Rising global concerns over climate change, biodiversity loss, and food security cast a shadow over the future of European agriculture. The sector faces unprecedented challenges, demanding a transformative shift. In this context, the EU-funded AGROECOLOGY European Partnership ‘Accelerating Farming Systems Transition: Agroecology Living Labs and Research Infrastructures’ is an ambitious, large-scale European research and innovation endeavour between the EC and 26 Member States (MS), Associated Countries (AC) and Third Countries. It responds to the urgent need for a sustainable, resilient, and environmentally conscious agriculture sector. Specifically, the project leverages natural, biological interactions alongside cutting-edge science, technology, and innovation. Living labs serve as real-life testing grounds, expediting the transition towards sustainable, resilient agriculture. Research infrastructures contribute to disseminating agroecological knowledge. AGROECOLOGY facilitates high-level research by uniting resources and generating technologies aligned with the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.
The Agroecology Partnership project aims to facilitate the transition of the agricultural sector towards agroecology in Europe. Its mission is to address climate change, biodiversity loss, food security and environmental degradation while ensuring profitability for farmers. The project aims to create resilient and sustainable farming systems by 2050, promoting innovative agroecological practices and evidence-based policies. It encourages knowledge sharing, open innovation, and adapting approaches to EU territorial-specificities.
As part of this project, LifeWatch ERIC is leading an international team within WP5 Data and Monitoring Agroecology Transition to develop and implement an innovative and comprehensive conceptual framework to support the monitoring and evaluation of agroecology transitions, assessing their impacts and performance. This will include the creation of methodologies, indicators, and efficient data management tools tailored to various contexts and scales. Moreover, LifeWatch ERIC is contributing to enhancing the capacities of agroecology research infrastructures across Europe to optimise the role and strengthen the use of RIs for agroecology transition and improve the collaboration with agroecology living labs.