Our active projects connect microbial ecology with crop resilience, soil biodiversity, carbon farming and public participation in science.
4 projects
01 / PLANT RESILIENCEActive project
ARIS · J4-60080
WHEATSHIELD
Helping wheat weather drought.
We investigate how rhizobacteria contribute to drought resilience in wheat, connecting differences among plant genotypes with microbial communities and plant performance.
The work moves from field and pot experiments to the isolation and characterisation of candidate bacteria. Controlled experiments then test whether selected strains can improve plant responses to water stress.
Microbiome profiling, cultivation, plant phenotyping and inoculation experiments
Intended contribution
Candidates and ecological knowledge for microbiome-assisted crop resilience
02 / SOIL BIODIVERSITYActive project
KEKS · IRP38
Slovenian Soil Microbiome Atlas
Putting the living soil on the map.
We are building a microbiome atlas of Slovenian arable soils to understand how soil conditions and agricultural management shape bacterial and fungal communities.
The initial sampling design pairs 100 organic and 100 comparable conventional sites. Microbiome data will be linked with soil properties and management histories to support future models of where microbial bioproducts may work.
A reference for soil biodiversity research and context-specific bioproduct use
03 / CARBON FARMINGActive project
Interreg Euro-MED · C4SQ+
CARBON 4 SOIL QUALITY+
Connecting carbon farming with soil quality.
Through this Interreg Euro-MED project, we contribute to an evidence-based carbon farming strategy that connects agricultural practices with soil quality and local conditions.
KIS leads WP3, Evidence-based Carbon Farming Strategy, including the development of a transnational strategy. The work brings together partner knowledge on management, soil carbon and the conditions needed to put evidence into practice.
Leadership of WP3 and development of the transnational strategy
Focus
Carbon farming practices, soil quality and territorial context
Intended contribution
A shared evidence base for practical carbon farming decisions
04 / CITIZEN SCIENCEECHO ambassadors
Engaging Citizens in Soil Science
ECHO
Opening soil science to everyone.
As ECHO ambassadors, we help connect schools, farmers and local communities with European soil-health citizen science.
ECHO invites people to take part in soil sampling and learn about the ground beneath their feet. Contact the group to discuss participation and current sampling-kit availability.
