On February 13, 2026, the SoilTribes Consortium gathered in Beja, Portugal, for a productive day of connection, collaboration, and strategic planning. Hosted and led by INOVA+ at the Instituto Politécnico de Beja, the meeting brought together partners from across Europe to align on our shared mission of soil stewardship.
A Unified Vision for Soil Health The meeting was kicked off with an inspiring welcome from our Project Officer, Amanda Ozin, followed by energizing ice-breakers led by INOVA+ and Pé de Xumbo. The core focus of the day was to exchange updates across all project work packages and strengthen the coordination needed to drive meaningful change.
Core Pillars of the Discussion: The partners explored several critical areas of the project:
- Creative and Educational Activities: Planning upcoming exhibitions, training sessions, and community engagement programs.
- Policy & Governance: Developing resources to support soil de-sealing and sustainable land management practices.
- Tools & Implementation: Reviewing the progress of research-based tools and resources designed for environmental literacy.
- Capacity Building: Aligning communication strategies to maximize the project’s impact across European regions.
Welcoming New Sub-Funded Projects A special highlight of the meeting was the onboarding of representatives from the SoilTribes-funded projects. These newly joined partners will implement localized initiatives, and the meeting ensured they are fully aligned with the consortium’s methodology and goals.
With a clear roadmap and renewed energy, SoilTribes continues to build stronger connections between local communities, cultural practices, and soil health. We are deeply grateful to our hosts and all partners for their invaluable contributions to this successful Consortium Meeting.
