Business Model Canvas for Living Labs & Lighthouses in the Mission Soil

LLs accelerate the development of innovative solutions to soil health challenges by uniting farmers, citizens, researchers, and companies. This collaboration fosters fair and sustainable, regionally-produced food, while enhancing soil health and crucial ecosystem services such as climate change mitigation, flood prevention, and erosion control. By promoting agroecology and beneficial soil health practices, Living Labs boost soil biodiversity and fertility, reducing soil degradation in arable lands, grasslands, and forests. This approach not only creates sustainable livelihoods for farmers, especially younger generations, but also drives sustainable forest soil management, ensuring a resilient and healthy ecosystem for future generations

Brownfield land is extremely important for environmental and ecosystem quality and human health. Involving citizens, municipal administration, planners, land developers, researchers, and environmetal officers in the LL co-creation processses might help to optimize the re-use of land in a way that involves soil information, soil ecosystem services, and risk management in the planning

In many (post-) industrial regions, a substantial part of the land is still used as arable land. Elevated soil contaminants might pose a risk of food contamination. Therefore, alternative agricultural production and soil management practices must be proposed to farmers. They can be effectively developed only in a co-creation process with farmers and advisors to address environmental and socio-economic barriers the transformation might face

Urban LLs may transform city landscapes by revitalizing soil health through innovative green infrastructure and community engagement. The LL can create sustainable, biodiverse urban environments that enhance water management, boost local food production, and foster healthier communities. By partnering with different stakeholders, cities can improve their resilience to climate change, increase property values, and provide their residents with attractive, functional green spaces that support both environmental and social well-being

Know how of EU funds

In-kind contributions from universities and local administrations (e.g. staff, premises)

Availability of testing and experimentation spaces

Equipment

Digital platforms

FabLab equipment and support

Comms channels

Outreach and engagement plans