SAVE-THE-DATE – From Soil to Systems: Living Labs and Artificial Intelligence for a Sustainable Future of Agriculture

Soil is rarely at the centre of conversations about the future of agriculture. We tend to focus on food production, resilience, new technologies, competitiveness and security. Yet all of these questions begin with the same basic resource: healthy soil. Its condition shapes biodiversity, water retention, crop quality and the long-term viability of farming systems.

On 13 October 2026, PolSCA PAS Office, the Committee of Agronomic Sciences of PAS and University of Florence will host a conference in Brussels on soil and plant health, and their role in the future of European agriculture.

Bridging the Gap: Policy, Research and Living Labs

The event will take the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe” as its starting point. As one of the five Horizon Europe Missions, it has helped bring soil health into a broader policy and research debate. Just as importantly, it has moved that debate closer to practice: to farms, regions, field trials and collaborative projects involving farmers, researchers, businesses, public authorities and civil society organisations.

A central theme of the conference will be Living Labs. Rather than treating them as another Brussels policy term, the event will look at what they mean in practice: testing ideas in the places where they are expected to work. In fields, on farms and within local innovation ecosystems, it becomes much easier to see which solutions can make a real difference, and which remain convincing mainly on paper.

Technology and Data in Sustainable Agriculture

The conference will also look at artificial intelligence and the growing role of data in agriculture. Digital tools can help monitor soils, crops and agroecosystems, support precision farming and improve decision-making. At the same time, they raise practical and political questions: who controls agricultural data, who benefits from it, how can digital tools respond to the needs of users, and how can technology support sustainability rather than simply add another layer of complexity?

The event will bring together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, businesses and civil society organisations. It will also refer to ongoing work under European partnerships.

The conference follows on from “Advancing Food Systems in Europe”, organised by PolSCA Office in March 2025.

Draft agenda

09:30-10:00 | Registration and welcome coffee 

10:00-10:15| Opening of the conference   

10:15-10:30 | Keynote address   

10:30–12:00 | Session I 

From the Mission Soil to Lasting Innovation Ecosystems: The Future of Living Labs in European Agriculture 

This opening plenary session will explore the evolution of the EU Soil Mission from a research and innovation initiative into a catalyst for long-term systemic transformation in agriculture. The discussion will examine how Living Labs have emerged as key instruments for co-creating, testing and scaling sustainable agricultural solutions, while fostering collaboration among farmers, researchers, businesses and public authorities. Looking beyond Horizon Europe, the session will address how Living Labs can be embedded within agricultural innovation ecosystems and what role they may play in shaping priorities and implementation mechanisms under FP10. Particular attention will be given to governance models, sustainability of funding, and pathways for maintaining impact beyond the lifetime of Mission-funded projects. 

The session will contain keynote opening, strategic introduction to the agroecology living labs ecosystem, panel discussion and showcase session.

13:00–14:30 | Session II 

Smart Agroecosystems: Harnessing AI Tools and Crop Diversification for Soil Health  

This session explores the synergy between digital innovation and agroecological practices, focusing on the combined potential of AI tools and crop diversification strategies, such as inter-cropping and the integration of legumes, to evaluate and enhance soil health. The discussion addresses key policy directives, environmental impacts, and practical on-farm challenges associated with digital agriculture. By examining both the opportunities and risks of intelligent agroecosystem monitoring, this session aims to bridge policy, scientific innovation, and practical implementation. Attendees will gain insights into the European Strategy for AI in Science, followed by an extended, interactive panel discussion featuring agricultural practitioners.  

The session will consist of keynote strategic opening, panel discussion and showcase session.

14.30 -15.00 | Closing session 

15:00-16:30 | Networking

Satellite Brokerage Event: Partnering for Nature, Agriculture and Resilience

On 12 October 2026, the day before the conference, the NCBR Office in Brussels will host the international brokerage event “Partnering for Nature, Agriculture and Resilience”.

The event is aimed at researchers, project managers and organisations interested in building consortia for selected 2027 calls under Horizon Europe Cluster 6. The programme will include project idea pitches, a consortium-building workshop and networking opportunities.

Participants are welcome to attend both events. Separate registration is required.

More information and registration to Brokerage Event

Further information on the final programme and registration will be published soon.