How Living Labs and Research Infrastructures can support the Agroecology Transition in Europe

27 September 2023. Brussels. The European Committee of the Regions hosted the joint final conference of the two EU funded projects ALL-Ready and AE4EU.

The one-day conference shed light on how the two projects paved the way for a European Network of Agroecology Living Labs and Research Infrastructures. Both projects featured stories from the field, pilot network, and local stakeholders. Experiences from involved Living Labs and Research Infrastructures gave practical insights on the agroecology transition in Europe.

Why focus on Agroecology transition?

Today, our agricultural and food systems are facing multiple challenges, including climate change, loss of biodiversity, dwindling resources, degradation of soil and water quality. Agroecology can strengthen the sustainability and resilience of farming systems and thus contribute to addressing these challenges.

At the European level, both the European Commission and the Committee of the Regions recognize the pivotal role that agroecology can play in supporting key policies such as the Green Deal. Roberto Berutti, a Member of the Cabinet for Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski and a keynote speaker at the conference, highlighted the significance of Living Labs in not only achieving but surpassing environmental, climate, farming, and biodiversity policy objectives.

How can Living Labs and Research Infrastructures contribute to the Agroecology transition?

Putting agroecology into practice involves learning through experimentation with trials and errors. Agroecology requires adaptive management and collaboration among scientists, practitioners, policymakers, and consumers, therefore Living Labs and Research Infrastructures are at the core of facilitating agroecology transition. Heather McKhann (INRAE), coordinator of the ALL-Ready project, highlighted the significance of diversity in establishing resilient systems and achieving ultimate success. This diversity encompasses various actors, including land and infrastructure owners, communities, authorities, and researchers, who should collaborate in a transdisciplinary manner. Moreover, diversity extends to biodiversity, farming systems, and the composition of living labs and other open innovation networks.

Insights from Living Labs and Research Infrastructures in several European nations have highlighted the significance of sharing know-how and best practices. These experiences have revealed a diverse range of local activities, including seed swaps, local farmers' markets, soil health workshops, the establishment of alternative food systems, and engagement with farmers across various stages, from participatory research to policymaking.

The way forward - European Partnership on Agroecology Living Labs and Research Infrastructures

Both ALL-Ready and AE4EU play a significant role in shaping the forthcoming European Partnership on Agroecology Living Labs and Research Infrastructures, launching in early 2024 under Horizon Europe. This partnership aims to accelerate the transition to agroecology across Europe by supporting a network of living labs and research infrastructures.