Deadline: 5-May-25
The LivingSoiLL project aims to strengthen the Loire Valley & Beaujolais and Grójec Living Labs by enlarging the number of actors and experimental sites1 engaged in the co-creation activities and co-design of solutions for enhancing soil health in the regions of these LLs, i.e., France and Poland, respectively.
The main objective is for the selected applicants to benefit from the activities and knowledge shared by the project, building capacity and co-implement solutions in their experimental sites, while contributing to the project activities by providing data and participating in the LLs activities and initiatives. A collaboration of a minimum duration of 30 months is expected from each selected applicant.
Objectives
- Contribute to the involvement of several actors/stakeholders in a collaborative multi actor network to co-design, co-develop and co-implement solutions for restoring soil health.
- Reduce the gap between knowledge and practice through the implementation of 5 LLs to seek practical innovative solutions to the identified problems.
- Identify and research LLs soil health problems while co-create a common action plan.
- To test and validate a combination of integrated solutions for updating and improving Soil Management strategies in permanent crops.
- Ensure sustainability of the LLs through the creation of economic business models.
- Improve knowledge and increase literacy on soil and sustainable management practices among farmers and the overall community.
- Engage and cooperate with other projects and initiatives, contributing to raising awareness of Mission Soil.
- Propose policy recommendations on best management practices to be implemented on soil use for permanent crops to reduce erosion while promoting other soil health indicators.
Funding Information
- A total budget of 400,000 EUR is allocated to the Open Call.
- The grant takes the form of a lump sum grant in one of the following categories:
- For Type A projects: up to €35,000
- For Type B projects: up to €75,000
- The maximum amount of financial support for each selected soil-related stakeholder (third party) is set up to 75,000 EUR.
Role and Responsibilities
- Applicants will be cooperating with the LL members and LivingSoiLL partners for, at least, 30 months. During this period, applicants are expected to contribute to the LivingSoiLL activities and, on the other hand, benefit from the research and innovation activities implemented by the project, namely by:
- Receiving guidance and assistance in co-creating innovative strategies for implementing and testing innovative soil management practices and solutions at the experimental site(s) to improve soil health;
- Accessing expertise and tools for monitoring soil health indicators, including support in collecting, analysing, and sharing data on soil;
- Obtaining opportunities to collaborate with LivingSoiLL researchers and partners, as well as with practitioners and members of the five LLs;
- Participating in workshops, training sessions, and knowledge-sharing activities focused on sustainable soil management practices.
- Gaining visibility by being able to share results via consortium-organized events, publications, or technical meetings.
Expected Outcomes
- Proposals must achieve all the following outcomes by the end of the collaboration period:
- Co-create and implement innovative soil management techniques, practices, or technologies to enhance soil health in the new experimental site (s) brought by the applicant, under real-life conditions;
- Maintain active collaboration with LivingSoiLL project partners, adhering to LL governance and leadership structures throughout the project;
- Share data on soil health indicators and the impacts of new techniques (a minimum of two soil sampling campaigns);
- Contribute to the validation and scaling of sustainable soil management practices (e.g., piloting techniques, providing recommendations, or documenting results);
- Report all activities performed, outcomes achieved, and lessons learned throughout the collaboration with the LivingSoiLL project.
Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible, proposals must be presented by one legal entity or by a consortium of two legal entities, meeting the following criteria:
- It includes at least 1 new potential experimental site located in the region of one of the following LLs: LL4 – Loire Valley & Beaujolais LL (France); or LL5 – Grójec LL (Poland).
- The proposed experimental sites must focus on the permanent crops explored within the intended LL (LL4 – vineyards, or LL5 – apple orchards)
- Proposed activities must foresee the collaboration with other actors in the co-design and co-development of innovative solutions to improve soil health.
- Applications must be submitted by the deadline of the call. Late applications will not be admitted.
Application Requirements
- Proposals must be submitted in English using the Application Form provided on the submission page. Projects will not be judged on writing quality, but the objectives and activities must be clearly stated. Applications submitted in any other language will not be accepted.
- Proposals must be complete and contain all the requested information in the Application Form. Only complete applications will be accepted.
- Additional supporting documents (e.g., bank account validation) will be requested only from selected applicants.
For more information, visit LivingSoiLL.