The Agroecology Partnership, funded by Horizon Europe, is a transformative initiative uniting the European Commission and 72 partners across 26 countries. With a budget of €300 million, this ambitious project began on January 1, 2024, and will run until December 31, 2030. Its mission is to accelerate the transition of farming systems through research with a focus on Living Labs (LLs) and Research Infrastructures (RIs), fostering collaboration, innovation, and sustainability in European agriculture.
A Unique Opportunity for Seed Networks
For ECLLD members, this partnership offers significant opportunities to elevate their research work. European seed networks have a rich history of participatory and multi-actor approaches to research. While these methodologies may not have been formally labelled as “Living Labs,” they align closely with the Agroecology Partnership’s focus.
By engaging with this partnership, seed networks can:
- Gain recognition for their participatory approaches and methodologies.
- Contribute expertise to the development of agroecological Living Labs and Research Infrastructures.
- Engage with Agricultural Knowledge Systems (AKIS) to ensure seed-related themes are part of broader agroecological research.
Join the European Network of Agroecology Living Labs and Research Infrastructures
The European Network of Agroecology Living Labs and Research Infrastructures will open its first application wave on December 9, 2024. This network would offer the opportunity to integrate the voices of the actors involved in participatory and multifactor research on seeds into the wider framework of agroecology transition in Europe.
The Application and Criteria Guideline is now available online.
Funding Opportunities
In addition to the network application, the Agroecology Partnership is launching six co-funded calls for research and innovation over its seven-year duration:
- The first call, “Fostering agroecology at farm and landscape levels,” has already closed.
- The second call, “Integrating environmental, economic, and social perspectives in assessing the performance of agroecology: Value-chain and policy implications,” will launch in December 2024.
These calls provide opportunities for seed networks to collaborate and bring their voices and consolidated methods into agroecological research and innovation in Europe.
Stay Informed and Engage
We encourage all members to explore these opportunities to enhance collaboration and embed the work on dinamic management of cultivated diversity within the future of European agroecology.
Learn more and stay updated here: Agroecology Partnership Website
