National Node in Italy: Advancing knowledge exchange through the Soil-X-Change Dashboard

On 22 January 2026, the Soil-X-Change National Node in Italy held an online workshop to update participants on the project’s progress, with a strong focus on the presentation of the Soil-X-Change Dashboard. The event aimed to strengthen the link between research and practice and to collect feedback from Operational Groups (OGs) and stakeholders on this interactive, web-based tool, which is currently in a prototypical phase.

The Dashboard was presented as a user-oriented platform that consolidates and visualises documented good practices from European Innovation Partnership Operational Groups (EIP-OGs), related initiatives and research projects, highlighting their effects on soil, crop, environmental and economic parameters. It currently includes over 60 verified practices and was developed in response to the widespread degradation of European soils and the fragmentation of existing knowledge.

The meeting brought together researchers, advisors, OG representatives and PhD students, fostering a constructive exchange of experiences and perspectives. Moderated by Angelo Casula and Claudio Zucca, the workshop also showcased key Soil-X-Change dissemination outputs, including Practice Abstracts, Demo Videos and Adaptation Guidelines, as practical tools to support the transfer and adoption of sustainable soil management practices.

The discussion provided valuable feedback on improving the Dashboard’s functionality, clarity and communication effectiveness, confirming the relevance of a user-focused platform to enhance knowledge transfer across countries. Participants were encouraged to continue sharing input to support the tool’s further development and maximise its long-term impact.