6 - Network of Agroecology Living Labs and Research Infrastructures: what is it and for whom?

This month’s conversation: Network of Agroecology Living Labs and Research Infrastructures: what is it and for whom? Topic 1: European Network of Agroecology Living Labs (LLs) and Research Infrastructures (RIs): criteria guideline and the application process Speaker: Korinna Varga Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture) One of the goals of the Agroecology Partnership is to build a European Network of Agroecology LLs and RIs (the Network) that connects these participatory place-based innovations for enhancing knowledge sharing and for supporting multi-stakeholder co-creation of agroecology innovations across various scales in Europe. The foundations of the Network were established between 2019-2023 through two Horizon 2020 projects: ALL-Ready and AE4EU. The Network was successfully launched in June 2024 when the first cohort of 17 members - composed of 12 Living Labs and 5 Research Infrastructures – was formed. The Network will expand gradually until 2033 through yearly application waves, with the first wave opening on December 9, 2024. Topic 2: Effects of Different Termination Strategies on Nitrogen Release from Cover Crops Speaker: Esther Mieves (Farmers-led Research Network (PFN Hesse)) The Living Lab "Arable Farming" aims to explore the "Black Box" of nitrogen cycling, addressing the question: Where does the nitrogen from cover crops go? Field trials on eight farms investigate nitrogen dynamics in soils and plants under different termination strategies. A complementary trial at an experimental station uses isotopic labelling to trace nitrogen pathways, alongside measurements of nitrogen leaching and gaseous emissions. Although the project is ongoing, preliminary results from the farm field trials offer valuable insights into soil nitrogen levels and crop yields, supporting more sustainable farming practices.