Swedish Living Lab

The SWE LL is being initiated to address concerns of soil health through a bottom-up, co-creation approach within the Horizon project iCOSHELLS. Challenges such as soil compaction, poor soil structure, loss of soil biodiversity, depletion of organic matter, and nutrient imbalances causing subsequent pollution will be adressed within the project.

Challenges and objectives

The Swedish Living Lab addresses the challenges associated with soil health on crop and animal production farms. Its focus is on issues such as soil compaction, poor soil structure, reduced biodiversity, and nutrient imbalances, particularly phosphorus surplus. The objective of the project is to enhance soil health through the integration of collaborative research and practical implementation. A total of fifteen co-created test sites, in addition to one or two lighthouse farms, will be employed for the purposes of collaborative research and development.

Solutions and goal

The potential solutions under consideration include crop rotations to enhance soil fertility and nitrogen delivery, cover cropping, conservation tillage, the use of lightweight autonomous tractors, controlled drainage, the replacement of mineral fertilisers with bio-based alternatives, biostimulants and biochar, as well as the sharing of manure between animal and crop farms. It is anticipated that the project will yield improved soil health, augmented farm productivity, and more sustainable agricultural practices.

Network

The Living Lab is led by the Department of Agriculture and Food of the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE). Key stakeholders include research institutions, such as the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, as well as farmer representatives, such as HS Konsult and "The Farming in Balance" network, and relevant authorities, such as the National Board of Agriculture and the National Veterinary Authority. This multi-sectoral collaboration provides a platform for the development and testing of practical solutions.