Ecogenia x The Living Soils Workshop

This 2.5-hour interactive event in Litochoro brings together the Ecogenia youth cohort and local community stakeholders for a session facilitated by Maria Mylona, Msc Agronomist and EU Climate Pact Ambassador. 

The activity utilizes "The Living Soils Workshop," a collaborative, pedagogical game. This initiative aligns with the broader mission of the Horizon Europe SoilTribes project, which aims to foster a deep-rooted connection between society and soil, empowering diverse communities to engage in soil stewardship and promoting soil literacy through a multi-actor approach. Participants work together using a deck of 48 cards to build a visual, systemic representation of the soil ecosystem. The workshop is divided into three distinct phases of collective intelligence, focusing on discovery, impact analysis, and solution-building. 

Topics Soil Ecosystem Mechanics: Exploring the interactions between living and non-living soil actors, alongside essential natural cycles such as organic matter decomposition, photosynthesis, and mycorrhizal symbiosis. Human Impact & Agriculture: Analyzing conventional agricultural practices—such as mechanical tillage, monoculture, and the use of synthetic fertilizers—and understanding their environmental risks and contributions to land degradation. Alternative Practices: Identifying regenerative agricultural solutions to limit negative consequences on soil ecosystems. 

Objectives Education: To disseminate a common language regarding how soils function, increase soil literacy, and highlight the high stakes involved in their preservation. 

Community Engagement: To foster dialogue between youth sustainability advocates and local rural stakeholders, bridging scientific knowledge with community-driven action as championed by the SoilTribes project. 

Actionable Solutions: To stimulate a fertile discussion on the multi-level actions required by different spheres of society (farmers, citizens, businesses, and politicians) to transition toward sustainable soil management.