On 3–4 November 2026, the SOILCRATES consortium gathered online for its 5th General Assembly, bringing together project partners for two days of knowledge exchange, reflection and discussions on the next steps in advancing soil health across Europe.
The meeting provided an opportunity to take stock of project progress, revisit key working principles and explore opportunities to strengthen collaboration, stakeholder engagement and the long-term impact of SOILCRATES activities.
Reflecting on progress and maximising project impact
The first day opened with an overview of project progress, followed by sessions revisiting the consortium’s guidelines and agreements on communication, data management, publications and ethics.
Discussions also addressed future European funding opportunities and examples of successful business models for Living Labs, offering perspectives on how locally developed approaches can remain relevant and sustainable beyond the project’s lifetime.
An important part of the programme was dedicated to Key Exploitable Results (KERs). Led by WP6, the follow-up workshop focused on exploring the potential exploitation of project results, a key consideration in maximising the value and long-term impact of the knowledge and solutions developed through SOILCRATES.
Strengthening collaboration and stakeholder engagement
The second day placed particular emphasis on collaboration and engagement.
A dedicated WP6 workshop on clustering activities explored the next steps for connecting SOILCRATES with other relevant projects and initiatives. Clustering provides opportunities to exchange knowledge, identify synergies and strengthen cooperation among actors working towards common soil health objectives.
Stakeholder engagement was another important focus, with a joint workshop involving WP1, WP3 and WP6 addressing this cross-cutting aspect of the project.
Partners were also introduced to new functionalities of the SOILCRATES Data Platform, while a dedicated workshop invited reflections on WP4 and WP5 activities from a Living Lab perspective.
Looking ahead
The 5th General Assembly highlighted the importance of continued coordination across work packages and Living Labs as SOILCRATES moves forward.
By bringing together discussions on project results, stakeholder participation, knowledge sharing and collaboration opportunities, the meeting offered a valuable opportunity to maintain a shared direction and support the project’s broader ambition: fostering healthier soils through locally driven experimentation, innovation and cooperation.
SOILCRATES continues to build on the expertise and commitment of its partners and Living Labs to support the transition towards sustainable soil management across Europe.
