University of Turin

SOILL collaborates with the University of Turin (UniTo), a higher education institution actively committed to soil health, sustainability, and urban regeneration. Centred primarily within its Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Food Sciences (DISAFA) and the AGROINNOVA Centre of Competence, UniTo brings extensive expertise in advanced agro-environmental research to this synergy. UniTo's specialised research in soil microbiology, fungi- and bacteria-based bioremediation, and climate resilience. This collaboration aims to restore ecological services and advance sustainable land management across diverse environments.

This partnership is further strengthened by UniTo’s leadership in multiple European initiatives. Through its role in the LivingSoiLL project, the university establishes innovation hubs where researchers and farmers co-create sustainable solutions for permanent crops like vines, olives, and hazelnuts. Additionally, UniTo drives practical environmental recovery through projects like proGIreg, experimenting with technogenic "New Soil" to regenerate post-industrial urban areas, and engages citizens in soil monitoring through the ECHO project. Combined with its foundational role in the ReSoil Foundation, UniTo provides the SOILL with a strong network of practical, on-the-ground testing environments and community engagement models.

The practical integration of these shared goals were highlighted during the SOILL Thematic Engagement Event, “Mission Soil Living Labs and Soil Literacy: Empowering Communities for Healthy Soils.” that took place in Turin, Italy, on June 11, 2025, this gathering leveraged the university's local context and expertise. By bringing together researchers, communities, and agricultural stakeholders, the event translates academic research into actionable soil literacy, utilising living labs to empower communities and secure long-term soil health.