The SaliNova consortium has officially begun its work following a successful kick-off meeting that brought together project partners from across Europe and beyond. Over the coming years, 19 partner organisations from 11 countries will collaborate through this Horizon Europe Mission project to advance scientific understanding of soil salinisation and develop new methods and tools for its detection, prediction, monitoring and management. Soil salinisation is a growing but often unseen threat to European soils. Increasing salt concentrations can affect soil health, agricultural productivity, water availability and the long-term resilience of landscapes. Addressing this challenge requires coordinated research across multiple disciplines, regions and environmental conditions. The kick-off meeting provided an important opportunity for consortium members to establish a shared understanding of the project’s objectives, planned activities and expected outcomes. Discussions reflected the broad expertise represented across SaliNova, covering areas such as soil science, environmental monitoring, modelling, remote sensing, land management and stakeholder engagement. Partners also began aligning their respective work packages and identifying opportunities for collaboration across the project. This integrated approach will help ensure that the knowledge, methodologies and tools developed through SaliNova can support practical decision-making and contribute to more sustainable land management, improved food security and greater environmental resilience. As project coordinator, Hamburg University of Technology welcomed the enthusiasm, openness and collaborative spirit demonstrated by all consortium members. The meeting established a strong foundation for cooperation and reinforced the consortium’s shared commitment to delivering scientifically robust and practically relevant outcomes. The consortium was also pleased to welcome Professor Irina Smirnova, Vice President for Research at Hamburg University of Technology. In her institutional welcome, Professor Smirnova highlighted the importance of SaliNova and its contribution to the university’s strategic research priorities. The kick-off marked the beginning of an ambitious programme of research and collaboration. With a strong multidisciplinary team now in place, SaliNova will move forward with its work to improve understanding of soil salinisation and strengthen Europe’s capacity to anticipate, monitor and manage its impacts. Further updates on the project’s research, activities and results will be shared throughout the coming years. ​ ​