The LOESS Soil App is the result of a unique European collaboration that brought together students, educators, and researchers to explore how digital tools can support environmental learning. Developed through a classroom-based co-creation process, the app was shaped not behind closed doors, but through direct input from young people across 15 countries. With guidance from teachers and project partners, students helped define its themes, structure, and interactive features, making the app a shared product of learning and creativity.

A European effort to support soil awareness

Part of the Horizon Europe LOESS project, the app supports the EU’s Mission Soil by helping users explore the importance of healthy soil and the environmental challenges it faces.

Covering five main topics – from soil biodiversity to sustainable practices – the app includes quizzes, mini-games, and an augmented reality feature where users can explore 3D soil organisms.

But what makes the LOESS Soil app notable is how it came to be: through a structured co-creation process involving students aged 12 and up, guided by teachers and LOESS partners in 15 participating countries.