On the eve of World Soil Day, SOILL-Startup will host a policy-focused conference designed to bridge EU-level ambitions with real-life insights from the first and second waves of Mission Soil Living Labs. The event will explore data needs, enabling policy frameworks, practical challenges, early impacts, and the pathways needed to secure long-term sustainability—turning experiences from the field into actionable recommendations for EU and national strategies under the Mission A Soil Deal for Europe.

This high-level gathering will bring together leading Mission Soil stakeholders to discuss how Soil Health Living Labs and Lighthouses can accelerate ecosystem restoration and soil health improvements across Europe.

Panel: The Voice from the Ground: One Year into the Mission Soil Living Labs

We are proud to announce that Lena Madden, Senior Research Fellow at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) – Midwest and Manager & Scientific Lead of the SOILCRATES Ireland Living Lab,
will represent our project on this key panel.

During this session, representatives from the first wave of Mission Soil Living Labs will share early insights from implementation what is working, where challenges remain, and the lessons shaping the next phases of the Mission.

Speakers include:

• Ioannis Varvaris – Deputy Research Coordinator, Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence; LL Manager, Nemesis LL (Cyprus)

• Józef Chojnicki – Professor, Grójec Living Lab – LivingSoiLL project

• Lena Madden – Senior Research Fellow, TUS; Manager & Scientific Lead, SOILCRATES Ireland Living Lab

• Mladen Almaliev – Professor, Agricultural University – Plovdiv; Ambassador, Bulgarian Viticultural Soil Health LL

• Vasileios Takavakoglou – Senior Researcher, Soil & Water Resources Institute “DIMITRA”; Ambassador, AEGEAN Living Lab

Moderated by:

• Saskia Visser – Member of the Management Team, Climate KIC; WP Leader, SOILL

Join 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.