Online training sessions for the Mission Soil Living Labs representatives

Welcome to the repository for the first training session "Foundation of Living Labs: Principles, Setup, and Tools" organised by the SOILL-Startup project. 

As part of the SOILL-Startup learning journey, a series of webinars has been planned for the Mission Soil Living Labs representatives. These sessions are designed to equip participants with the knowledge and tools necessary for the successful setup and management of Soil Health Living Labs (SHLLs).

Here, you will also find the recordings of both sessions and the slides used during the presentations, allowing you to revisit the material and share it with your team. 

Table of Contents

 


 

Training Session 1 - Part 1: Foundations of Soil Health Living Labs

Date: 9th December 2024 | Time: 14:30 – 16:00 CET
Topic: Principles, Setup, and Tools

This session laid the groundwork by exploring the essential principles of Soil Health Living Labs. The session provided detailed guidance on the fundamental principles of SHLLs, providing an overview of the tools and methodologies necessary for setting them up. Participants also learned about best practices for managing these labs in diverse environments, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the Living Lab model and its pivotal role in fostering innovations in soil health.

 

Training Session 1 - Part 2: Governance and Business Models for Soil Health Living Labs

Date: 10th December 2024 | Time: 10:00 – 11:30 CET
Topic: Setup Steps, Governance Structures, and Business Models

Building on the foundational concepts from the first session, the second session focused on the practical steps required for implementation. Tailored specifically for Mission Soil Living Labs representatives, it provided detailed guidance on how to establish a Living Lab, including a step-by-step process. The session also addressed the importance of creating governance structures that encourage effective collaboration, while offering insights into developing business models that ensure the long-term sustainability of SHLLs. Case studies of successful Living Labs were shared, offering concrete examples to inspire and guide participants. By the end of the session, attendees were equipped with practical tools and knowledge to begin setting up and managing their own Soil Health Living Labs.

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Training Session 2: Stakeholder Engagement 

Date: 21st January 2025 | Time: 10:00 – 12:00 CET
Topic: Co-creation methodologies, Stakeholders engagement tools

Living Lab methodology is based on the active participation of various stakeholders. The implementation of the EU missions requires measures that inform, engage, and mobilise multiple stakeholder groups from different sectors and industries as well as citizens. The use of multiple transdisciplinary approaches, methods and dimensions helps living labs analyse and find solutions to soil problems in environmental, societal, and economic dimensions. During the cooperation, actors from diverse backgrounds come together to work on a common understanding, the goals of the Living Lab and to establish the ground rules for operation. It is important to find ways for each stakeholder group to participate in the work of SHLL, as well as appropriate co-creation methods for this diverse group. It is crucial to learn how to handle conflicts, manage stakeholder risks, and facilitate information sharing. 

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Training Session 3: Monitoring and Evaluation of Soil Health Living Labs

Date: 29th January 2025 | Time: 10:00 – 12:00 CET
Topic: Monitoring methodology, indicators, evaluation of living lab performance

This training session guides participants in assessing the maturity and sustainability of their Soil Health Living Labs. It provides a high level introduction to assess soil health. Participants learn how to use the self-assessment tool to evaluate current practices, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement strategies to maximise potential for long term impact.

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Training Session 4: Business Model Training

Date: 20th May 2025 | Time: 10:00 – 13:00 CEST
Topic: PREPSOIL Business model canvas, BMC

The Business Model Training is a two-part session designed to provide participants with a deep understanding of Business Models and practical strategies to enhance the long-term stability of Living Labs. This session is a joint collaboration between PREPSOIL and SOILL-Startup combining expertise from both projects.
 

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Training Session 5: Soil Health Monitoring>

Date: 25th June 2025 | Time: 14:00 – 15:30 CEST
Topic: soil measurements, access public datasets, FAIR principles

This hands-on training enhances the Living Lab’s soil health monitoring. Learn to take reliable, comparable soil measurements, access public datasets, and apply FAIR principles to ensure your data is impactful, collaborative, and widely usable. The aim of the training is to provide Mission Soil Living Labs with a key insights of soil monitoring and soil data.

 

 

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Conclusion and Next Steps

This repository page is designed for the Mission Soil Living Labs representatives to review the key learnings from the training. We hope these insights will enable participants to successfully establish and manage Soil Health Living Labs in their respective regions.

Stay tuned for upcoming webinars and additional resources as part of the SOILL-Startup learning journey.