European R&I partnership on agroecology living labs and research infrastructures

The European Commission has proposed a European partnership “Accelerating farming systems transition: agroecology living labs and research infrastructures” in order to structure and support a network of living labs and research infrastructures that will accelerate the transition towards agroecology throughout Europe. It will allow long-term, site-specific, multi-stakeholder and real-life experimentation, and implementation of research activities on agroecology at the European and national levels.

It will include a mapping of existing open innovation initiatives on agroecological production processes, analysing stakeholder involvement in those initiatives, exploring the interest of funders, identifying training needs and providing recommendations to strengthen the European agroecological Research and Innovation ecosystem.

A new strategic working group on agroecology (SWG-AE) has been established by the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR), having the responsibility to develop the partnership proposal, in close coordination with Member States and Associated countries, stakeholders and the two Coordination and Support Action projects ALL-READY and AE4EU, which are contributing to the partnership’s development. ALL-Ready is preparing a framework, by defining the vision, mission and inclusion criteria of the future European Network of living labs and research infrastructures.

The partnership will be funded under the Horizon Europe work programme 2023.

Update on policy process at European level - October 2022

The partnership on Agroecology Living Labs and Research Infrastructures, abbreviated AELLRI, has released the draft Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). This was the object of a broad consultation. Responses to the consultation will be consolidated and the SRIA core group will update the draft SRIA. The consortium that will respond to the call for the partnership is under construction. The call is expected to open in December and close in April. ALL-Ready, as a key advisor to the SCAR Agroecology Strategic Working Group, has contributed to the partnership SRIA.