilots explore diverse challenges such as reducing urban soil sealing, promoting nature-based solutions, and addressing rural land degradation. By involving local governments, communities, and land managers, SPADES ensures that solutions are not only scientifically grounded but also practical and context-specific. The pilots will validate tools, identify success factors, and create replicable models for other regions.
Partnership
Stichting Deltares (Deltares) – Research Organization, Netherlands (Coordinator)
Technical University Delft (TUD) – University, Netherlands
Helmholtz-Zentrum Fur Umweltforschung GMBH (UFZ) – Research Organization,
Germany
Eigen Vermogen van het Instituut voor Landbouw- en Visserijonderzoek (EV ILVO) – Research Organization, Belgium
Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE) – Research Organization, France
Université De Lorraine (UL) – University (Affiliated to INRAE), France
Chalmers Tekniska Hogskola AB (Chalmers) – University, Sweden
Umweltbundesamt GmbH (Environment Agency Austria – EAA) – Expert
Organization, Austria
Urbanisticni Institut Republike Slovenije (UIRS) – Research Organization, Slovenia
Stichting Isocarp Institute Center of Urban Excellence (Isocarp) – Research /
Network Organization, Netherlands
Politecnico di Milano (Polimi) – University, Italy
Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM) – Research Organization, France
ICLEI European Secretariat GMBH (ICLEI) – SME, Germany
Acces la Pamant pentru Agroecologie (ALPA) – NGO (Pilot Partner), Romania
Asociatia URBAN 2020 (URBAN 2020) – NGO (Pilot Partner), Romania
Asociatia de Dezvoltare Intercomunitara Zona Metropolitana Baia Mare (ZMBM) – Authority / Policy Maker (Pilot Partner), Romania
Grenoble-Alpes-Métropole Metro (GAM) – Authority / Policy Maker (Pilot Partner), France
Burst Nonprofit Kft (BURST) – SME (Pilot Partner), Hungary
Magistrat der Landeshauptstadt Klagenfurt (IPAK) – Local Authority / Policy Maker (Pilot Partner), Austria