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.

 

Number of farmers using the LL

Agricultural land use type
Social

Number of demo farms as part of the experiment sites of a LL

Agricultural land use type
Social

Percentage of farms that have guaranteed their generational relay for sustainability and long-term thinking

Agricultural land use type
Social

Number of farms practicing good soil practices (e.g. agroecology)

Agricultural land use type
Social

In case the LL counts on value chain analyses as part of the performance, number of restaurants, food shops and canteens involved, as well as number of products labelled to reward fair practices

Forestry land use type
Economic

Average increase in quality products and farm profitability

Forestry land use type
Economic

Number of farmers using the LL

Forestry land use type
Social

Number of demo farms as part of the experiment sites of a LL

Forestry land use type
Social

Percentage of farms that have guaranteed their generational relay for sustainability and long-term thinking

Forestry land use type
Social

Satisfaction rate of farmers

Forestry land use type
Social

Number of hectares restored

(Post-)Industrial land use type
Environmental

Tons of polluted soil cleaned-up

(Post-)Industrial land use type
Environmental