Technological University of the Shannon
The SOILL project collaborates with the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), an institution that demonstrates a strong commitment to soil health through its leadership in the SOILCRATES project and the establishment of the Ireland South-West Living Lab. This synergy focuses on restoring soil life and promoting sustainable agricultural practices across the Irish Mid-West region, including Clare, Limerick, and Tipperary. By aligning SOILL's objectives with TUS’s strategic focus on circular agriculture and zero-waste solutions, spearheaded by its CircAB research group, the partnership works to drive long-term economic and environmental resilience for agricultural communities.
This collaboration is reinforced by TUS’s comprehensive approach to sustainable land management and education. The university actively addresses challenges such as nitrogen overuse, poor drainage, and soil erosion through the implementation of practical interventions, including biochar application and intercropping with nitrogen-fixing plants. Furthermore, TUS advances soil literacy through citizen science projects like GroundTruth, specialised academic programs such as the Certificate in Science in Regenerative Agriculture, and a strategic commitment to fostering equal partnerships between researchers and farmers. These efforts directly support TUS’s RDI Strategy 2025-2029, which emphasises the use of living labs to monitor and sustainably enhance soil health beyond current standards.
The practical application of these shared goals was demonstrated during the SOILL-Startup Thematic Engagement Event, “Organic Agriculture and Agroecology: Partnering with Living Labs to Improve Soil Health.” Held in Brussels, Belgium, on June 4, 2025, this event provided a platform to integrate the expertise of both initiatives. Through this gathering, the SOILL project and TUS highlighted the importance of living labs as collaborative innovation hubs, showcasing how researchers and local farmers can co-create and implement nature-conscious farming techniques to solve real-world land challenges.
