Network information
* What is an Agroecology Living Lab?
An Agroecology Living Lab is an interactive research and innovation environment that brings together farmers, scientists and other stakeholders to test and further develop sustainable agricultural practices under real-life conditions. It promotes participatory, co-creative collaboration and knowledge transfer to find solutions to local challenges and strengthen the resilience of agriculture with the aim of making food systems fit for the future.
** Why don’t we translate the term agroecology on our site?
In Germany, agroecology is primarily seen as an environmentally friendly approach to improving agricultural practices. In the international context, however, agroecology is seen as a comprehensive model that integrates ecological and social dimensions and aims at a fundamental transformation of food systems. For this reason, we use the term agroecology and do not use the translation , which would distort the meaning.
Information about the network
PFN Hessen as part of the European Network for Agroecology Living Labs* and Research Infrastructures
The AGROECOLOGY partnership pursues the ambitious mission of pooling resources and promoting the transition to agroecology** in Europe. The focus is on the development and coordination of a European network of so-called Living Labs (LL) and Research Infrastructures (RI), which serve as participatory platforms for knowledge transfer and innovation. These platforms promote the exchange and cooperation of actors in order to jointly develop practical and localized solutions to the challenges of organic agriculture. The network is coordinated by Work Package 8, led by the Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (ÖMKi).
Background
The foundation for the network was already laid in the years 2019 to 2023 through two projects as part of the Horizon 2020 program: ALL-Ready and AE4EU. While ALL-Ready developed a pilot version of the network, three Agroecology Living Labs were established as part of AE4EU. The network was thus able to build on and further strengthen existing structures and experience. Finally, in June 2024, the network was officially launched and the first cohort of 17 members – including the PFN among the 12 European Living Labs and 5 research infrastructures – started their work. In joint onboarding sessions in June and July, the members were introduced to each other and the vision and goals of the network were discussed.
As a member of this network, PFN Hessen contributes its expertise and many years of experience in co-creative, participatory research for organic agriculture from its involvement in the All Ready pilot network. The network offers a valuable platform for exchanging knowledge, providing new impetus and actively shaping the agroecology transformation together with partners from all over Europe. The 10 elements of agroecology of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the 5 levels of adaptation of food systems by Gliessman (2016) serve as a theoretical basis, as shown in the following figure.
Aims of the network
The Network for Agroecology LL and RI has set itself the following goals:
- Promotion of localized innovations: The networking of real laboratories and research infrastructures in EU member states and associated countries strengthens regional agroecology approaches and enables the exchange of different knowledge and solution approaches.
- Improved access to knowledge and data: The network will improve access to and availability of data, knowledge and experience from the real-world laboratories and research infrastructures at various levels.
- Supporting joint innovation: The network promotes cooperation between farmers, researchers, advisory services and other stakeholder groups in the joint development of new solutions.
- Increased visibility: Agroecology Living Labs and research infrastructures and their innovations gain Europe-wide visibility through the network.
- International networking: Beyond European borders, the network aims to create synergies with international networks in order to contribute to the global discussion on agroecology and to science-policy dialogs.
The network will be expanded annually through application rounds until 2033; the first application round will begin on December 9, 2024.
You can find more information about the application here
In the following video you can find out more about the network and the two members ÖMKI and PFN Hessen.
