The final module of the NBSOIL Academy training programme is now available. Module 4, which focuses on enhancing soil-related decision-making in business and policy, marks the culmination of the academy’s educational content pathway. During the dedicated webinar held on 4 June 2025, the module’s objectives were presented in depth, along with its approach to equipping soil advisors to work effectively at the intersection of science, economics, and European policymaking.
Strategic Thinking at the Heart of Soil Advisory
This final module tackles a key aspect of the soil advisor’s role: strategic decision-making. It focuses on strengthening the ability of professionals to understand and apply business models, explore employment opportunities, and engage meaningfully with EU policies that impact soil health. By doing so, it enhances the capacity of advisors to navigate complex contexts and provide guidance rooted in both technical knowledge and strategic insight.
The launch webinar, hosted by NBSOIL partners IUCN and IUNG, was led by João Coblinski (IUNG) and Dario Pollicino (IUCN), who presented the main themes of the module and shared practical insights into how soil advisors can use this knowledge to improve their work in the field. The module explores business models relevant to soil advisory services, employment pathways in the sector, and the role of policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the European Green Deal (EGD), and Horizon Europe. It also covers how these frameworks support the adoption of nature-based solutions (NBS), providing a valuable policy perspective for land management. The webinar also included a walk-through of the academy elearning platform.
Course Structure and Language Accessibility
Like the other modules in the Academy, Module 4 is structured into three progressive levels. Each level offers increasing depth, allowing participants to engage with the content at their own pace and level of commitment.
Level 1 is available in English and six additional European languages, ensuring accessibility across countries and regions. This level is divided into two main sections: the first focuses on soil advisory services and the funding landscape, exploring concepts such as the role of soil advisors, the types of services offered in the agricultural sector, sustainable business models to support soil health, and the framework for EU Carbon Removal Certification.
The second section covers policy, offering an overview of the evolution of EU soil policy, including the Horizon Europe Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’, the European Green Deal, and the CAP. It introduces participants to the key mechanisms through which these policies promote soil health, such as eco-schemes, enhanced conditionality, and agri-environment-climate commitments, as well as strategies like the Soil Strategy for 2030.
Level 2, available only in English, goes deeper into both business and policy areas. It provides a more detailed analysis of how soil advisory services can be scaled, commercialised, and made more competitive, while also exploring how EU policies promote soil health and NBS through legislative support and strategic alignment.
Level 3, still under development, will offer the most advanced and comprehensive learning experience. It will cover topics such as employment and business model development opportunities for soil advisors, carbon sequestration in soil, soil quality assessment and its relationship to land value, and the application of EU policies in real-world management and advisory contexts. This level is designed to challenge learners and prepare them for high-level advisory roles.
The overarching aim of Module 4 is to empower advisors to support stakeholders—whether farmers, land managers, or policymakers—through decision-making that is scientifically informed and policy-aligned.
A Capstone to the Learning Journey
With the launch of Module 4, the NBSOIL Academy curriculum is now fully online and includes four modules: Module 1 – Soil and Nature-Based Solutions; Module 2 – Living Labs and Facilitation; Module 3 – Digital Soil Monitoring and Innovation; and Module 4 – Decision-Making in Policy and Business. Each module can be followed at a chosen pace and level of depth, ranging from Level 1 (approximately 15 hours per module) to Level 3 (up to 60 hours per module). All materials are available on the NBSOIL Academy e-learning platform, with self-paced access designed to accommodate diverse learning needs.
The release of the final module also signals the beginning of the Academy’s capstone phase. From October 2025 to June 2026, participants will engage in final projects that apply their learning to a real soil advisory challenge. These projects will be designed and developed under the mentorship of NBSOIL experts, offering an opportunity to bring together the insights and skills gained throughout the four modules. This hands-on phase will enable learners to demonstrate their ability to advise, plan, and communicate sustainable soil solutions in real-world scenarios.
