Spotlight on the PREPSOIL Report: Advancing Soil Health Through Living Labs and Lighthouses

The PREPSOIL Report on Living Labs (LL) / Lighthouses (LH) Taxonomy, Identification, and Mapping, now available on Zenodo, represents a significant milestone in efforts to support Soil Health initiatives under the EU Soil Mission. The report introduces tools to classify, guide, and empower LLs and LHs across Europe, building the foundation for improved collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Three Main Outputs 

1. Taxonomy and User Guide: The report introduces a robust classification tool that provides a flexible framework for guiding Soil Health initiatives by tailoring approaches to local contexts, promoting innovation, and facilitating the exchange of best practices among LLs and LHs. To facilitate its use, a guide has been developed to assist users in understanding and applying the taxonomy effectively. An interactive version of the taxonomy tool is also now available on the PREPSOIL website,
2. Classification of LLs and LHs: The taxonomy supports the identification and classification of initiatives as either European Soil LLs and LHs fully aligned with the Mission Soil Implementation Plan and criteria, or Emerging Soil LLs and LHs that are working towards meeting all Soil Mission criteria. This classification will feed into the online atlas of Soil Health initiatives across Europe, making it easier for stakeholders to explore and connect with relevant stakeholders.
3. Assessment Form: Set to launch in early 2025, the LL and LH assessment form is a practical tool designed to help LL and LH initiatives evaluate their maturity and alignment with Soil Mission criteria. By identifying areas for improvement, it fosters continuous growth, adaptation, and the development of more impactful Soil Health initiatives.

Looking Ahead 

The PREPSOIL partners are organizing a workshop in early 2025 to refine and further develop a package of tools and resources aimed at enhancing the performance and accelerating the maturity of LLs and LHs. This collaborative effort will provide practical solutions and actionable strategies for Soil Health initiatives.

If your early-stage LL or LH is interested in participating, please reach out at isabelle.couture@enoll.org for further details.

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

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Article by Ida Brems Sørensen (Aarhus Universitet)