In September 2025, a group of 20 participants began their training to become soil advisors as part of the NBSOIL Project at Aeres University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. The group includes participants from diverse backgrounds, such as arable and dairy farmers, agricultural and financial advisors, suppliers, contractors, water boards, and other regional authorities. This diversity means that the participants’ starting levels of knowledge and experience vary considerably.
As part of the training programme, the participants are following online the NBSOIL Academy Module 1 on soil and nature-based solutions (NBS). They are also taking part in nine in-person training sessions covering the basic principles of soil science, geology, water management, fertilisation, soil life, soil resilience, and climate adaptation. Interaction and discussion among participants form an important part of the training, adding extra value to the learning process. In group settings, they work on case studies using information and tools from the Best4Soil platform.
The programme also includes field visits, during which participants practise soil quality assessments in profile pits. Various measurement methods are demonstrated, along with the effects of cultivation practices such as green manure crops, organic matter management, and tillage.
The training will continue until December 2025, when participants will take a written exam and orally defend their submitted advisory report based on a real field case. Those who successfully complete all components will become the next generation of soil advisors—ready to guide farmers in applying nature-based solutions to improve soil quality.