FrenchDescription
Our Living Lab focuses on soil recovery by applying nature-based solutions for depollution, promoting desealing practices, and strengthening soil literacy among local stakeholders. Located in the Minett region – an urbanised area shaped by a strong industrial
heritage in iron mining and steel production – it operates within a landscape marked by both cultural richness and environmental challenges. As a designated redevelopment area, it faces legacy soil pollution that requires innovative and sustainable approaches as well as the avoidance of sealing practices. Through collaborative experimentation and community engagement, our Living Lab supports the restoration of healthy soils and the development of greener, more resilient urban environments.
Challenges
The Minett area faces degraded, sealed, polluted, compacted, or infertile soils – many impacted by the historic industrial past on Luxembourg, including the steel industry. Another key challenge is the coordination of the many stakeholders – from municipalities to landowners, from urban gardeners to researchers.
Possible Solutions
The Living Lab will test rehabilitation solutions such as biochar, compost, soil amendments to restore soil fertility, phytomanagement to manage contamination and innovative materials to deseal or avoid new sealing. Strong collaboration is central: municipalities, urban planners, soil experts, service providers, public administrations, land-owners, researchers, service providers and local gardeners will all participate in workshops and co-creation activities to support successful implementation.
“Our site contains degraded soils facing multiple challenges, including pollution, sealing, compaction, and fertility loss. We will implement integrated solutions, biochar application, compost, soil amendments, and phytomanagement, to restore soil quality and function. We will address these challenges through collaborative co-creation processes engaging not only technology providers, but all relevant societal actors.”
Ana Espinoza, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), LL Lead Luxembourg
