During the first 18 months of the project (current reporting period), LILAS4SOILS made strong progress in setting up and operationalising its network of five Living Labs across six Mediterranean countries, establishing the Project’s governance, stakeholder engagement, and co-creation foundations (WP1). The consortium completed the open call and contracting process for farmers, expanded the demo-site pool to 100 farms (WP1), and initiated co-creation workshops (WP2), soil sampling (WP4), CFP monitoring (WP3), communication actions (WP7), and sustainability planning (WP6).
A major achievement was the successful launch and activation of five LLs and the completion of the farmer pool, with 53 farmers selected through the Open Call and 32 pre-selected farmers contracted, enabling the project to reach a full portfolio of 100 farms. During the launch events and the first round of co-creation workshops, LLs engaged more than 900 people and over 400 stakeholders, helping identify barriers, needs, and practical opportunities for implementing CFPs in different regional contexts.
The project also delivered important methodological foundations. WP1 produced the harmonised LL governance and engagement framework, WP4 completed the soil sampling protocol and launched the MRV open call, WP7 established the communication and dissemination system, and WP8 put in place the coordination, financial, quality, risk, and data management structures needed for implementation. In parallel, WP3 worked with farmers to define transition plans and refine the list of CFPs, while WP6 began ecosystem mapping and sustainability and business model discussions for long-term exploitation.
In terms of achievement of the objectives, the project has already made substantial progress toward its six Specific Objectives. SO1 was achieved through the successful set-up and launch of all five Living Labs and the completion of the farmer pool. SO2 progressed well through the first co-creation workshops and the structured identification of barriers and opportunities for Carbon Farming. SO3 advanced through the completion of the 100-farm network, the refinement of CFPs, and the agreement of farm Transition Plans. SO4 also progressed significantly through the delivery of the soil sampling protocol, the first sampling campaign, and the launch of the MRV Open Call, while SO5 and SO6 were initiated through training-needs assessment, networking, communication and dissemination activities, stakeholder ecosystem mapping, and the first sustainability and business model exercises for the LL. In terms of Expected Outcomes (EOs) and impacts, the Project is still relevant and progressing to plan.
