Reviving Our Soils: Transforming Agriculture in the Mediterranean

In this episode, Sonia Pietosi, one of the coordinators of LILAS4SOILS, explains how the project is bringing together farmers, researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers to test and scale regenerative agricultural practices. We explore how carbon farming, agroforestry, and nutrient management can sequester carbon while improving farm productivity. Sonia also discusses the challenges of implementing these practices, the importance of farmer-led innovation, and how Living Labs are creating real-world experiments to test sustainable solutions.

Key Takeaways

• Soil Health is a Global Crisis – Nearly one-third of agricultural land is degraded, making soil restoration one of the most urgent environmental issues of our time.
• Carbon Farming is Key to Climate Action – Carbon farming techniques, such as agroforestry and soil organic carbon management, help store carbon in the soil, reducing CO₂ emissions while increasing soil fertility.
• Living Labs Are the Future of Agricultural Innovation – Instead of top-down policies, Living Labs create farmer-led experiments where new regenerative techniques can be tested in real-world conditions.
• Mediterranean Agriculture is Facing Unique Challenges – With extreme heat, drought, and soil degradation accelerating in the Mediterranean, LILAS4SOILS is focusing on six key countries: Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and Israel.
• Farmers Must Be at the Centre of Soil Innovation – Soil restoration is not just about environmental benefits—farmers need financial incentives and support to make these practices viable.
• Scaling Up Solutions for Global Impact – The project aims to scale tested solutions from individual farms to regional and national policies, with potential lessons for global agriculture.

Episode Highlights

• The Role of Living Labs in Agriculture – How LILAS4SOILS is using real-world experimentation to find scalable, farmer-approved solutions for soil health.
• Carbon Farming in Practice – Exploring techniques such as cover cropping, composting, rotational grazing, and agroforestry that increase soil carbon storage.
• The Business Side of Soil Health – Why carbon sequestration must be paired with financial incentives to make it attractive for farmers.
• The Power of Collaboration – Bringing together scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, and farmers to co-create solutions that work in both environmental and economic terms.
• The Climate Crisis and Soil – How soil degradation is exacerbating food insecurity, and why restoring soil health is one of the most effective ways to fight climate change.
• Open Call for Farmers – LILAS4SOILS is recruiting 50 farmers across the Mediterranean to trial new carbon farming methods with financial support and technical guidance.

Calls to Action

• Learn More About LILAS4SOILS – Visit to explore how carbon farming and Living Labs are transforming soil health. Join the Soil Health Movement – If you’re a farmer in the Mediterranean, apply to be part of LILAS4SOILS’ Living Labs, where you’ll get €5,000 per year to participate in trials and knowledge-sharing.
• Advocate for Regenerative Farming Policies – Governments need to incentivize carbon sequestration in agriculture. Support policies that reward farmers for improving soil health.
• Join the Conversation – Share your thoughts on soil health and carbon farming using #EITFoodFight and #RegenerativeAgriculture.

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