The LivingSoiLL “Healthy Soil to Permanent Crops Living Labs”, is a Horizon Europe project that is funded by the European Commission within the framework of the EU MISSION ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’. The Soil Mission aims to lead the transition to healthy soil via sustainable soil management.
The project aims to establish 5 Living Labs (LLs) in: Portugal, France, Spain, Italy, and Poland. They will focus on permanent crops (vineyards, olive groves, chestnuts, hazelnuts, and apple orchards), comprising at least 50 demonstration sites and 10 lighthouses, and with the active participation of more than 2000 local actors.
These LLs will improve soil health and ecosystem services through co-creating, co- implementing, and co-testing (digital) solutions. The project will promote active precipitation in more than 2000 local actors in combating soil degradation through the co-creation and co-development of solutions for permanent crops.
SOILSCAPE harnesses the power of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs), artists, and civil society organizations (CSOs) to promote soil preservation across Europe and beyond. Working with experts from the worlds of soil sciences, arts, decision-making, and humanities, this project seeks to cultivate soil literacy and celebrate soils through creative approaches, engaging citizens & professionals on this journey.
SOILSCAPE’s objectives include understanding human-soil relations, building a network of more than 120 relevant actors in 8 countries, onboarding at least 320 individuals from the society, providing financial and technical support to CSOs, CCIs, schools, artists, and institutions, distributing 80 soil literacy certifications to inspiring initiatives, and reaching international scales through UNESCO and Coalition of Action for 4 Soil Health.
To achieve these objectives, SOILSCAPE uses a multilingual and multi-actor approach, focusing on cultivating artistic soil intelligence, promoting context-based soil literacy, enhancing awareness through innovative communication strategies and a soil literacy portal, organizing 2 editions of national soil festivals across Europe, and extending its actions to 30 regions by 2028.
