The research project PHISHES kicked off recently, marking the start of a four-year initiative aimed at safeguarding European soils through advanced simulation tools. PHISHES stands for Physically Based Integrated Soil Health Simulation Platform, which is also the main planned output. Coordinated by DHI, the project brings together nine expert partners from across Europe, encompassing soil science, hydrology and policymaking. PHISHES is funded by Horizon Europe, which is the EU's key funding programme for research and innovation.

The core scientific challenge addressed by PHISHES is: ‘How do soil use and soil contamination influence soil functions and associated ecosystem services, in the presence of major drivers such as climate change, and how can we predict the impacts of mitigation and adaptation measures?’

In other words, ‘How do the land management choices we make impact our soils, and how can we ensure the best possible outcome for us and the planet?’

Data and action for soil health

Soil is healthy when it has the continued capacity to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains all life on earth and PHISHES seeks to bridge the gap between soil data and actions to protect soil health. The project will provide much-needed predictive capability in terms of the consequences of management choices on soil functions and associated ecosystem services, taking into account soil use, soil contamination and various drivers such as climate change. 

At the heart of PHISHES is the development of a digital platform containing tools quantifying the effect of management actions on the environment. The tools will be combinations of data processing procedures and further developed modules on top of existing numerical models, such as DHI’s integrated catchment hydrological modelling software MIKE SHE and the DAISY agro-ecological model of the soil-plant-atmosphere system.

The gap between science and policy is bridged in practice by a decision support system that will display the concrete findings of the PHISHES project and actionable recommendations for policy affecting soil health.

Better decision-making for impacts on soil health and ecosystem services

By providing quantitative predictive tools, the project will enable stakeholders and decision makers to evaluate the effects of possible actions such as changed agricultural practices, land restoration or pollution mitigation measures with the goal of preserving soil health and improve impacts on associated ecosystem services. Indeed, the results of the scenario simulations generated by the PHISHES digital platform will be translated into policy recommendations aimed at promoting soil health, enhancing ecosystem services and mitigating the effects of contamination and climate change.

European case studies

To ensure practical application and relevance, PHISHES modelling results are applied and tested using four case studies across Europe, focusing on diverse environmental challenges:

•    The Zelivka River Basin in the Czech Republic, analysing soil management’s influence on drinking water quality at catchment scale
•    The Koprzywianka River in Poland, covering drought on agricultural land
•    The Airport in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, looking at efficiency of mitigation measures of PFAS contamination at sub-catchment scale
•    The Rotterdam urban area in the Netherlands, evaluating the use of green infrastructure to improve resilience and sustainability of urban environments

Additionally, a soil laboratory in France will examine the fate and transport of PFAS from soil to groundwater under controlled conditions.  Copenhagen University, a project partner in PHISHES, is also a member of the recently established Danish PFAS Research Centre. Like the PFAS Research Centre’s aim to support the Danish PFAS Action Plan, PHISHES will support EU policymakers and member states with issues related to PFAS soil contamination.

By integrating scientifically founded models and case studies, the PHISHES project will provide valuable insights into sustainable soil management. Moreover, with its focus on translating scientific findings into actionable recommendations, PHISHES represents a significant advance in the preservation of soil health and the sustainability of ecosystem services.