Catalogue of Real-World Business Model Insights for Soil LLs and LHs

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Practical Guidance for Sustainable Strategies

The Business Model Canvas (BMC) for Soil Living Labs (LLs) and Lighthouses (LHs) was developed by the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL) under the EU funded project PREPSOIL. It is a tailor-made tool created to support these initiatives in designing strategies for long-term stability. Built with the specific needs of Soil LLs and LHs in mind, the canvas offers a structured yet flexible framework to guide decision-making and communicate value to stakeholders.   []

Real-World Insights, Rooted in Practice

As part of the PREPSOIL process, practical insights were gathered across a range of activities supporting LL and LH business model development. These examples reflect the lived experience of LLs and have been mapped to the various elements of the BMC.

To help users navigate this knowledge, the insights have been classified based on their relevance:

  • Common to all LLs – insights that apply regardless of the LL’s theme or land use context
  • Common to Soil LLs – applicable to any LL focused on soil-related challenges
  • Land use-specific – tailored for LLs working in agriculture, forestry, (post-)industrial, or (peri-)urban settings

Explore the Filterable Catalogue

In this page, you'll find a filterable catalogue of insights linked to specific BMC elements and spheres of intervention. You can browse by:

  • Land Use Focus – agriculture, forestry, (post-)industrial, or (peri-)urban
  • Element – e.g., Key Stakeholders, Value Proposition, Revenue Streams
  • Sphere of Intervention – thematic focus within each element

For example, an agricultural LL looking for real-world insights of private sector engagement can select “Agriculture” under the Focus filter, and “Private Sector” under the 4. Key Stakeholders element.

These insights are intended to guide and inspire LLs and LHs as they build their own business models—recognizing that each lab’s ambition, capacity, and local context is unique.

Projects funded under the EU Mission Soil initiative should also ensure that their business models reflect the objectives outlined in the Mission Soil Implementation Plan, as well as the land use type they aim to address. This focus is essential for shaping effective and sustainable strategies.

Share Your Expertise

To enrich the catalogue with new, practical insights, we invite soil experts, Mission Soil projects, Living Lab practitioners, and related initiatives to share their experiences and examples connected to key BMC elements and intervention areas. You can contribute your inputs and insights through this link.

Additional Resources

PREPSOIL Report on LL/LH Business Model Plans (D4.2)

A deeper dive into the methodology and development process behind the BMC.

Business Model Canvas for Soil Living Labs and Lighthouses: A Guide for Users

Detailed instructions and guiding questions for completing each section of the canvas.

 

Number of users of the LL

Common to all LLs
Social

Office facilities

Variable Costs
Common to all LLs

On farm step by step experimental set ups which include nature-based solutions, integrating mixed production systems like cover crops, no till, diversity over and underground, grazing strategies, holistic approaches, agroforestry, etc.

Research & Development
Agriculture

Open the market to different customer segments

Collaborations & Partnerships
Urban

Open the market to different customer segments

Common to soil LLs
Economic, Policy & Regulatory Support

Organization of events

Common to all LLs
Pay per Service

Other types of participatory activities

Collaborations & Partnerships
Common to all LLs

Outreach and engagement plans

Common to all LLs
Infrastructure & Equipment

Overhead costs (utilities, legal advice, etc)

Variable Costs
Common to all LLs

Partner with academic institutions, government agencies, and NGOs to implement and scale effective soil health practices

Collaborations & Partnerships
Forestry

Partnership agreements with stakeholders

Collaborations & Partnerships
Common to all LLs

Payment of incentives for involving farmers in activities and projects of the LL

Variable Costs
Agriculture