IHSS&IWA26 / BRNO / CZECHIA / 23–28 August 2026 BOOK OF ABSTRACTS 12 only recycle nutrients and reduce waste disposal burdens but also contribute to long-term soil carbon stabilization and improved ecosystem services. Recent experimental evidence demonstrates that HS-based amendments can significantly enhance soil biochemical and microbiological functionality through the stimulation of enzymatic activities such as dehydrogenase, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, urease, and catalase, while simultaneously promoting microbial biomass development and increasing soil biodiversity. Improvements in soil structure, cation exchange capacity, nutrient buffering, and waterholding capacity further contribute to increased resilience against drought and environmental stress conditions. Furthermore, the integration of multiindicator approaches combining chemical, microbiological, biochemical, and faunal parameters has proven effective in detecting early changes in soil quality and ecosystem functionality following HS application. From a climate mitigation perspective, HS-based amendments represent promising low-impact solutions capable of simultaneously enhancing soil carbon stabilization and reducing the environmental burden of agricultural production. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approaches increasingly confirm the sustainable advantages of HSderived products obtained from agroindustrial residues over conventional fertilization systems, highlighting reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, eutrophication potential, and fossil resource consumption and increment in circular resource efficiency. Moreover, the ability of HS to promote long-term soil organic carbon sequestration highlights their potential relevance within emerging carbon credit and carbon farming frameworks, where regenerative soil management practices may contribute to measurable climate mitigation outcomes and the generation of ecosystem service value. These findings reinforce the strategic role of HS within regenerative and climate-smart agricultural systems aimed at supporting ecosystem restoration, sustainable food production, and the transition toward low-carbon circular bioeconomies, consistently with the targets established by the European Green Deal and related EU sustainability strategies. We will explore the emerging role of humic substances as strategic tools for connecting environmental remediation, soil restoration, climate mitigation, and sustainable food production. Particular attention will be devoted to innovative circular approaches based on the valorisation of agro-industrial residues, the application of integrated biological and biochemical soil quality indicators, and the development of naturebased solutions aimed at restoring soil functionality while maintaining productive and economically viable agricultural systems. Finally, future perspectives on the application of HS in regenerative agriculture, microbiome engineering, carbon farming, and climate-resilient
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