SoilChange

SoilChange: Stories of Transformation

Location of activities and scope

Switzerland, Soil-Inspired Film

Switzerland – Festival animation – Film

 

Executive Summary

SoilChange – Stories of Transformation is a 3-part documentary series showing how Swiss communities, scientists, and farmers are healing damaged soil across three key sectors: city, industry, and agriculture. Through stories of urban desealing (Concrete Breakers), bioremediation of contaminated land (Toxic Legacy), and regenerative farming (Soil Stewards), the films highlight soil’s capacity for renewal. Objectives are to raise soil literacy, shift perceptions of soil as “just dirt,” and inspire concrete actions for soil health. Target audiences include the general public, educators, students, NGOs, and policymakers. The approach combines cinematic storytelling, festival screenings, interactive soil exhibitions, and teacher guides aligned with Lehrplan 21. Expected outcomes are increased awareness, measurable behaviour change, collaborations with research institutions and NGOs, and a replicable communication model supporting the EU Soil Mission.

Motivation Statement

It is late summer in Zurich, and one of my joys is picking ripe tomatoes from my garden and eating them straight from the vine. Watching them grow from a tiny seed in healthy soil is a great source of wonder. A handful of soil contains more living organisms than there are people on Earth, a hidden and vibrant cosmos that has fascinated me for years. When cared for, soil rewards us with abundance and sustains ecosystems, food, and life itself. For more than a decade with the non-profit Acker Schweiz, I have inspired children to value and protect this precious resource. Today, as a multimedia producer, I want to carry this mission to a wider audience through film, inviting people to discover the beauty beneath their feet and to take part in safeguarding it. Healthy soil means a healthy future, and the choices we make now will shape the richness of life tomorrow.

Sub-project objectives

Increase Soil Literacy: Make complex soil science understandable and engaging through storytelling, accessible metaphors, and visual techniques – so that audiences across all backgrounds can discover soil’s essential role in food, water, climate, and biodiversity.

Inspire Action for Soil Health: Move audiences from awareness to concrete action in their communities, gardens, and policies – showing that soil restoration is not only possible, but happening right now in Switzerland.

Challenges and how they will be addressed

Challenge 1 – “Soil as just dirt” perception: Addressed through relatable human stories, accessible metaphors, and everyday contexts such as food, gardens, and city streets.
Challenge 2 – Diverse audiences with varied knowledge levels: Addressed with layered content – accessible storytelling for newcomers, deeper scientific insights for specialists, curriculum-linked materials aligned with the Swiss Lehrplan 21.
Challenge 3 – Scale mismatch between individual action and systemic degradation: Addressed by showing concrete “action spaces” at every scale, from personal garden choices to municipal policy, so every viewer finds a meaningful entry point.

Expected outcomes

Three fully edited mini-documentaries (8–10 min each). Tentative topics include urban desealing, bioremediation, and regenerative. They will be supplemented with a teacher’s guide aligned with Lehrplan 21

Meet the Project Team

Schubkraft Lernmedien GmbH

Schubkraft Lernmedien GmbH is an educational media production company based in Zurich, specialising in documentary film, e-learning, and interactive media on environment, sustainability, and innovation. Founded by Gregor Martius, an environmental scientist turned media producer with over ten years of experience, the company transforms complex scientific topics into compelling visual stories for broad audiences.

Contact – Gregor Martius.

Schubkraft Lernmedien GmbH