Waste4Soil at the project booth
Waste4Soil was present at the project booth alongside its sister project, DeliSoil – EU Mission Soil Project.
The booth provided an opportunity to present the latest Waste4Soil activities and results, exchange with members of the European soil community and discuss how food-processing side-streams can be transformed into valuable soil improvers.
The project is built around 7 Soil Health Living Labs located in Greece, Finland, Spain, Poland, Hungary, Italy and Slovenia. Across these different territorial contexts, the Living Labs work together with local stakeholders to co-create and test solutions adapted to local needs and conditions.
This Living Lab approach supports the development and demonstration of circular solutions that can contribute to healthier soils and more sustainable food systems.
Waste4Soil contributions to the conference
Several Waste4Soil partners contributed to the conference programme through presentations and moderation of thematic sessions.
Developing business models for soil health
On 9 September, Vera Proskynitopoulou (ARTEMIS Laboratory, CPERI/CERTH) and Tuomo Eskelinen (Savonia University of Applied Sciences) presented the oral poster “Developing Soil Health Business Models: Learnings from the DeliSoil–EU Mission Soil Project–Waste4Soil Project Joint Workshop” during the EUSO Forum – Five Years On: Key Insights from the Mission Soil Programme.
The presentation shared key insights from the joint DeliSoil–Waste4Soil workshop, focusing on the conditions needed to develop viable business models for soil health innovations.
The workshop highlighted three key aspects:
- Viable business models are essential to translate soil innovations into lasting impact.
- Circular solutions can contribute to the creation of new value chains based on food-processing side-streams and recycled fertilisers.
Co-creation with stakeholders can support the development of economically viable, socially accepted and market-ready solutions.
Quantifying sustainability and impacts of soil management solutions
On 9 September, Anastasios Vourros, Vera Proskynitopoulou and Giorgos Kardaras (CERTH) moderated Session 9.1: “Quantifying sustainability and impacts of solutions for soil management and health.”
The session addressed the environmental, climate and socio-economic impacts of innovative solutions for soil management and soil health, including approaches that can transform waste streams into valuable soil improvers.
A circular soil improver for the Slovenia–Istria Living Lab
On 10 September, Tanja Zrnec Drobnjak (University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty) presented “Conceptual Design of a Soil Improver from Food Production Residues in the Slovenia–Istria Living Lab” as part of the Living Lab booth and project fair.
The presentation showcased DIGOL, a circular soil improver combining digestate, olive mill waste and biochar. The concept aims to support nutrient cycling, soil biological functioning and carbon persistence. DIGOL illustrates how the Living Lab approach can combine locally available resources, stakeholder knowledge and innovative technologies to develop solutions adapted to specific territorial contexts.
Understanding the role of soil improvers in soil health
On 10 September, Alfonso Vera Ayala (CSIC) presented the poster “WASTE4SOIL: Understanding the Role of Soil Improvers Derived from Food By-products in Soil Health.” The presentation highlighted the importance of considering local conditions when assessing the effects of soil improvers. Soil responses can vary depending on soil characteristics, climate and crop-management practices, underlining the need for appropriate and harmonised monitoring frameworks.
Strengthening collaboration within the European soil community
The Soils for Europe Conference also provided an opportunity for Waste4Soil partners to connect with other EU Mission Soil projects and initiatives, exchange experiences and explore opportunities for collaboration and synergies. Waste4Soil also participated in the Bin2Bean Final Event, creating further opportunities to discuss the valorisation of food-processing residues and circular approaches to soil health.
From food-processing side-streams to healthier soils
Waste4Soil’s participation in the Soils for Europe Conference demonstrated the range of activities being developed across its seven Living Labs and highlighted the importance of stakeholder engagement, co-creation and collaboration in developing solutions for healthier soils. By exploring the potential of food-processing side-streams as resources for soil health, Waste4Soil continues to contribute to the development of circular approaches that can support more sustainable and resilient European food systems.
