SOILCRATES joins Mission Soil projects for collaborative round table in Jaén

On 8 July 2026, SOILCRATES participated in a round-table discussion on the common challenges faced by projects working under the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe”. The session formed part of the LivingSoiLL consortium meeting, held from 7 to 9 July at the University of Jaén in Spain.

Inés McKechnie Charle represented both SOILCRATES and its Spanish Living Lab, Granada Tierra Viva, during the discussion. She joined representatives of LivingSoiLL and TRAILS4SOIL to exchange experiences, identify shared challenges and explore opportunities for closer cooperation between the projects.

The conversation addressed several areas that are central to the successful operation and long-term impact of soil health Living Labs, including the integration and management of data, meaningful stakeholder engagement, the sustainability of project activities and the continuation of collaboration beyond individual project timelines.

Participants also reflected on how Mission Soil projects can better align their work, share knowledge and build on complementary approaches. Although each project operates in different regions and agricultural contexts, they face many similar questions when co-creating, testing and scaling solutions for healthier soils.

For SOILCRATES, the meeting provided a valuable opportunity to share lessons emerging from the Granada Tierra Viva Living Lab and to learn from other European initiatives applying Living Lab approaches to soil health.

Cross-project exchanges such as this contribute to stronger connections between Mission Soil projects and help ensure that knowledge, methods and experiences can be transferred across regions. By working together, these initiatives can strengthen their collective contribution to sustainable soil management and the transition towards healthier soils across Europe.

About LivingSoiLL

LivingSoiLL is a Horizon Europe project working to establish five Living Labs focused on improving soil health in permanent crops, including vineyards, olive groves, chestnut orchards, hazelnut orchards and apple orchards.