Introduction to the project
SOILL is an EU Funded initiative supporting the deployment of the 100 Soil Health Living Labs and Lighthouses (SHLLs/LHs) established under the Horizon Europe Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’, to lead the transition towards healthy soils in Europe.
Soil Health Living labs are places where to experiment on the ground. They are user-centred, place-based and transdisciplinary research and innovation ecosystems that involve multiple partners (e.g. regional and local authorities, land managers, scientists, citizens, businesses) to co-design, test, monitor and evaluate solutions in real-life settings for improving soil health.
Project in Action
SOILL will support, enlarge and promote the network of 100 Soil Mission Living Labs and Lighthouses to lead the transition towards healthy soils across different settings, geographical and socio-economic contexts all over Europe. To this scope, SOILL-Startup offers the Living Labs and Lighthouses a comprehensive framework of support, including capacity building, knowledge exchange, promotion, and regular monitoring.
SOILL will also support local, regional and national stakeholders across Europe to participate in regional soil health Living Labs funded by the Horizon Europe Calls for Proposal. In a second phase, from 2026-2030, SOILL will pave the way for scaling up the initiative and widening the community in the forthcoming years.
ERRIN's Role
ERRIN is leading the work on fostering collaboration and synergies within the Soil Health Living Labs (SHLLs) and Lighthouses (LHs) as well as within the wider SOILL community. ERRIN is establishing connections, dialogues and partnerships with various stakeholders, including potential applicants, existing SHLL/LHs outside the Mission, relevant projects and initiatives at local, national and European levels, making connections among the EU Missions. ERRIN will also map the needs and identify common interests to set-up as from 2025 onwards Thematic Working Groups to support the transition towards healthy soil.
Benefit for members and links with ERRIN's WGs and priorities
The Bioeconomy Working Group has led ERRIN’s efforts on the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ over the past years, including the development of input papers, launching the Mission Soil Manifesto and organising meetings with the European Commission. ERRIN’s participation in SOILL ensures that Natural Resouces and Food Cluster members learn from pioneering Living Labs, engaging with frontrunning initiatives with a high potential for replication. They will also share effective practices and innovative approaches from the wider SOILL community on how to embed the Soil Mission in regional policies and align with other EU Missions. Networking opportunities will be provided to local and regional stakeholders to build consortia and project proposals to establish long-term partnerships, to replicate good practices and to effectively apply for forthcoming Horizon Europe funding opportunities to establish new Soil Health Living Labs and Lighthouses.
Call to Action
Join the SOILL Community: unlock collaborations and opportunities within the Soil Mission
By joining the SOILL Community, stakeholders will access to a centralised hub of information on Soil Mission Living Labs (SHLL) and Lighthouses (LHs), benefit from regular updates on progress and achievements, and engage in knowledge exchange and collaboration opportunities. Additionally, matchmaking tools for potential applicants to the Mission Soil calls, policy support documents and capacity-building programmes will be available.
https://www.soill2030.eu/form/stakeholder-map-framework-form.
Latest Updates
- By Gianpiero Petruzziello
Join the SOILL Community: unlock collaborations and opportunities within the Soil Mission
The SOILL project, in which ERRIN is a partner, invites local and regional stakeholders, organisations, researchers, initiatives, individuals, to join its community and benefit from the project. By joining the SOILL Community, stakeholders will access to a centralised hub of information on Soil Mission Living Labs (SHLL) and Lighthouses (LHs), benefit from regular updates on progress and achievements, and engage in knowledge exchange and collaboration opportunities.
- By Gianpiero Petruzziello
Caring for Soils: Insights from EU Mission Soil Projects on Measurement, Monitoring, and Management
SOILL-Startup project, in which ERRIN is a partner, is organising the webinar 'Caring for Soils: Insights from EU Mission Soil Projects on Measurement, Monitoring, and Management' on 12 December from 10:00 to 12:00. The event, organised in the frame of the World Soil Day together with other EU Mission Soil projects, spotlights innovative and current solutions for soil measuring, monitoring, and managing, by showcasing efforts and contribution of the EU Mission Soil projects.
- By Gianpiero Petruzziello
Mission Soil: lessons learned and upcoming opportunities
ERRIN Bioeconomy WG is organising an in-person meeting on 10 June 2024 from 15:00 to 17:00 to take stock of the latest developments on the Soil Mission. This meeting will facilitate an in-depth exchange among members about the EU Soil Mission, focusing on lessons learned and opportunities for member involvement. Please check the final agenda. Participants are invited to join the networking drinks after the meeting.