The Open Living Lab Days 2024 will feature a crucial session titled "One year into the Mission Soil: achievements, lessons learned, and future opportunities for the Living Lab community," scheduled from 11:00 to 12:15 PM on the 25th of September 2024.
This event, organised by Giulia Campodonico and Dolinda Cavallo from SOILL (ENoLL), aligns with multiple tracks of the conference, including Living Labs for Grand Societal Challenges, Policies, Governance, collaboration and innovation ecosystems, Inclusive Soci(et)al Engagement, and Living Labs Operation, Methods, Tools, and Impact.
The session will review the progress of the EC Mission "A Soil Deal for Europe," which aims to establish 100 Living Labs and Lighthouses by 2030 to promote healthy soils. After its first year of implementation, this topic debate will assess achievements, challenges, and future goals. The agenda includes presentations from the European Commission and Mission Board members, with Kerstin Rosenow from DG Agri providing a video update. Mission Board members Iustina Boaja Popescu and Anna Krzywoszynska will share insights, followed by an overview of 2024 funding opportunities from the NATI00NS project. Giulia Campodonico will discuss SOILL's support for Soil Health Living Labs, leading into a focus session and debate featuring experiences from funded projects and discussions on the role of ENoLL members and synergies between soil health, urban areas, and forest ecosystems. Speakers include Elvira Marín Irigaray, Jo Bjtterbier, Anthony van de Ven, and Dijana Vuletić.
The session aims to foster reflection, strategic planning, and cooperation to advance the Living Lab community in addressing societal challenges, particularly healthy soils. It welcomes policymakers, city representatives, companies, entrepreneurs, researchers, academics, and Living Lab practitioners, providing a platform for integrating Living Labs into a cohesive network with global reach. While the exact location is yet to be confirmed, this session promises to be a key event for anyone interested in the intersection of soil health, sustainable development, and innovative Living Lab approaches.