Soil Health Living Lab Network for Combating Desertification in the Mediterranean (Nemesis)

According to the European Commission, over 25% of soils in the EU are at high or very high risk of desertification, with Mediterranean countries being among the most vulnerable. Pollution, erosion and unsustainable land use are driving soil degradation, threatening food security, biodiversity, and sustainable rural development. Climate change is accelerating these risks, making it essential to find effective, scalable solutions. Yet, despite encouraging examples on the ground, efforts to improve soil health remain fragmented, slowing the spread of proven practices.

As part of the EU Soil Mission, the European research project Nemesis (“Soil Health Living Lab Network for Combating Desertification in the Mediterranean”) aims to promote healthy soils by 2030 through five Living Labs in Cyprus, France, Italy and Spain, and a cross-border Living Lab in Algeria and Tunisia. Each Living Lab tests locally tailored, practical soil‑management approaches through a shared virtual platform featuring high‑resolution soil data, a Digital Twin, crowdsourcing tools and open‑access interfaces. By bringing land managers, scientists, policymakers, industry and communities together, Nemesis also co‑creates strategies that can be replicated in other parts of the Mediterranean region.

Key objectives are:

• Advance sustainable land management through participatory co‑design and inclusive governance.
• Transform Living Labs into “Lighthouses”, showcasing replicable soil‑health solutions.
• Build a digital ecosystem featuring a Data Cube, Digital Twin, crowdsourcing modules and open portals.
• Drive policy innovation and capacity building via vocational training, e‑learning and bootcamps.
• Engage communities and youth to foster soil literacy and long‑term stewardship.

adelphi research bridges science, policy and practice by transforming evidence and data into actionable insights that inform EU, national and local policies. We will establish five local or national Policy Dialogue Tanks and one EU-level Tank as collaborative spaces for co-creation, enabling evidence-based policy innovation. By engaging diverse stakeholders, Living Lab outcomes will be translated into policy pathways and roadmaps aligned with their strategic action plans. Additionally, five Policy Immersion Bootcamp Programs will be implemented across the Living Labs to build capacity and foster policy innovation among young stakeholders, students and emerging professionals, strengthening their understanding of policy design, analysis and monitoring.

The project consortium comprises 37 partners and two associated partners from 12 countries across Europe and North Africa.