AGROSOIL: Agroecological Soil Optimization for Weed Management

Background and Rationale

In European agriculture, weed control is predominantly based on herbicides and intensive tillage, practices that compromise soil health and microbial diversity. AGROSOIL addresses the urgent need for sustainable alternatives by developing agroecological weed management (AEWM) strategies that integrate ecological principles and functional biodiversity.

Objectives

AGROSOIL aims to:

• Co-create and implement AEWM strategies with stakeholders in Living Labs.
• Investigate the role of soil microbiomes in supporting weed management.
• Validate AEWM approaches in field trials across diverse European agroecosystems.
• Assess the socio-economic implications of transitioning to AEWM.

Methodology

The project employs a transdisciplinary Living Lab approach in five European countries, engaging farmers, advisors, researchers, and other stakeholders. AEWM strategies—such as cover crops, bioherbicides, and mechanical tools—are selected and tested collaboratively. Soil and weed data are collected to evaluate impacts on microbial communities, weed dynamics, and crop performance.

Soil Microbiome and Functional Diversity

AGROSOIL explores how soil microbial communities contribute to weed suppression and ecosystem resilience. Greenhouse and field experiments assess microbial taxa involved in weed seed decay and crop–weed interactions. Functional traits of weed species are analyzed to understand how AEWM influences community composition and ecological functions.

Socio-Economic Evaluation

The project conducts social life cycle assessments and cost–benefit analyses to evaluate the viability of AEWM strategies. Stakeholder perspectives are integrated through workshops, surveys, and interviews, ensuring that proposed solutions are both ecologically effective and economically feasible.

Expected Impact

AGROSOIL contributes to the European Green Deal and Sustainable Development Goals by:

• Reducing chemical inputs and soil degradation.
• Enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services.
• Supporting long-term adoption of agroecological practices.
• Providing open-access data and tools for research and policy development.

Partners and Funder

AGROSOIL is led by the Julius Kühn Institute in Germany. In addition to RISE, participating partners include the University of Lleida (UCL), the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Wageningen University and Research (WUR & WR), and the National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIACSIC).

AGROSOIL is an EU partnership project initiated by the Agroecological Partnership, but funded by each participating member state. In Sweden, the funding is provided by FORMAS.