Living Labs for co-creating solutions to reduce eutrophication from agriculture

¿De qué trata esta convocatoria?

The call funds research and innovation projects that set up four to five soil health living labs in small river catchments to co-create solutions reducing nutrient pollution from agriculture. Farmers, researchers, businesses, authorities and civil society work together on real sites.

¿Qué financia esta convocatoria?

Background

Eutrophication, mainly caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus from soils reaching water bodies, leads to algal blooms, oxygen loss and biodiversity loss. Better soil management and restoration of degraded soils can intercept nutrients and reduce downstream impacts.

Scope

Each project supports four to five living labs that work together on soil health aspects affecting eutrophication in nearby freshwater bodies. Each living lab focuses on a specific small river catchment, usually with 10 to 20 sites, identifying upstream and downstream challenges. Sites should be in nitrate vulnerable zones, or the location elsewhere should be justified with data on the eutrophication challenge.

Proposals should

• Co-design and implement locally adapted practices, tools and strategies to reduce eutrophication, considering the effect of climate change on nutrient losses during floods and droughts.
• Establish a baseline of soil and nearby water body conditions and monitor soil health and eutrophication levels.
• Assess viability, scalability and transferability of solutions, identify potential lighthouse sites with SOILL and plan long-term financing of the labs.
• Make data FAIR and available through the EU Soil Observatory, and cooperate with other Mission Soil projects.

Financial support to third parties may help farmers, landowners, SMEs and civil society take part.

Expected outcomes

Economically viable solutions that reduce eutrophication and improve water quality, better soil data, practical tools for land managers and better-informed policy.

¿Qué se espera de las propuestas?

• Sites should be in designated nitrate vulnerable zones, or a clear data-based rationale should justify other locations.

¿Cuándo termina el plazo?

8 de abril de 2027 (154 días)

Two-stage call: first-stage deadline 8 April 2027; second-stage deadline 14 September 2027.