Living labs to enhance soil health in Alpine and Atlantic biogeographical regions

support the establishment of four to five living labs either in the Alpine or in the Atlantic biogeographical region [7] . Proposals must clearly indicate which of these two biogeographical regions they focus on and must establish the majority of the living labs within the chosen biogeographical region. Living labs under each proposal should work together on common soil health challenge(s) relevant to the selected biogeographical region. The living labs must be located in at least three different Member States and/or Associated Countries. Proposals should explain the rationale and mechanism for cooperation within and across the living labs and how the work undertaken will contribute to one or more of the Mission’s specific objectives [8] . Proposals with all living labs focusing on soil heath on forests or natural/semi-natural land types are excluded from this topic as a dedicated topic is opened in this work programme (HORIZON-MISS-2026-05-SOIL-02-two-stage: Living labs to enhance soil health in managed forests and in natural/semi-natural lands);

establish an interdisciplinary, participatory and multi-actor approach in the living labs to co-design, co-develop, and co-implement locally adapted solutions (practices, tools, strategies, etc.) for the common soil health challenge(s) taking into account relevant soil health drivers and pressures [9] . Proposed solutions should be adapted to the different environmental, socio-economic and cultural contexts in which the living labs are operating;

establish for each living lab a baseline of the soil conditions to allow for an accurate co-assessment of the changes in the different sites over time. Monitor improvements on soil health and ecosystem associated services. The set of soil health indicators/descriptors presented in the proposal for a Directive on Soil Monitoring and Resilience should be used as a basis; proposals may complement with additional indicators tailored to the addressed soil health challenge(s), pedoclimatic conditions, land use, and other local/regional factors;

assess and demonstrate the technical, social, economic, cultural and environmental viability of the proposed solutions, as well as their potential scalability and transferability to diverse contexts;

identify high performing sites that may be converted into lighthouses, either at proposal stage or later lighthouses;

propose strategies (e.g., financial, organisational) to ensure the long-term sustainability of the established living labs beyond the Horizon Europe funding. Strategies should include the identification of possible business models and actions involving a mix of public or private funding schemes, financial instruments, cooperation with local authorities, engagement of social economy entities, social enterprises, business communities, SMEs, as well as attracting investors and entrepreneurs.