A Horizon Europe project advancing regenerative grazing systems across five Living Labs
Healthy soils are the foundation of resilient food systems. Yet, decades of intensive livestock farming and unsustainable practices have degraded much of Europe’s land, threatening both the environment and long-term agricultural productivity.
GroundWork works to reverse this trend through Regenerative Livestock Grazing Practices (RLGPs) that restore soil health, reduce environmental impact, and enhance climate resilience. By combining science, local knowledge, and practical experience, GroundWork co-creates solutions that work with nature and for farmers, driving a systemic transition toward regenerative agriculture across Europe.
Through five Living Labs across Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, and Serbia, GroundWork collaborates with farmers, advisors, and local communities to co-design, test, and adapt regenerative grazing systems to both conventional and organic farms in diverse climates and landscapes.
These Living labs act as open network spaces for innovation, learning, and demonstration, ensuring that hands-on experience and regional farming realities guide every step of the transition towards sustainable livestock systems.
Through five Living Labs across Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, and Serbia, GroundWork collaborates with farmers, advisors, and local communities to co-design, test, and adapt regenerative grazing systems to both conventional and organic farms in diverse climates and landscapes.
These Living labs act as open network spaces for innovation, learning, and demonstration, ensuring that hands-on experience and regional farming realities guide every step of the transition towards sustainable livestock systems.
GroundWork implements a comprehensive 3-year program, co-developed with farmers, to transform farms into resilient, regenerative ecosystems through adaptive livestock management.
Through a combination of training, mentoring, and financial support (FSTP), the programme helps farmers implement and test regenerative grazing systems directly on their land.
GroundWork directly supports the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe”, through four key Mission Soil Specific Objectives that guide all Living Labs activities:
Reduce soil degradation and improve soil health.
Enhance soil biodiversity and related ecosystem services.
Increase soil carbon stocks through regenerative land management.
Promote soil literacy and stakeholder engagement to foster long-term change.
All four objectives are addressed across the five Living Labs, ensuring a consistent and holistic approach to soil regeneration in diverse European contexts.
Developing and testing adaptive, rotational and mixed-grazing systems that enhance soil structure and fertility, water retention and carbon storage while maintaining productivity.
Restoring soil organic matter, supporting microbial life and boosting biodiversity above and below ground.
Engaging farmers, researchers and policymakers in continuous knowledge exchange, capacity-building and participatory monitoring.
Creating financial incentives and policy frameworks that reward regenerative outcomes and enable wider adoption across Europe.
GroundWork builds on a wide network of European and international partners contributing knowledge, tools and best practices for regenerative agriculture and soil health.
