UNIPI Team Leader: dott. Daniele Antichi, Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali

Europe is one of the most intensively 'used' continents on the globe. As much as 80 % of its land is used for settlement and production systems, particularly in agriculture and forestry. The EU-funded AGROMIX project aims to conduct participatory research to drive the transition towards resilient and efficient land use in Europe. It will focus on practical agroecological solutions for farm and land management and related value chains. Furthermore, it will make use of a network of 83 sites that encompass mixed farming, agroforestry or value chain stakeholder systems, which are used to measure, design, model, test and improve these solutions.

The AGROMIX project aims to deliver participatory research to drive the transition to a resilient and efficient land use in Europe. It focuses on practical agroecological solutions for farm and land management and related value chains. AGROMIX makes use of a network of 83 sites with Mixed Farming (MF), AgroForestry (AF) or value chain stakeholder networks, which are used to measure, design, model, test and improve these systems. A nested approach will be used to conduct 12 co-design pilots across Europe. In addition, 6 replicated long-term trial sites are used for detailed analysis (crops and livestock).

AGROMIX has six specific objectives: 1) Unlock the full potential of synergies in MF/AF systems. 2) Develop and promote value chains and infrastructure for MF/AF produce. 3) Develop the MIX-A toolkit to co-design and manage MF/AF systems in practice. 4) Identify and model transition scenarios. 5) Develop policy recommendations and action plans for a successful transition. 6) Maximise the impact and legacy of the project for building low-carbon climate-resilient farming systems. AGROMIX uses a transdisciplinary multi-actor research approach with 10 universities, 7 research institutes and 11 multi-actor partners. It will use Reflexive Interactive Design methodology to include stakeholders in participatory co-design and implementation of MF/AF systems. The research starts with a work package (WP1) on context, co-creating a resilience framework. WP2 on systems design and synergies is at the heart of project. WP3 on indicators and scenarios will refine the greenhouse gas inventories for MF/AF systems and model transition scenarios. WP4 develops and tests the MIX-application/serious game. Further WPs are on economics and value chains, and on policy co-development, action plans and dissemination delivering impact and exploitation through practical innovations on farms, in value chains, at different policy levels and through communication and knowledge hubs across Europe.

Coordinator

COVENTRY UNIVERSITY, United Kingdom

Participants

• EESTI MAAULIKOOL, Estonia
• STICHTING WAGENINGEN RESEARCH, Netherlands
• AGRIFOOD AND BIOSCIENCES INSTITUTE, United Kingdom
• SCUOLA SUPERIORE DI STUDI UNIVERSITARI E DI PERFEZIONAMENTO S ANNA, Italy
• UNIVERSITA DI PISA, Italy
• AGROECOLOGY EUROPE, Belgium
• REVOLVE, Spain
• UNIVERSIDAD DE EXTREMADURA, Spain
• CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY, United Kingdom
• MVARC, Portugal
• EIGEN VERMOGEN VAN HET INSTITUUT VOOR LANDBOUW- EN VISSERIJONDERZOEK, Belgium
• PROGRESSIVE FARMING TRUST LTD LBG, United Kingdom
• EIDGENOESSISCHES DEPARTEMENT FUER WIRTSCHAFT, BILDUNG UND FORSCHUNG, Switzerland
• ZURCHER HOCHSCHULE FUR ANGEWANDTE WISSENSCHAFTEN, Switzerland
• TENUTA DI PAGANICO SOCIETA AGRICOLASPA, Italy
• CONSIGLIO PER LA RICERCA IN AGRICOLTURA E L'ANALISI DELL'ECONOMIA AGRARIA, Italy
• AGENZIA VENETA PER L'INNOVAZIONE NEL SETTORE PRIMARIO, Italy
• HOCHSCHULE TRIER, Germany
• UNIVERSITAET KOBLENZ-LANDAU, Germany
• OGOLNOPOLSKIE STOWARZYSZENIE AGROLESNICTWA, Poland
• MREZA ZA RURALNI RAZVOJ SRBIJE, Serbia
• WERKGROEP VOOR EEN RECHTVAARDIGE ENVERANTWOORDE LANDBOUW, Belgium
• CEEWEB A BIOLOGIA SOKFELESGERT, Hungary
• Association de Coordination Technique Agricole, France
• INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE POUR L'AGRICULTURE, L'ALIMENTATION ET L'ENVIRONNEMENT, France
• LEIBNIZ-ZENTRUM FUER AGRARLANDSCHAFTSFORSCHUNG (ZALF) e.V., Germany
• TEAGASC - AGRICULTURE AND FOOD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, Ireland

Start date 1 November 2020
End date 31 October 2024
Project cost € 6 999 256,01
Project funding € 6 999 256,01
UNIPI quota € 388 750
Call title H2020-SFS-2019-2
Funding scheme RIA - Research and Innovation action
UNIPI role Partner