On 4-5 March 2025, representatives from Living Lab & Lighthouse initiatives gathered in Brussels and online for the PREPSOIL Workshop on Tools and Resources for Accelerating Soil Living Lab Development, co-organized by the ENoLL and Wageningen University. The event aimed to foster collaboration, exchange insights, and refine a resource Toolbox designed to accelerate the maturity of Soil Health Living Labs across Europe.
Bringing together experts from diverse disciplines, the workshop provided a peer-learning environment where participants could explore best practices and tools, discuss existing challenges, and co-develop solutions that drive forward soil health innovations.
This workshop reinforced the essential role of Living Labs as innovation hubs, fostering collaboration and advancing sustainable soil management across Europe.
Over two days, participants engaged in expert discussions, interactive sessions, and a hands-on field visit, exploring how Living Labs can drive soil health solutions.
Presentations from Niels Halberg, PREPSOIL Coordinator from Aarhus University, who introduced the PREPSOIL project and its services. This was followed by Jelena Vidovic a DG AGRI representative from the European Commission, who provided an update on the role of Living Labs in achieving Mission Soil objectives.
Participants were introduced to the beta version of the PREPSOIL Toolbox, a key resource for guiding Living Labs in soil health. Interactive breakout discussions followed, where attendees explored its content, design, and user experience, providing valuable feedback for improvement.
The day ended with a session on Citizen Science for Soil Monitoring, led by Jaroslav Šmejkal (LESP), exploring community engagement. The discussion highlighted how citizen involvement supports long-term soil monitoring and raises awareness of sustainable land management practices.
On the second day, participants embarked on a field visit to Inagro, a Research Institute and ENoLL-certified member located in Flanders, Belgium. The visit began at Inagro’s headquarters, where experts provided insights into the institute’s work, impact, and contributions to agricultural innovation. A highlight of the visit was an in-depth presentation on Inagro’s Circular Economy Living Lab, which focuses on sustainable agricultural models and resource efficiency.
The tour continued with a visit to Stijn De Wulf’s farm, where participants gained firsthand insights into regenerative soil management and sustainable farming practices. Stijn De Wulf shared his experiences and sustainability goals, offering a practical perspective on innovative soil health strategies.
The final stop of the field visit was Agrotopia Living Lab, a cutting-edge research site showcasing advanced greenhouse horticultural technologies and novel approaches to sustainable food production. Agrotopia serves as a hub for testing and demonstrating innovative solutions in urban agriculture and resource-efficient farming.
ENoLL remains committed to advancing this work, collaborating with partners to equip Living Labs with the resources needed to accelerate soil health initiatives across Europe.
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