News

A Look Back on the EDAPHOS Consortium Meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece

The EDAPHOS consortium recently gathered in Thessaloniki, Greece, for a hands-on meeting that brought together our project’s partners, researchers and environmental experts. This meeting provided an invaluable opportunity to dive into the project’s real-world applications in phytomanagement and sustainable land reclamation, as well as to witness cutting-edge technology in action.

Field Visit to the Kozani Site:
Restoring a Former Mining Area. On the first day, the consortium visited Kozani, a former mining site rich in nickel and other trace elements. Once a mining area, it now faces substantial environmental challenges due to its moderately contaminated soil. On this site, EDAPHOS researchers are using nature-based solutions (NBS) to revitalise this land through phytomanagement techniques.

In Kozani, poplars, which are fast-growing and resilient trees, have been planted as a key element of the soil restoration process. These trees are known for their ability to take up trace elements from the soil, potentially detoxifying the land over time. If the poplars grew well on this site, climate conditions did prevent some poplars from growing. In any case, these poplars will soon be harvested and analysed to determine their effectiveness in taking up contaminants, providing essential data on their suitability for large-scale remediation efforts. At the same time, some partners will assess soil toxicity using a panel of ecotoxicological, ecological and chemical indicators, known as the Triad approach, which will be applied at the start and end of the project.

Drone Technology: Precision Mapping and Environmental Monitoring
Another highlight of the Kozani visit was the in-person demonstration of the drone technology used for environmental monitoring. Equipped with advanced cameras and sensors, these drones create high-resolution maps, monitor vegetation health, and assess contamination levels with remarkable precision. This drone-gathered data is critical for tracking changes over time, allowing researchers to refine their restoration methods and optimize outcomes.

Insights from the Consortium Meeting: Work Package Presentations and Open Discussions
The rest of the consortium meeting continued over the next two days, bringing all EDAPHOS partners together for a comprehensive review of each work package. Each team presented updates on their progress, sharing steps forward, ongoing research, and even some of the challenges that they are encountering in their work.
One of the main challenges encountered on certain sites related to plants’ inability to grow due to the high rate of pollution in the soil. In EDAPHOS, the partners will develop and apply innovative solutions based on the use of microbial-based inoculums, which will facilitate plant establishment and improve plant health. Other alternatives will have to be sought out. New ways may include bioremediation with microorganisms like fungi which can directly degrade contaminants.
Additionally, EDAPHOS aims to transform ecological restoration of contaminated lands into a mainstream business venture across the European Union. This is achieved through the development of tailored ecological finance instruments, spatially explicit business models, and digital tools for decision-making and market facilitation. This comprehensive approach not only addresses environmental concerns but also unlocks economic potential, positioning NBS as a viable and attractive option for sustainable land management and investment.
This collaborative setting allowed for rich exchanges between partners, fostering new ideas and solutions to address common solutions in soil remediation.
By sharing both successes and challenges, each team contributed to a more unified approach that will help guide the next phase of EDAPHOS.

Building Momentum and Looking Ahead
The consortium meeting in Thessaloniki marked a pivotal milestone for the EDAPHOS project. As the project progresses, data from sites like the one visited in Kozani, combined with insights from each work package, will help shape the future of soil restoration across Europe.