Shaping the Future of Soil Health Living Labs and Lighthouses in Europe

On 3 December 2025 - on the eve of World Soil Day, SOILL-Startup hosts a policy-oriented conference to connect EU-level expectations with on-the-ground evidence from the first and second waves of Mission Soil Living Labs. The event will examine data needs, enabling policy frameworks, practical challenges, early impacts, and pathways to long-term sustainability, turning lessons learned into actionable recommendations for EU and national strategies under the Mission 'A Soil Deal for Europe'.

'Shaping the Future of Soil Health Living Labs and Lighthouses in Europe' brings together major Mission Soil stakeholders to discuss how Soil Health Living Labs and Lighthouses can accelerate ecosystem restoration and soil health across Europe.

Policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers and Mission Soil Living Lab representatives will meet at the Committee of the Regions, Room VMA 21 (2nd floor) - Rue Van Maerlant 2, 1040 Brussels, on 3 December 2025 to inform concrete recommendations for mainstreaming Soil Health Living Labs into EU and national strategies supporting the Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe”.

Join us for a networking lunch at 13:00 CET and contribute to the conversation. The event is livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person. Deadline for in-person participation: Wednesday, 26 November 2025 at 18:00 CET.

Draft agenda

13:00–14:00 Welcome lunch & registration

14:00–14:20 Welcome & opening

Introduction to the event, with reflections on the growing role of Living Labs in the Soil Mission and the contribution of SOILL to supporting their development across Europe.

14:20–14:35 Keynote: The Mission Soil: state of play, rationale for LLs, progress to date, and translating objectives into action

Update on the state of play of the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe”, outlining the rationale behind the Living Lab approach, the progress made so far, and how LLs contribute to turning EU restoration and soil health objectives into action on the ground.

14:30–15:30 Panel: Anchoring Living Labs in Policy: Expectations, Evidence and Frameworks

Exchange with EU, national and regional policymakers on how Living Labs can support policy development and delivery in relation to the Soil Mission and wider restoration commitments, and how to strengthen their integration into existing policy frameworks through research and innovation.

15:30–15:50 Coffee break

15:50–16:00 Keynote: European soil data - strengthening monitoring and LL data contributions

Overview by Joint Research Centre (EUSO) of the EU’s efforts to strengthen soil monitoring and data and how Living Labs can contribute with data to support soil health policy and reporting.

16:00–16:50 Panel: The voice from the ground: one year into the Mission Soil Living Labs

Representatives of Mission Soil Living Labs from the first wave share early insights from implementation: what has worked, where challenges remain, and what lessons are emerging to guide the next phases of the Mission.

16:50–17:00 Closing & Q&A