The Living Lab Granada Tierra Viva celebrates its 1st General Assembly at O-MED: sustainability, innovation, and joint action for the soil.

Today, May 13, the facilities of the Granada-based company O-MED hosted the 1st General Assembly of the Living Lab Granada Tierra Viva , within the framework of the European SOILCRATES project , which is held simultaneously in the four member countries: the Netherlands, Ireland, France and Spain.

These annual events, related to the General Assemblies, follow a hybrid format—online and in-person—where an internal online meeting was held on May 12th for project members to provide an update from the four living labs and to facilitate optimal project coordination. On May 13th, conceived as an in-person collaborative event, 40 attendees related to the agri-food ecosystem—citizens, the scientific community, businesses, and public administration—gathered around a common goal: to strengthen sustainable agricultural innovation from a local perspective but connected to a European network.

The day began with a field demonstration of the sustainable agricultural practices of O-MED , a company recently recognized with the Alimentos de España Award for Best EVOO 2025. During this visit, attendees were able to learn firsthand about practices such as so-called “insect hotels ,” which promote biological pest control, as well as other agroecological strategies implemented by the company. Juan, a representative of O-MED, shared with the participants a vision deeply rooted in a commitment to the land: “Our goal is to leave our children better soil than the one we inherited.”

The tour of the olive grove became a lively space for exchange , where a debate began on the challenges facing the agricultural sector in a context of transformation. Afterward, attendees participated in a guided tour of the O-MED olive oil mill , where the process of producing extra virgin olive oil was explained in detail, from olive harvesting to bottling. The experience culminated in a guided oil tasting during breakfast, which allowed participants to appreciate the sensory characteristics of EVOO and reinforce the connection between agricultural practices and the quality of the final product.

The Assembly continued with an update on the progress of the SOILCRATES project , focusing specifically on the context of the Granada Tierra Viva Living Lab. During this presentation, the results obtained to date were discussed, and the next call for experimental pilots was announced . These pilots will test scientific solutions to the main challenges identified in previous participatory sessions.

The event concluded with an open dialogue , in which common concerns were shared, such as the devaluation of the rural world , the lack of visibility of agricultural training , and the need to raise awareness among consumers about their role as agents of change .

The Assembly demonstrated that Granada not only houses fertile land, but also a community committed to building a more sustainable, fair, and resilient agricultural model.