• 5 December is World Soil Day, a fundamental resource for the protection of the climate and biodiversity.
• Italian startup Abit provides farmers with precise information on soil quality.
• The app offers advice on how to best manage land, with strategies that are also economically sustainable.

Healthy soil for healthy cities. This is the theme chosen by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (Fao) for the 2025 edition of World Soil Day. Since 2014, every 5 December this occasion helps raise public awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy soil by managing its resources sustainably. It is, after all, one of the world's greatest sources of biodiversity, given that two thirds of all living organisms are found beneath its surface. And, at the same time, it is one of the main factors in combating the effects of climate change.

The 360-degree approach proposed by Abit

Soil health is precisely the focus of Italian startup Abit. Born between Milan and Genoa, this company draws on advanced technologies and leverages artificial intelligence to foster the transition towards a truly sustainable agriculture capable of protecting biodiversity. The company sets itself two main objectives: on the one hand, to provide farmers with concrete tools to mitigate the effects of climate change and improve yields; on the other, to simplify the reporting of sustainability performance, which is increasingly demanded by both the market and regulations.

The methodology developed by Abit is based on a 360-degree approach, starting from a simple soil sample. Through a comprehensive analysis focusing in particular on mesofauna (those insects measuring between two millimetres and one centimetre that represent an excellent indicator of biodiversity), the startup provides precise information on soil quality and defines long-term strategies with a view to sustainable agriculture.

Soil as an "ally" for farming businesses

By integrating modern technologies with agronomic expertise, the platform is able to map out a clear pathway of measurement and implementation: the result is a biodiversity index, a scientifically validated indicator that not only provides precise information on soil quality, but also defines effective and economically advantageous long-term strategies for farmers. These can access data via a dedicated app, which also includes advice on how to manage land in order to improve biodiversity and better counter the effects of climate change.

The certification – validated by a third party, Rina, a partner of the project – enables farmers to add further value to their products, a distinctive element in a market that has become increasingly competitive while at the same time ever more attentive to sustainability. The startup also allows companies to get ahead of the curve and report their commitment in a clear, complete and comprehensive manner, in line with the main standards.