European Commission Supports Innovative Living Labs for Soil Health in Alpine and Atlantic Zones

Deadline: 14-Apr-2026

The European Commission is investing €24 million in 2026 to establish innovative soil health living labs across Alpine and Atlantic regions. These interdisciplinary, participatory projects will co-design and implement locally adapted solutions, monitor soil health improvements, and create scalable models aligned with the EU Soil Mission and Green Deal objectives.

About the Initiative

Under European Commission funding within Horizon Europe, this call supports the creation of four to five soil health living labs in either the Alpine or Atlantic biogeographical regions.

Key geographic requirements:

• Majority of living labs located in the selected region (Alpine or Atlantic)

• Sites established in at least three different EU Member States or Associated Countries

• Strong collaboration across sites addressing shared soil challenges

The initiative aligns with the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe” and contributes to broader EU sustainability strategies.

Funding Details

• Total Budget (2026): €24,000,000

• Expected EU Contribution per Project: ~€12,000,000

• Scope: Establishment of living labs, soil monitoring, stakeholder engagement, co-creation of solutions, and sustainability planning

What Are Living Labs and Lighthouses?

Living Labs
Long-term, multi-actor collaborations operating in real-life environments such as:

• Farms

• Forest holdings

• Urban green areas

• Industrial sites

They focus on co-designing and co-implementing soil health solutions using participatory and interdisciplinary approaches.

Lighthouse Sites
High-performing demonstration sites that:

• Showcase successful soil health practices

• Serve as training and knowledge-sharing hubs

• Act as models for replication and scaling

Core Requirements for Proposals

Projects must:

• Establish a baseline of soil conditions for accurate monitoring

• Use standardized soil health indicators plus locally tailored metrics

• Assess technical, social, economic, cultural, and environmental viability

• Identify high-performing sites for lighthouse designation

• Develop long-term financial and organizational sustainability strategies

• Complement the existing Mission Soil network with unique contributions

Expected Activities

• Participatory co-design and co-development of solutions

• Multi-actor engagement (farmers, land managers, researchers, SMEs, social enterprises, authorities)

• Monitoring of soil health and ecosystem services

• Exchange of best practices across regions

• Validation and comparison of methodologies

• Dissemination of practical knowledge to land users

Long-Term Sustainability Strategy

Proposals must demonstrate:

• Public and private funding pathways

• Cooperation with local and regional authorities

• Engagement of SMEs, social enterprises, investors, and entrepreneurs

• Scalability and transferability across diverse environmental and socio-economic contexts

Expected Outcomes

• Enhanced participatory and interdisciplinary R&I capacity

• Improved soil health data availability and monitoring systems

• Greater awareness among policymakers

• Dissemination of practice-oriented solutions

• Acceleration of soil health restoration across regions

Policy Alignment

Projects contribute to:

• European Green Deal

• EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030

• EU Soil Strategy for 2030

• Proposed Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive

• Zero Pollution Action Plan

• Common Agricultural Policy

• Sustainable Development Goals

Why It Matters

Healthy soils are essential for:

• Food security

• Climate mitigation and adaptation

• Biodiversity protection

• Water regulation

• Sustainable land use

By fostering cross-border collaboration and long-term experimentation, this initiative accelerates Europe’s transition toward resilient, regenerative soil management systems.

FAQs

1. How many living labs will be funded? Four to five in either the Alpine or Atlantic region.

2. What is the total budget? €24 million in 2026.

3. How much funding per project? Approximately €12 million.

4. Must projects be cross-border? Yes, living labs must span at least three Member States or Associated Countries.

5. What types of sites are eligible? Farms, forests, urban areas, industrial sites, and other real-life land-use settings.

6. Are lighthouse sites required? Projects must identify high-performing sites suitable for lighthouse designation.

7. Is long-term sustainability required? Yes, proposals must outline financial and organizational continuation beyond Horizon Europe funding.

Conclusion

The 2026 EU Soil Health Living Labs initiative represents a major investment in collaborative, regionally adapted soil restoration efforts. By combining scientific monitoring, participatory innovation, and long-term sustainability planning, the programme aims to transform soil management practices across the Alpine and Atlantic regions while supporting Europe’s climate, biodiversity, and sustainability goals.

For more information, visit EC.