SOILL-Startup: Startup of the SOILL support structure for SOIL Living Labs

1 January 2024 to 31 December 2025

A core strategy of the Soil Deal for Europe Mission, which is all about restoring and protecting the health of the soils that literally underly our food system, is the creation of 100 Soil Health Living Labs and Lighthouses across Europe. SOILL-Startup is the first 2-year phase of the larger SOILL Framework Partnership coordinated by the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL). During this period, the project will work with the first wave of Soil Health Living Labs and Lighthouses to create a central support structure to aid current living labs and potential applicants. Together with FiBL, the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture’s European (FiBL Europe) and Hungarian (ÖMKi) offices – the Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, IFOAM Organics Europe is a partner in the project, which held its kick-off meeting on 15-16 January 2024 in Brussels, and IFOAM Organics Europe R&I Coordinator Tyler Arbour attended.

What kind of support will be provided?

SOILL-Startup will be a web-based hub that will:

• F facilitate outreach, collaboration, and monitoring within the Living Lab network and beyond;
• Develop trainings and supporting tools on methodologies, technical aspects, and cross-cutting areas;
• Develop a consolidated (self-)assessment framework that will allows current or potential living labs to identify strengths and weaknesses and adjust their approach accordingly.

The remaining support activities can be summarised as facilitating networking, knowledge sharing, and matchmaking to expand and strengthen the entire network of Soil Health and related Living Labs.

About SOILL-Startup

SOILL-Startup is the first 2-year phase of the larger SOILL Framework Partnership. The project will work with the first wave of Soil Health Living Labs and Lighthouses to create a central support structure to help current living labs and potential applicants. The European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL) coordinates the partnership 

Together with our members FiBL Europe and the Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (ÖMKi), IFOAM Organics Europe is a project partner. As one of 28 European partners we contribute, among others, to an engagement campaign for applicant living labs, a helpdesk and info points, coaching and training, and developing a methodological framework for monitoring and evaluation.  

If you or your organisation want to learn more about becoming (part of) a Soil Health Living Lab, keep following our newsletter and check out the SOILL-Startup website (coming soon), LinkedIn and X.