Actions

What do we aim at?

The Partnership aims to structure and support a network of living labs and research infrastructures accelerating the transition towards agroecology throughout Europe. It will provide spaces for long-term, site-specific, multi-stakeholder and real-life experimentation, and deliver ready-to adopt practices that support farmers in understanding and implementing agroecological practices at the scale needed for positive economic, environmental and social impacts.

It will deliver ready-to adopt practices that support farmers in understanding and implementing agroecological practices at the scale needed for positive economic, environmental and social impacts.

By 2030, the European Research and Innovation ecosystem around agroecology will be better connected, knowledge of agroecological processes will boost uptake of agroecology by farmers and the environmental, economic and social performances of farming will be improved.

  • A Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) core team under Standing Committee on Agricultural Research Strategic Working Group on Agroecology (SCAR-AE) 

  • The Agroecology Partnership focuses specifically on the development of Living Labs and Research Infrastructures to realize the transition to ecological agriculture. A Living Lab is an open innovation ecosystem where innovations can be tested in real-life contexts, across time, with multiple involved stakeholders. While Research Infrastructures contribute to the availability of scientific knowledge related to agroecology.

  • Our objectives are to facilitate exchange between scientists and policymakers, based on current policies and governance models, to inform policy supporting the transition to agroecology. We aim to contribute to improved governance and policies, engage with stakeholders to understand their policy-related challenges, and provide capacity building for researchers and policymakers to strengthen dialogue and awareness on policy issues.

  • Our goal is to mainstream Agroecology principles in European farming systems and empower a vibrant community of agroecologists.

    • Researcher Community: We offer regular webinars and in-person training sessions for AGROECOLOGY project researchers, promoting collaboration and skill-building.

    • Agroecology Champions: Each year, five Champions receive travel bursaries to explore Agroecology practices worldwide, acting as ambassadors for the cause.

    • Summer Schools and Masterclasses: These annual events bring together diverse actors to exchange knowledge and devise solutions for Agroecology challenges.

  • Our Agroecology Partnership aims to develop and implement an innovative and comprehensive conceptual framework to support the monitoring and evaluation of agroecology transitions, assessing their impacts and performance. This will include the creation of methodologies, indicators, and efficient data management tools tailored to various contexts and scales.

  • The Agroecology Partnership aims to make a significant impact by fostering close cooperation with external stakeholders. By creating synergies with other initiatives, including Horizon Europe Partnerships and Missions, the project seeks to avoid duplication and enhance collaborative efforts.

Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda

The Standing Committee on Agricultural Research Strategic Working Group on Agroecology (SCAR-AE) is the entity responsible for the preparation of the candidate European Partnership ‘Accelerating farming systems transition: agroecology Living Labs (LLs) and Research Infrastructures’ (RIs) and, in particular, for developing the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). SCAR-AE prepared a "partnership dossier" in 2021.

A SRIA Core Team under SCAR-AE prepared the first consolidated version of the SRIA between January and June 2022, taking into account inputs from the broader SCAR-AE group and from many relevant stakeholders. The SRIA has been updated during the first half year of the Partnership and formally approved by the Partnership Government Board. It will be updated twice during its lifetime.

Living Labs and Research Infrastructures

The Agroecology Partnership focuses specifically on the development of Living Labs and Research Infrastructures to realize the transition to ecological agriculture. A “living lab” is an open innovation ecosystem where innovations can be tested in real-life contexts, across time, with multiple involved stakeholders.