Soil Valley is an initiative that aims to protect and improve the soil and water system. In my role as networker and inspirator I helped to lay the basis in creating the Soil Valley Living Lab. My goal is to bridge the gaps between soil and water water management, rural development, and the agricultural transition. These disciplines need to be connected if we truly want to make the transition towards healthy soils, and a sufficient and sustainable food production for future generations. I look forward to building networks, creating a region that inspires and helps to build a sustainable economic perspective.

Royal Eijkelkamp is initiator and founder of Soil Valley. As a network of players from business, civil society, research, and government, Soil Valley advances the improvement of soil health and adaptation to climate change in the Eastern Netherlands. Recognizing sustainable soil and water management as the source of our life, Royal Eijkelkamp engages strongly in gaining better insights into Soil Life, the building of new partnerships, fostering the co-creation of Start-up companies and the actual implementation of innovative approaches.

Zero Water Stresss for Regions and CitizensSupporting the water innovation processes for rural areas of EuropeInitiating Living Labs Water Moderator - Water Innovation Europehttp://wsstp.eu/

Strategy development for enabling Green Economic GrowthIntegrating business innovations with regional planning and developmentManaging PPP projects

As part of the Centre for Water and Climate, the Alterra IWRM team focuses on increasing water productivity in water stressed regions. Key regions are the Southern European Mediterranean Countries, the MENA and Sub Saharan Africa

Waterstress managementEnhanced Reservoir operationWater Quality ProtectionDevelopment of numerical modelsManaging EU projects