PROJECT: Agroecology Living Labs to promote robust and resilient Organic production systems (ALL-Organic) (original) (raw)

{Project} ALL-ORGANIC:PROJECT: Agroecology Living Labs to promote robust and resilient Organic production systems (ALL-Organic). Runs 2021 - 2024. Project Leader(s): Canali, Dr. Stefano, CREA .

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Summary

The ALL-Organic research project promoted a functional network of experiences, models and systems able to support the development of diversified organic food systems, with the aim of implementing robust and resilient organic crop production by involving food-system actors “from farm to fork”. The project sought to demonstrate the environmental, qualitative and socio-economic performance of diversified organic farming systems centred on agroecology, confirming their central role in pathways for transforming food systems towards sustainability. It also aimed to raise consumer awareness of the overall benefits of organic food based on diversified systems, providing evidence-based recommendations addressed to different socio-economic groups at national, transnational and European level.
ALL-Organic activities helped consolidate the Agroecology Living Lab (ALL) approach by implementing local initiatives for redesigning organic farming systems in the five partner countries. These activities aimed to implement and scale up systemic agroecological innovations. A common stakeholder-engagement scheme was adopted in these ALLs, creating collaborative spaces among a variety of local actors, including farmers, advisors, value-chain operators and other researchers. Options for temporal, spatial, genetic and practice-related crop diversification strategies were identified, co-designed and supported, taking into account both the biophysical and socio-technical dimensions of the agroecological transition. The composition and breadth of actors involved, the crop-diversification arrangements, the intensity of meetings and the ambitions were shaped within the context of each ALL. The operational objectives initially defined by researchers were adapted according to the indications and priorities emerging from interaction with the actors in the ALLs.
By fully applying a transdisciplinary approach, the ALL-Organic project supported, in a participatory way, the implementation of co-designed, locally developed and adapted diversified organic crop and farm pathways. In addition, the project activities aimed to test research hypotheses that consider diversification as an effective strategy for harnessing the functions of (bio)diversity, reducing dependence on external plant-protection products, using farm resources and by-products efficiently while reducing waste and nutrient losses, and mitigating the impact of climate change while ensuring yield stability.
As foreseen in the work plan, the WP1 Agroecology Living Labs (ALL) network was created in several European and Mediterranean countries. The ALLs consisted of: (i) several experimental fields on crop diversification (biophysical dimension), conducted in research stations — both short-term Experimental Fields (EFs) and long-term organic farming experiments (OLTEs) — and in Organic Working Farms (WFs); and (ii) groups of end users and local stakeholders (socio-cultural dimension) involved in co-design and co-development processes for innovative and diversified organic production systems.
The project Work Packages, integrated with one another, carried out their respective activities by leveraging the ALLs to support the development of diversified food systems and to demonstrate the environmental, qualitative and socio-economic performance of organic farming systems centred on agroecology.
WP2 investigated how ALLs based on biodiversity and spatial, temporal, genetic and practice diversification affected both above-ground and below-ground biodiversity and functionality. Specific activities tested management practices introduced in the ALLs in order to identify those beneficial for functional diversity and, therefore, for the quality of organic production. Two important milestones were achieved: (i) the definition of the methodology for analysing the side effects of diversification options on spontaneous plants; and (ii) the methodology for the proper collection of soil samples to assess microbial biodiversity. In selected EFs and OLTEs, in-depth assessments of microbial and functional soil biodiversity were conducted according to the protocol developed. The main WP2 results are reported in the deliverables: (i) D2.1 “Results of phytosociological surveys” (CREA); and (ii) D2.2 “Results of microbial analyses” (IUNG-PIB).
The main activities of WP3 focused on testing techniques for recycling and efficiently using resources/by-products, with the aim of reducing on-farm waste and improving nutrient cycling at low energy consumption. In Task 3, a tool was produced to assess the role of genetic, temporal and spatial diversification in relation to food security and resilience to climate change. The procedures and methodological tools developed were made available (WP3 Milestone) and integrated into project activities. The WP3 results were reported in the deliverables: (i) D3.2 “Report on the environmental sustainability of on-farm recycling of crop residues and by-products” (CREA); and (ii) D3.3 “Results of the resilience assessment” (IUNG-PIB). As already reported in the Mid-Term Report, INRAA left the consortium in the first months of the project without taking part in the research activities. Consequently, deliverables D3.1.1 and D3.1.2, intended to report the activities of Task 3.1, were unfortunately not produced.
The implementation of WP4 aimed to assess the impact of diversification strategies along the value chain up to the consumer, develop new business models, identify potential trade-offs between and within the pillars of sustainability (environmental, economic and social), and translate these results into recommendations for society and policy makers. The participatory process foreseen in Task 4.2 produced the expected results, documented in D4.2 “Report on multi-criteria sustainability assessment” (CREA). Deliverables D4.3 “Innovative business models” and D4.4 “Collection of good practices and recommendations” (ARAD) were also produced and submitted regularly.
WP5 worked to ensure and promote the multidisciplinary and multi-actor dimension, as well as the systemic approach of the project, from the initial phase. Coordination contributed to fostering a fair and transparent decision-making environment, stimulating partner motivation and enhancing participants’ creativity. All administrative obligations towards the national funding authorities and the Core Organic Secretariat were fulfilled. The quality of project outputs (reports, scientific and outreach articles, milestones and newsletters) was continuously monitored and, where necessary, adjustments were suggested.
Overall, no significant deviations from the project plan were observed, with the exception of the activities to be carried out by the two Algerian partners (INRAA and ENSA). Since they did not receive funding, ENSA and INRAA were only able to participate in “desktop” activities (virtual meetings, project discussions, document preparation, milestones and deliverables). During the first phase of the project (see the Mid-Term Report), the Algerian partners contributed with their own in-kind resources but were unable to implement the planned socio-technical actions (field, farm or territorial activities). As a result, the Algerian ALLs were implemented only to a limited extent or not at all, partially compromising the overall impacts of the project.

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