NATI00NS National Engagement Event in Malta Supporting the EU Mission "A Soil Deal for Europe" across national communities to establish 100 Living Labs and Lighthouses
Degradation pressures, mainly due to human activities related to overconsumption and industrial processes, affect soil health through physical damage or the introduction of pollutants. In turn, these processes disrupt the capacity of soils to provide a range of ecosystem services, with major economic, environmental, and societal consequences. Action is therefore urgently needed.
The ambitious EU mission "A Soil Deal for Europe" aims to create 100 regional "Living Labs" and "Lighthouses", knowledge, and innovation centres, jointly creating and testing soil management practices and solutions to improve soil health.
The mission's ambition to achieve visible effects through its eight specific objectives requires a regular and efficient implementation of the Living Labs, as well as a good functioning and effective capitalization of the results. For this purpose, the Living Labs must be well anchored, based on strong and committed communities, aware of the specific needs of soils in the framework of the mission, and access to knowledge and exchange networks.
In the framework of the engagement event in Malta, the NATI00NS project will assist and mediate the mission, addressing key awareness-raising messages to national stakeholders.
OBJECTIVES :
• To raise awareness of the value of land as the foundation of our economy, social fabric, and ecosystems, and the need to change the way we manage land towards net-zero emission, efficient, smart, and circular production, and consumption systems.
• To inform potential applicants of the concept and criteria of Living Labs and Lighthouses as established by the Mission.
• To inform potential applicants about the conditions and timetable of the two open calls, followed by the presentation of concrete examples of Living Labs implementation at the national level.
• To provide guidance to participants on upcoming activities: the creation of regional and transnational education and training networks through the B2match platform, and guidance on capacity-building opportunities.
Agenda
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 09:00 – 09:15 | Welcoming coffee |
| 09:15 – 09:45 |
Opening and introduction: The EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe” and its implementation at national level
Malta Soil Context challenges and opportunities – ERA - Proposing Grima Connell Matthew The importance of soil for food in Malta - MAFA - Dr.Sonya Sammut, ambassador for organic and sustainable food, director food Agriculture, fisheries and animal rights. |
| 09:45 – 10:30 |
What are Living Laboratories and Lighthouses TBD Going into the details of the calls for proposals: HORIZON-MISS-2024-SOIL-01-01: Co-creating solutions for soil health in Living Labs and HORIZON-MISS-2024-SOIL-01-02: Living Labs in urban areas for healthy soils |
| 10:30 – 10:45 | Coffee break |
| 10:45 – 11:15 | Practical examples of living labs and case studies from other countries Dr.Muriel Mambrini 10 minutes Q&A |
| 11:15 – 12:15 | Workshop exercise – Designing a living lab for Malta Co-ordinated by Tamara Schembri |
| 12:15 – 12:45 |
Sharing of outcomes from groups |
| 12:45 – 13:00 | Closing and wrap up |
Matching sessions: https://nati00ns-soil-living-lab-matching.b2match.io/
Create your account on the b2match platform and get in contact with international stakeholders potentially interested in joining you in the creation of soil health Living Labs or Lighthouses under the Horizon Europe calls.
Organisers
