European Network of Agroecolgy Living Labs and Research Infrastructures
The AGROECOLOGY Partnership has the ambitious mission to coordinate efforts, pool resources, and facilitate the transition to agroecology across Europe, by building on participatory research approaches such as Living Labs (LL) and Research Infrastructures (RI). To achieve this, one of the goals of the Partnership is to build a European Network of Agroecology LLs and RIs (the Network) that connects these participatory place-based innovations for enhancing knowledge sharing and for supporting multi-stakeholder co-creation of agroecology innovations across various scales in Europe. Within AGROECOLOGY, Work Package 8 is responsible for coordinating the Network led by Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (ÖMKi).
Background
The foundations of the Network were already laid down between 2019-2023 in frame of two Horizon 2020 projects, the ALL-Ready and AE4EU. The ALL-Ready project experimented with a small-scale pilot network of same structures while the AE4EU project created three agroecology LLs. Therefore, the Network did not have to be established from scratch, rather relying, combining and strengthening the networks already created in the preparatory projects.
This way, the Network was successfully launched in June 2024 when the first cohort of 17 members - composed of 12 Living Labs and 5 Research Infrastructures – was formed. To kick off the work in the Network, the members participated at online onboarding meetings on 26 June and on 31 July, with the aims of introducing members to each other, presenting the main activities of the partnership and the Network, and starting a common discussion on the Network's vision and objectives.
The Network is expected to grow gradually until 2033 through yearly application waves. The 1st wave of application into the Network will open on 9 December 2024.
Objectives
To connect and empower place-based innovations in forms of agroecology LL/RIs at various scales in each Member State of the EU and Associated Countries to create new and diverse knowledge, and to understand how agroecology LLs and RIs can complement one another and cooperate in order to achieve agroecology transition.
To improve the access to and the availability of agroecology LLs & RIs knowledge, data and experiences at various scales among agroecology LLs & RIs to foster better knowledge and information sharing.
To support multi-stakeholder co-creation of agroecology innovations.
To create visibility for agroecology LLs and RIs and their innovations across Europe.
To reach beyond Europe and build synergies with other international networks in order to contribute to and shape the global discourse on agroecology and related science-policy dialogues at different scales.
Benefits of the membership
Being actively part of knowledge exchange, learning, information and data sharing between agroecology LLs and RIs which support individual LL or RI improvement and capacity building.
Extensive networking:
o Ensuring connection to various agri-food stakeholders across the EU from local to international level through the Network members.
o Linking up and building relationships with other organisations and movements with similar goals and profiles across Europe to pool resources and to extend members’ network.
The possibility of increased cooperation to develop international/transnational research projects on agroecology and on LL/RIs.
Taking part in diverse co-creation processes that create opportunity to improve or discover new agroecology practices, new methods and approaches for the transition, thus contributing to cutting edge agroecology research and innovation.
Having influence on the direction and the outputs of the Network, therefore contributing to shifting the discourse and research of EU’s agricultural policy more toward agroecology.
Increased visibility on international scale.
Interested in becoming a Member?
Every year, the application to the Network opens in December.
The 1st wave of application will open on 9 December 2024!
Check out the Network’s Application & Criteria Guideline!