SOILCRATES-Ireland Is a soil health living lab, a part of project SOILCRATES funded under the HORIZON Europe Research and Innovation actions in support of the implementation of the Adaptation to Climate Change Mission.
We are a community of practice created for farmers to come together with their peers, academics, support industries and farming associations for a sole purpose to improve their soils – the very heart of any farm.
Our Living Lab will not only help to improve you soils health but will provide a space for interaction and co-creation to the like-minded people.
The SOILCRATES Ireland Living Lab, situated in Counties Clare, Limerick, and Tipperary, is dedicated to addressing Ireland’s unique agricultural and environmental challenges. This Living Lab is a central element in the Horizon Europe SOILCRATES project, with a focus on sustainable soil management, biodiversity restoration, and the integration of circular agriculture practices. Leveraging the expertise of the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Ballyhoura Development, Cloughjordan Community Farm, Loop Head Together and Kraken Seeds Ltd. This lab brings together local farmers, government bodies, advisory services, and community organizations to co-design and co-create solutions that are ecologically sustainable and economically viable.
The Living Lab’s main initiatives include addressing soil health issues, such as nitrogen overuse and poor drainage, and introducing innovative practices like biochar application, intercropping with nitrogen-fixing plants, and community-oriented events. The lab is structured to support knowledge exchange across multiple counties, fostering a collaborative network of stakeholders that promotes resilient agricultural systems in the Mid-West region.
Inspired by Socrates’ philosophy of inquiry, dialogue and collective learning, SOILCRATES (Soil-crates) is a collaborative project focused on Restoring and preserving soil quality across Europe by:
SOILCRATES operates within four Living Labs (LL) defined by the EU Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ as user-centred, place-based and transdisciplinary research and innovation ecosystems that involve multiple partners (e.g., land managers, scientists, citizens, businesses, and local authorities) to co-design, test, monitor and evaluate solutions in real-life settings for improving soil health.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA) Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
