University of Vienna receives €10 million for soil health research

A research team led by ecologist Andreas Richter from the University of Vienna has secured ten million euros in funding for the “ActiveSOIL” project. The grant was awarded by the Danish Novo Nordisk Foundation as part of its “Challenge Programme,” which focuses on addressing major global societal issues.

The project aims to develop a new method for assessing soil health by measuring the activity of organisms within the soil. This research is considered critical because soil serves not only as a foundation for agricultural production but also as the Earth’s largest carbon store, making it vital for climate protection.

Addressing soil health is increasingly urgent due to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme heat and drought, which can impair the soil's ability to perform fundamental ecological functions.