AGROforestry and MIXed farming systems — Participatory research to drive the transition to a resilient and efficient land use in Europe
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 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.
Background
Agriculture and land use is at a crossroads: conventional agriculture is a leading cause of climate change and land degradation, creating the greatest challenges of our time. However, regenerative practices such as agroforestry are an opportunity for land use to become part of the solution.
To lead this change, AGROMIX brings together farmers, researchers and policy-makers to explore agroecological solutions for more resilient land use in Europe, developing tools to mainstream these practices.
Goals & Objectives
- Unlock the full potential of synergies in Mixed Farming (MF) / AgroForestry (AF) systems.
- Develop and promote value chains and infrastructure for MF/AF produce.
- Develop the MIX-A toolkit to co-design and manage MF/AF systems in practice.
- Identify and model transition scenarios.
- Develop policy recommendations and action plans for a successful transitions
- Maximise the impact and legacy of the project for building low-carbon climate-resilient farming systems.
Activities
- Reduce the environmental impact of farming and contribute towards mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
- Provide ecosystem services through integrated and small-scale land management.
- Foster synergies between agricultural production, climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Deliver effective solutions for ensuring the highest level of implementation in heterogeneous landscapes.
- Unlock and improve viability and replicability and propose different transition scenarios.
- Strengthen social cohesion and consumer understanding of mixed farming and agroforestry.
- Facilitate the emergence of new businesses in the farming sector and exploitation of novel supply chains for MF/AF systems, e.g. dynamic agrovoltaism.
- Increase the efficiency and competitiveness of the farming sector.
- Develop market niches focusing on MF/AF value chain products.
- Develop renewable energy markets from MF/AF value chain products.
Types of services
- Policymaking
- Legacy background analysis
- Multi-sectoral dialogue organization
- Hackathon services
- Network building
- Network upkeep