The Agroecology-Transect research project, co-funded under the Horizon Europe program, launches a web portal to promote agroecology and large-scale ecological transition in Old World agri-food systems. (1)
Agroecology-the subject of special recommendations by FAO (2)-is indeed recognized as an optimal approach to ensuring food security, nutrition security, and social equity. And at the same time protect ecosystems and biodiversity. (3)
1) Agroecology, the ABC’s.
The concept of agroecology is broad as it encompasses a range of agronomic practices aimed at eliminating the use of toxic chemicals and improving the resilience of production, including with respect to climate change. Agroecology-Transect has adopted the definitions and principles of agroecology already established internationally over the past decades:
A) FAO. The decalogue of agroecology, which combines
– diversity, synergies, efficiency, resilience, recycling, co-creation and knowledge sharing, with
– human and social values, culture and food traditions, to realize
– Circular economy and solidarity, governance and accountability, (2)
B) Agroecology Europe. The 13 principles of agroecology integrate
– recycling, input reduction, soil health, animal health, biodiversity and synergy, with
– Economic diversification, knowledge sharing, social values, diets, and
– Solidarity, participation, connection and governance of land and natural resources, (4)
C) Stephen R. Gliessman. The 5 levels of adherence to agroecology criteria (5,6).
2) Agroecology-TRANSECT, the European research project.
Agroecology-Transect
(Trans-disciplinary approaches for Systemiceconomic, Ecologicaland Climatechange Transitions) is a research consortium established with the goal of realizing the potential of agroecology on the European continent. To this end:
– consortium members have built a network that brings together the local practices and experiences of farms and research institutions in 11 Innovation Hubs, located in 10 European countries, with a view to their large-scale application and replication,
– the experiences of interested farms will enable the development of useful data and knowledge to foster the development of sustainable and resilient European agriculture, in line with the Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy (7,8,9).
‘Agroecology-Transect is a unique partnership that will enable us to rapidly build evidence of how large-scale adoption of agroecological farming practices will enable farmers to play a leading role in mitigating climate change, improving soil health, restoring biodiversity, and increasing farm profitability‘ (Bertrand Dumont, project coordinator).
3) Project structure
The project involves 19 research partners, coordinated by the French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and Livestock (INRAE). Partners are engaged in 11 innovation hubs divided into 5 systems:
– agriculture and animal husbandry,
– annual crops,
– Herbivore production systems,
– Perennial cropping systems,
– local food systems.
Each hub, characterized by a different geographic and social context, experiments over four years with different agroecological practices in real-life settings. Evidence and data will thus be gathered to help identify opportunities for agroecology and barriers to its full development.
The countries involved are:
– Spain, Guadeloupe and Hungary, engaged in ‘diversification for resilience-a range of agricultural production systems’,
– Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands for ‘sustainable weed management: preserving soil quality through reduced tillage and sustainable weed management’, and
– Romania, France, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Switzerland in the area of ‘certification and branding of values – for crop and livestock production’.
4) First Results
The Austrian hub, led by Andreas Lüscher, has already shown how sowing different varieties of forage, under serious or moderate drought conditions, yields equal and higher yields than sowing monovarieties. (10)
In Guadeloupe, on the other hand, Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) is being experimented with to improve food self-sufficiency and agricultural resilience to the climatic emergency that manifests itself in long periods of drought alternating with intense rainfall (11,12).
‘We’re building the evidence to support a transition to agroecological farming practices in the EU and beyond‘ (Soil Association)
Dario Dongo and Alessandra Mei
Cover image from Wageningen University, Agroecology & Technology Fieldlab. https://tinyurl.com/3jvmj58k
Notes
(1) Agroecology-Transect. Agroecology-Transect launches new website to share ground-breaking research into nature friendly farming. 8.9.23 https://www.agroecology-transect.net/news/agroecology-transect-launches-new-website-to-share-ground-breaking-research-into-nature-friendly-farming/
(2) Dario Dongo, Camilla Fincardi. Agroecology, SDGs, salvation. FAO’s decalogue. FT (Food Times). 12.4.20
(3) Dario Dongo, Sabrina Bergamini. 10 years of agroecology to save Europe, the IDDRI study. FT (Food Times). 25.3.19
(4) Agroecology-Europe. The 13 principles of agroecology. https://www.agroecology-europe.org/the-13-principles-of-agroecology/
(5) Agroecology Info Pool. ACT: Agroecology criteria tool. https://www.agroecology-pool.org/methodology/
(6) Stephen R. Gliessman. CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group. 2015. ISBN: 978-1-4987-2846-1 (eBook)
(7) Dario Dongo. European Green Deal, the new strategy in EU. Égalité. 13.12.19
(8) Dario Dongo, Marina De Nobili. Farm to Fork special, the strategy presented in Brussels on 5/20/20. FT (Food Times). 24.5.20
(9) Dario Dongo. Farm to Fork, resolution in Strasbourg. Focus on pesticides and fertilizers. FT (Food Times). 23.10.21
(10) Agroecology-Europe. Plant diversity can mitigate adverse drought impacts on grasslands. 24.5.23 https://www.agroecology-transect.net/news/plant-diversity-can-mitigate-adverse-drought-impacts-on-grasslands/
(11) The KaruSmart micro-farm has already developed a prototype farm that can mitigate climate change impacts, reduce greenhouse gases and increase food self-sufficiency
(12) Agroecology-Europe. A transition to climate-smart to agriculture in Guadeloupe. 16.15.23 https://www.agroecology-transect.net/news/a-transition-to-climate-smart-agriculture-in-guadeloupe/
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
Graduated in Law from the University of Bologna, she attended the Master in Food Law at the same University. You participate in the WIISE srl benefit team by dedicating yourself to European and international research and innovation projects.
