Healthy soils are the foundation of sustainable agricultural production. The importance of soil biodiversity for a resource-efficient and stress-resilient agriculture is increasingly being recognized, with initiatives like the EU's Horizon Soil Missions leading the way. However, the best farming practices that enhance soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in specific contexts and under future climate conditions – including those targeting aboveground diversification – remain to be determined.

In this 180 min workshop, we aim to bridge this gap by bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders involved in past and current European research projects – including agronomists, biologists, soil scientists, social scientists, agricultural advisors, and policymakers. Together, we will identify the most efficient and context-specific practices for enhancing biodiversity and the functioning of agroecosystems without compromising agricultural production. We plan to invite participants from ongoing and completed EU projects working at the intersection of sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, and soil health, as well as anyone interested in contributing to this important dialogue.

Workshop structure:
1) 4-6 presentations from invited EU projects highlighting key insights and challenges (60 + 10 min break).
2) Group discussions to share and reflect on best practices for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (50 + 10 min break).
3) Plenary session to synthesize discussions into a draft roadmap for future research and policy (50 min).

Expected outcomes:
1) A strong expert network across biodiversity realms to support future sustainable agroecosystem projects.
2) A roadmap paper consolidating current knowledge and outlining key research gaps and policy priorities.