Catalogue of Real-World Business Model Insights for Soil LLs and LHs

Practical Guidance for Sustainable Strategies

The PREPSOIL Business Model Canvas (BMC) for Soil Living Labs (LLs) and Lighthouses (LHs) is a tailor-made tool created to support these initiatives in designing strategies for long-term stability. Built with the specific needs of Soil LLs and LHs in mind, the canvas offers a structured yet flexible framework to guide decision-making and communicate value to stakeholders.   []

Real-World Insights, Rooted in Practice

As part of the PREPSOIL process, practical insights were gathered across a range of activities supporting LL and LH business model development. These examples reflect the lived experience of LLs and have been mapped to the various elements of the BMC.

To help users navigate this knowledge, the insights have been classified based on their relevance:

  • Common to all LLs – insights that apply regardless of the LL’s theme or land use context
  • Common to Soil LLs – applicable to any LL focused on soil-related challenges
  • Land use-specific – tailored for LLs working in agriculture, forestry, (post-)industrial, or (peri-)urban settings

Explore the Filterable Catalogue

In this page, you'll find a filterable catalogue of insights linked to specific BMC elements and spheres of intervention. You can browse by:

  • Land Use Focus – agriculture, forestry, (post-)industrial, or (peri-)urban
  • Element – e.g., Key Stakeholders, Value Proposition, Revenue Streams
  • Sphere of Intervention – thematic focus within each element

For example, an agricultural LL looking for real-world insights of private sector engagement can select “Agriculture” under the Focus filter, and “Private Sector” under the 4. Key Stakeholders element.

These insights are intended to guide and inspire LLs and LHs as they build their own business models—recognizing that each lab’s ambition, capacity, and local context is unique.

Projects funded under the EU Mission Soil initiative should also ensure that their business models reflect the objectives outlined in the Mission Soil Implementation Plan, as well as the land use type they aim to address. This focus is essential for shaping effective and sustainable strategies.

Additional Resources

PREPSOIL Report on LL/LH Business Model Plans (D4.2)

A deeper dive into the methodology and development process behind the BMC.

Business Model Canvas for Soil Living Labs and Lighthouses: A Guide for Users

Detailed instructions and guiding questions for completing each section of the canvas.

 

Shorten logistic chain to increase the profit margin for farmers and improve well being

Agricultural land use type
Research & Development

Redirect policy (CAP) support provision of ecosystem services alongside production

Agricultural land use type
Economic, Policy & Regulatory Support

Unified approach to the interrelated problems in agroecology system, involving all users, stakeholders and customers

Agricultural land use type
Economic, Policy & Regulatory Support

Promote (sustainable) ecotourism for economic diversification of the regions

Agricultural land use type
Economic, Policy & Regulatory Support

Increase energy independence of farmers' own solar panels (e.g. small energy generators)

Agricultural land use type
Economic, Policy & Regulatory Support

Remove economic, policy, and knowledge barriers to soil improving management

Agricultural land use type
Economic, Policy & Regulatory Support

Payment of incentives for involving farmers in activities and projects of the LL

Variable Costs
Agricultural land use type

Additional tools for on farm demo activities and events

Variable Costs
Agricultural land use type

Support experiments under real-life conditions in field experiments on research field stations and lighthouse farms

Research & Development
Agricultural land use type

Initiate and support focused scientific work in controlled laboratories and field experiments

Research & Development
Agricultural land use type

On farm step by step experimental set ups which include nature-based solutions, integrating mixed production systems like cover crops, no till, diversity over and underground, grazing strategies, holistic approaches, agroforestry, etc.

Research & Development
Agricultural land use type

Develop business models for farmers willing to apply new ways for improving soil health

Research & Development
Agricultural land use type