European Living Labs: Sharing Knowledge, Strengthening Practice
October 7–8, 2026 | EVENT
On October 7 and 8, 2026, we attended the annual meeting of the European AGROECOLOGY Network of Living Labs and Research Infrastructures in Potsdam. The event was hosted by the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB). Together with the other members, we discussed how to shape collaboration within the growing European network.
The network connects living labs and research infrastructures that work together with various stakeholders on sustainable agricultural and food systems. PFN Hessen has been involved since the 2022 pilot phase, which laid the groundwork for the European network.
Despite significant differences in size, structure, and thematic focus, members across Europe are united by a common approach: developing solutions in collaboration with a diverse range of stakeholders and testing them under real-world conditions. Underlying this is the shared goal of making agricultural and food systems more sustainable for the future.
Getting to Know Members and Strengthening Collaboration
The first day provided an opportunity to get to know the other members, their working methods, and their areas of expertise better. During joint working sessions, the focus was on how the individual Living Labs and research infrastructures can develop a shared vision and forge stronger connections with one another.
For us, this ties directly into our work in Hesse: Bringing together diverse experiences and perspectives is also a central task within the PFN. The European exchange offers the opportunity to compare our own approaches with those of other initiatives and to learn from one another.
Organizing Joint Activities and Knowledge Transfer
On the second day, the focus was on the thematic working groups and planning joint activities. The working groups facilitate ongoing collaboration beyond the annual meeting, for example on policy, climate resilience, soil and plant health, and local and regional food systems.
The program also included sessions on shaping joint decision-making processes, with a focus on how members can actively contribute to the network’s further development.
Additional sessions focused on a joint training program and a knowledge platform. These initiatives are designed to make experiences, methods, and resources more accessible and to support members in their work. For our practice-based research, it is particularly relevant to understand how knowledge is shared among different stakeholders and how it is applied in the field.
European Perspectives on Work in Hesse
The two-day event provided an opportunity to view our work as part of a European community of practice-based research initiatives. Many questions connect us across national borders: How do we shape collaboration between businesses and researchers? Which methods support shared learning processes? And how can individual experiences be turned into insights that help others as well?
We would like to continue working on these questions together with the network, contributing our experiences from Hesse.
