AGROforestry and MIXed farming systems

Participatory research to drive the transition to a resilient and efficient land use in Europe

Field visit
Field visit, photo: Frank Wagener
Poppy flowers in a rape field
Poppy flowers in a rape field, photo: Frank Wagener
Field visit
Field visit, photo: Frank Wagener

AGROMIX aims to deliver multi-actor participatory research involving 10 universities, 7 research institutes, and 11-multi-actor partners to drive the transition to resilient and efficient land use in Europe. The project focus on practical agroecological solutions for farm and land management and related value chains making use of a network of 83 sites with Mixed Farming (MF), AgroForestry (AF) systems. Through value chains stakeholder networks, designs, models, and testing approaches are applied to improve these systems. Concretely, 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 aims to:

  • Unlock the full potential of synergies in MF/AF systems
  • Develop and promote value chains and infrastructure for MF/AF produces
  • 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 transition
  • Maximise the impact and legacy of the project for building low-carbon climate-resilient farming systems.

A reflexive Interactive Design methodology will be used to include stakeholders in the 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 the 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 MIXapplication/ serious game. Further WPs are on economics and value chains, and 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.

Consortium Coventry University (UK), Eesti Maaulikool (EE), Stichting Wageningen Research (NL), Agrifood and Biosciences Institute (UK), Scuola Superiore di Studi Universitari e di Perfezionamento Sant'Anna (IT), Universita di Pisa (IT), Agroecology Europe (BE), Revolve (ES), Universidad de Extremadura (ES), Cranfield University (UK), Mvarc (PT), Eigen Vermogen van het Instituut Voor Landbouw-En Visserijonderzoek (BE), Progressive Farming Trust Ltd Lbg (UK), Eidgenössisches Departement für Wirtschaft, Bildung und Forschung (CH), Zurcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (CH), Tenuta Di Paganico Societa Agricolaspa (IT), Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria (IT), Agenzia Veneta per l’Innovazione nel Settore Primario (IT), Institut für Angewandtes Stoffstrommanagement (IfaS) der Hochschule Trier (DE), Universität Koblenz-Landau (DE), Ogolnopolskie Stowarzyszenie Agrolesnictwa (PL), Mreza za Ruralni Razvoj Srbije (RS), Werkgroep voor een Rechtvaardige Enverantwoorde Landbouw (BE), Ceeweb a Biologia Sokfelesgert (HU), Association de Coordination Technique Agricole (FR), Institut National de Recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (FR), Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (Zalf) e.V. (DE), Teagasc - Agriculture and Food Development Authority (IE)
Duration November 2020 - October 2024
Funded by European Union (in the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020)
Funding amount 6.999.256 € (share of Trier University of Applied Sciences: 250.042 €)

Project Management at Trier University of Applied Sciences:

Prof. Dr. Peter Heck
Professor FB Umweltwirtschaft/-recht - FR Umweltwirtschaft

Contact

+49 6782 17-1221

Location

Birkenfeld | Building 9926 | Room 128
Jörg Böhmer
Jörg Böhmer
Beschäftigter IfaS

Contact

+49 6782 17-2626

Location

Birkenfeld | Building 9926 | Room 113
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