Rooted Innovation: navigating the landscape of business models for soil health Living Labs with PREPSOIL

On the 25th and 26th of October 2023, PREPSOIL hosted a hybrid workshop in Brussels. The workshop focused on the creation of Living Lab (LL) Business Models and Service Packages. This collaborative event brought together mature and emerging Living Labs (LLs) to identify opportunities and constraints encountered by LLs and/or Lighthouses (LHs) and to understand the ongoing needs for maturity and long-term success.

Structured over two days, the workshop was organized by the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and the PREPSOIL partners with the objective to blend theoretical discussions with practical applications and thus, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas.

The first day, organized by ENoLL, focused on the Business Model Canvas. Juan Bertolin, an expert in business models created business model canvas for LLs called “LIAISON”. During the workshop, participants had the chance to receive an explanation of how to use the “LIAISON” Canvas and to test it by applying it to their LLs. Theoretical insights were complemented by group discussions, allowing participants to actively explore the challenges of Business Models. This reflection enhanced participants’ understanding on how to use these models as a strategic roadmap to achieve long-term financial sustainability. In the morning session, presentations shed light on fundamental concepts, such as the essence of Business Models and their practical implications. These insights paved the way for in-depth group discussions during the afternoon, where participants tested the Business Model Canvas and raised key elements like value propositions, problem identification, customer segments, and solutions. Report-back sessions and group discussions enriched the dialogue and shared feedback on how to improve the model and how to better adapt it to the Soil LLs/LHs context.

On the second day, WUR introduced the Soil Mission and its aim to establish 100 LLs by 2030. The attention was placed on an updated document of the Soil Mission Board (2nd of October) that explains the expectations of the Soil Health Living Labs. The first discussion aimed at exploring the requirement of the LLs topics and to dialogue with the participants on the challenges they were facing in respecting the application criteria. Following this discussion, attendees actively engaged in group discussions for the co-creation of a Service Package to support the development of mature LLs and LHs. Several feedback sessions and networking opportunities were alternated throughout the day, creating an interactive environment. The agenda seamlessly progressed into discussions on network activities, communication, impact monitoring, and reflection on the Soil Mission Viability. The afternoon sessions explored critical aspects such as supporting impact monitoring, reflection, and assessing the viability of LLs under the Soil Mission. The day ended with a conclusion encapsulating the collective insights gained throughout the day and setting the stage for future initiatives in sustainable Business Models for Soil Health and Rural LLs.

The insights gathered from the 27 participants will be used to shape PREPSOIL’s future activities. The upcoming steps of the project involve the creation of a comprehensive inventory of Business Models for Soil Health LLs and LHs, the organisation of two workshops in 2024 to present innovative financing ideas tailored to LLs and LHs, and the co-creation of a Service Package providing recommendations for the upcoming soil mission-related LLs and LHs.

Learn more about how PREPSOIL is supporting the creation of 100 LLs & LHs in Europe