Soil is a natural element that is of vital importance in the life of communities and ecosystems. It is however constantly under threat and on occasion suffers irreversible damage while the public administrations face the high cost of the treatment of contaminated areas. In this context SOIL_TAKE_CARE proposes the creation of innovative devices and methodologies for the rapid and cheap diagnosis of contamination by metals and hydrocarbons in south-west European countries, providing information on the areas most at risk and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the communities facing contamination.