10 & 11 March 2026 @ FH Upper Austria Campus Wels
The TSHN Soil & Value Summit 2026 Held on 10 and 11 March at the Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences in Wels, it was a complete success and sent a strong signal for the future of soil health.
Over two days, more than 72 participants from science, agriculture, business and public administration actively participated and brought in their perspectives.
The summit developed into an interdisciplinary workspace where concrete exchange and practicable approaches concerning soil health were developed. Within the scope of the FFG Impact Innovation project „Soil Health, Measurement, and Financing“, diverse perspectives were intentionally brought together – science, practice, administration, and consumers worked closely together on joint solution approaches.
Science, practice and regulatory monopoly
Economy, ecology and technology
Voluntariness and incentives instead of coercion and sanctions
Climate stabilisation and high-yield agricultural soils
📅 Date
10-11 March 2026
09:00-17:00 in each case
📍 Venue
FH-OOE Campus Wels
Stelzhamerstraße 23, 4600 Wels
🅿 Recommended car parks
💶 Participation fee
None. The Summit is funded by the FFG Impact Innovation Programme and TSHN's own contributions.
TSHN presents its concept for promoting soil health - with a focus on scientifically sound measurement methods, structured data management and the monetisation of ecosystem services.
These approaches are discussed and further developed together with experts.
Measurability and economic evaluability are key prerequisites for making environmental performance visible and integrating it into economic decisions.
Finally, the results are summarised and incorporated into the TSHN concept or recorded as open research topics. An invitation is then extended to participate in the TSHN Living Lab project as a consortium member - with prioritised involvement for early partners.
The Summit is deliberately designed as an interactive working format:
- Short keynote speeches by leading experts
- Moderated discussions and structured summaries of results
- Interactive digital surveys and feedback formats
- Workshop sessions with specific questions
- Project partner exchange and targeted networking opportunities
At the end of the summit, the results will be summarised and integrated into the TSHN Living Lab concept.
08:00
Arrival, registration, coffee and networking
09:00 - Welcome and opening
Roman Froschauer - FH Upper Austria / FH Wels
Welcome, opening of the summit and presentation of the FH Wels
Christoph Feichtenschlager - TSHN - The Soil Health Network
Soil health, agriculture, economy and society
Barbara Birli - Federal Environment Agency Austria
Methods and challenges in the assessment of soil ecosystem services
Paul Klier - TB Unterfrauner
Findings and outlook for soil sampling for over 120 parameters
Plenary discussion
10:45
Coffee break
Christoph Feichtenschlager - TSHN - The Soil Health Network
Input from the TSHN perspective
Claudia Probst - FH Upper Austria / FH Wels
„Smelling“ nature with sensors - the DigiNose project at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
Enrique Nacif - Green Legacy
More soil health through better water retention – “From dry fields to green yields”
Plenary discussion
12:15
Lunch
Introduction - Christoph Feichtenschlager - TSHN
Measurement techniques for soil health
Markus Hollaus - TU Vienna
Remote Sensing - Remote sensing using the example of Austrian agriculture
Anna Dal Grande - Donausoja
Increasing Europe's self-sufficiency in fodder and energy crops in the context of soil health
Christian Freilach - Schaider Group
Increasing soil value through innovative detoxification and humus formation
Group discussion and presentation of results
14:15
Coffee break
Christoph Feichtenschlager - TSHN
Results from the pilot project
Manuel Böhm - Humus movement
Humus and carbon - empirical values from the humus movement
Lukas Hieret – Farmer
Practical reports on the conversion to organic-regenerative agriculture
Bianca Beer - Green Legacy
From sheep's wool as a raw material to soil conditioner - innovations for water and nutrient storage in the soil
Plenary discussion
17:00
End of day 1
18:00
Network reception and dinner at Gösser-Bräu
at the invitation of TSHN - The Soil Health Network and Österreichische Hagelversicherung
08:00
Arrival, registration, coffee and networking
09:00
Welcome and introduction
Christoph Feichtenschlager - TSHN
Michael Kneidinger - TSHN
Summary of contents and open questions
Plenary discussion
Michael Kneidinger - TSHN
Community management and knowledge building with digital systems
Thomas Gernbauer - Gernbauer Innovation Hub
The Edufyer as support for complex teaching and communication content
Dynamic seminar creation with AI based on the content of the previous day
Plenary discussion
10:15
Coffee break
Christoph Feichtenschlager - TSHN
Classification from the perspective of the Soil Health Network
Michael Haslinger - Austrian Hail Insurance
Damage sums in agriculture - how better soils enable better premiums
Andreas Achleitner - Biohof Achleitner
Soil health from an organic farmer's perspective - why it is crucial for future generations
Plenary discussion
Elisabeth Thompson - FFG
New aspects of agricultural and technology funding
Questions and answers
12:15
Lunch
Christoph Feichtenschlager - TSHN
Istvan Paradi - ELTE / ExperiPlant
Mycorrhizal Fungi - The Invisible Infrastructure of Soil Health
Angela Schadl - Belogran
Stable microorganisms as an immune system and growth booster
Nicole Ollinger - FH Upper Austria / FH Wels
Promoting the plant immune system through healthy soil
Plenary discussion
14:30
Coffee break
Christoph Feichtenschlager - TSHN
Traceability and transparency for all stakeholders
Open impulses and shared creative space
15:30
Coffee break
Presentation of possible funding and partnership projects
FFG Impact Innovation
FFG Expedition Future - Nature-based Solutions
Horizon Europe - Soil Deal for Europe
Horizon Europe - Cluster 6
Project initiation and partnership agreements
16:30
Conclusion, outlook and possible awards
17:00
End of the Summit
The summit is designed so that participants not only absorb content, but also actively contribute to its development. On the second day, the results are summarised in a structured manner and concrete implementation projects are prepared, including
- national innovation projects (FFG)
- European Horizon Europe projects
- Development of the TSHN Living Lab network
Summit participants form the basis for these next development steps.
- On 10 March, day 1, there will be a joint networking evening at Gösser Bräu Wels from 18:00t. This provides an opportunity for in-depth dialogue with experts and future project partners.
- Targeted networking times during breaks
- Possibility of setting up an exhibition or presentation stand (high table, roll-up, information material)=> enquiry to mk@tshn.at
- Pre-registration for plenary sessions on the second day (afternoon)
- Project partner exchange for the initiation of concrete co-operations
- Awarding of certificates of participation
The summit will conclude with participation in national and European funding programmes. The following calls are already in preparation and TSHN is offering all attendees „Early Bird“ status:
FFG Impact Innovation
FFG Expedition Future - Challenge „Nature-based Solutions“
Horizon Europe - Soil Deal for Europe (HORIZON-MISS-2026-05-SOIL, one-stage)
Horizon Europe - Soil Deal for Europe (HORIZON-MISS-2026-05-SOIL, two-stage)
Horizon Europe - Cluster 6 (Call 2026-01)
The aim is to form viable consortia based on the results of the summit, which will be organised in a compact form.
„Early birds - first come first served“ principle.
Regenerative blockchain agriculture:
