Policymakers
Supporting evidence-based policy
Policymakers have an important role in creating the conditions for a more sustainable and resource-efficient horticultural sector. Hort2thefuture is generating evidence on innovative growing media, fertilisers, irrigation and fertigation strategies, and approaches to improving soil health and reducing soil compaction.
By assessing these solutions across different crops, production systems and European contexts, the project will provide evidence to help policymakers understand their environmental, economic and practical implications. This will support informed decision-making and help identify opportunities and barriers to the wider uptake of more sustainable horticultural practices.
From research to policy
Hort2thefuture works with policymakers and other stakeholders to ensure that project findings are relevant to current and emerging policy needs. Through stakeholder engagement, knowledge exchange and dialogue, the project will translate research findings into accessible evidence, recommendations and resources that can inform policy development and implementation.
The project will contribute knowledge relevant to European priorities around sustainable food production, resource efficiency, soil health and the transition towards more resilient horticultural systems. By connecting policymakers with researchers, growers and industry, Hort2thefuture aims to support policies that are both scientifically robust and grounded in the realities of horticultural production.
Latest news for policymakers
Growing media: Towards an EU policy framework fit for purpose
Overview and purpose: The Brussels Policy Scoping Workshop of the 3rd of March 2026 was organised by the SPINFERT and Hort2thefuture Horizon Europe projects funded under the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’. It brought together EU policymakers,...
The challenge of defining “sustainable growing media”: Why the term is used incorrectly and what needs to be done about it
Abstract: The term “sustainable growing media” is widely used in horticultural research, policy, and industry, yet its meaning remains ambiguous, inconsistently applied, and often unsupported by evidence, undermining the very decisions it is meant...
Hort2theFuture Annual Consortium Meeting: Looking towards the future of sustainable horticulture
The Hort2theFuture consortium gathered at Corvinus University in Budapest this September for its annual meeting, bringing together 28 project partners from 12 European countries. Over two productive days, the consortium reviewed the strong progress...