European Partnership on Agroecology & Animal Health and Welfare

29 February 2024. The event launched of the European Partnership on Agroecology (EUP AE) and the European Partnership on Animal Health and Welfare (EUP AH&W). 

These two research and innovation partnerships were initiated by research centres, Member States' funders and authorities, and associated countries, with the support of the European Commission through Horizon Europe. They constitute a milestone in the work towards resilient agri-food systems in Europe.

• See the agenda here
• See the recording here

The partnership on agroecology aims to:

• structure and support a network of living labs and research infrastructures that will accelerate the transition towards agroecology throughout Europe,
• provide spaces for long-term, site-specific, multi-stakeholder and real-life experimentation, and direction for research activities on agroecology at the European and national levels,
• deliver data, knowledge, tools and ready-to adopt practices that support farmers in understanding and implementing agroecological practices at the scale needed for positive economic, climate, environmental and social impacts.

The partnership on animal health and welfare sets out to:

• shape a robust research and innovation system, providing access to new methodologies and products for animal infectious diseases and animal welfare monitoring and control, 
• contribute to a sustainable livestock production sector where infectious animal diseases are prevented and controlled with appropriate means, antimicrobials are used prudently, and animal welfare is respected in every phase of the production process.

After several years of preparation, research centres, funders and authorities of EU countries and associated countries, with the support of the European Commission, notably the Directorate-General for Agriculture and rural development, set up these  important research and innovation partnerships under Horizon Europe: the European Partnership on Agroecology (EUP AE) and the European Partnership on Animal Health and Welfare (EUP AH&W).