# 5. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVE

Nowadays, Croatian agriculture faces multiple issues, which result in about 50% of food imports<fnref n="72" />. Some pioneering initiative were describe and analyse in this research with regards to projects and practices that try to develop a holistic approach to food systems and implement agroecology through its different principles (HRV-KI-1, Table 1). Depending on the activity category considered, agroecology is at different stage of development in Croatia, with clear regional differences but remaining at the national level, generally at a small scale, reaching few stakeholders.

Institutions in the field of agronomy started to contemplate on agroecology not long after the Republic of Croatia was established when Croatia had to reconfigure its economy and establishment for its new context. Croatian entrance to the EU has helped accelerate the transition towards more agroecological practices among farming communities mainly through CAP policies. Science and research link with agroecology are quite developed in certain universities with a long tradition of taking into account agroecology through agronomy disciplines and with ongoing related projects.

Faculties that are related to agronomy have different courses on agroecology focusing on science and research aspects of it. Education of farmers on agroecology is mostly conducted through the Rural Development Programme measures that include agroecological principles. These types of education are mandatory for a farmer to get financial benefits by participating in those measures. The education done through these programmes have been beneficial to situations in fields. It is nevertheless a slow process due to a lack of education toward agroecology and agroecological practices in these institutions. Non-institutional education programmes offer often a more holistic views of agroecology and introduce socio-economic dimensions in agroecology teaching but their curricula are aimed more towards general public and less to farmers.

During this research, living labs were not identified as the term remains mainly unknown among actors in the field of agroecology. Movement initiatives are mostly focusing on sustainable and ecologically friendly solutions in agriculture. Different civil society stakeholders are organising short food supply chains. They open dialogues with policymakers, inform and challenge them to make positive changes and make paths for farmers more feasible to implement alternative systems of production.

Since organic agriculture is a more known term to the public than agroecology, it represents a more developed form regarding the implementation of some agroecological practices. Among organic producers, some work on implementing holistic systems in their approach toward farming and recognise that the position of the farmer in Croatia is far from ideal in economic and social context. They tend to associate more through NGOs trying to advocate for the betterment of their socioeconomic position in Croatian society.

Little private investment can be found in this sector and according to some initiative the mentality is not on the side of collaboration and sustainability (II-4, Table 2). As time is progressing, new generations are more aware of problems and perspectives in agriculture and become a hope for innovation and shifts towards sustainability. Croatian people are still aware of and in contact with rural heritage, the traditional agriculture (II-4, Table 2) that was implemented before the green revolution, and the importance of extracting valuable knowledge from it (II-4, Table 2).

<footnote n="72">⁷² Trako Poljak T. 2020. „Zaorimo hrvatska polja“ ili o važnosti nacionalne poljoprivredne proizvodnje – http://hsd.hr/hr/2020/04/16/zaorimo-hrvatska-polja-ili-o-vaznosti-nacionalne-poljoprivredne-proizvodnje/ (Accessed 19 Jul 2021)</footnote>
Agroecology seems to suffer in its development from a lack of recognition from the government (KI-2 & HRV-KI-4, Table 1). There is also a lack of knowledge on agroecological practices in civil services, which makes it difficult to register such practices in official registers (II-5 & II-6, Table 2). Laws that rule standards in food production and distribution are the same on the industry level as for small producers, and are stricter than in the rest of the EU such as mandatory egg packing facility for producers who have more than 50 laying hens (II-3 & II-5, Table 2). Convoluted bureaucracy (II-3, Table 2), a small number of people working in the government related to topics and dimension of agroecology and organic agriculture, lack of education for advisory service in this field (II-3 & II-5, Table 2), bad communication between science and policy (HRV-KI-4, Table 1), and no realistic strategy for sustainable development (Matešić 2009; HRV-KI-4, Table 1) are different barriers to a larger development of agroecology mentioned by some of the key informant.

There is a positive shift with consumers that are willing to buy products that are seen as sustainable (HRV-KI-4, Table 1), and there is an increase in awareness of citizens who have changed their habits in diets and buying food to support more sustainable and local production (HRV-KI-4, Table 1).

Despite that, agroecology might have the potential to develop further as younger generations are more educated on the matter (HRV-KI-1, Table 1). Croatia has unused agricultural land which is more accessible than in western EU countries due to low prices (HRV-KI-3, Table 1), natural resources, like water and biodiversity, are also regarded to be in good condition.

### ABBREVIATION

CAP: Common Agriculture Policy

CSA: Community Supported Agriculture

EAFRD: The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development

FAO: The Food and Agriculture Organisation

GAP: God agronomic practices

GSR: Grupa Solidarne Razmijene: Solidarity Exchange Group

HZPSS: Hrvatski zavod za poljoprivrednu savjetodavnu službu: Croatian Institute for Agricultural Advisory Service

IAKS: Integrirani Administrativni Kontrolni Sustav: integrated administrative control system

LAG: LokalnaAkcijskaGrupa: Local Action Group

PDC: Permaculture Design Courses

RDP: Rural Development Programme of the Republic of Croatia for the Period 2014-2020

SEG: Solidarne Eko Grupe: Solidarity Eco Group

VIP – Vijeće zalstraživanja u Poljoprivredi- Council for research in agriculture
ACTIVE soil

ZMAG – ZelenaMrežaAktivističkihGrupa: Green Network of Activist Groups

### ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank Maja Mlinarec, Karla Škorjanc, Lana Zubčić, Mario Petričević, all informants and other people who provided help and support in writing this text. The authors are thankful to Jessica Donham for proofreading this report. This report received funding from the European Union and the Fondation de France. This publication reflects the views and opinions of the author(s) only. Neither the European Union, CINEA, nor the Fondation de France, can be held responsible for them or any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

### REFERENCES

Agroecology Europe (2020) Agroecology initiatives in Europe. 232

Balogh L, Katalin R, Balazs B (2020) Mapping agroecology in Hungary

CERAI (2019) CERAI: Sistemas alimentarios territorializados en España 100 iniciativas locales para una alimentación responsable y sostenible.

Karoglan Todorovic D, Znaor IS (2020) Strategija razvoja poljoprivrede i ruralnog prostora (STARS RAS) Popratni dokument Sustav znanja i inovacija u poljoprivredi (AKIS) u Hrvatskoj

Matešić M (2009) Principi održivog razvoja u strateškim dokumentima Republike Hrvatske. Soc Ekol 18:323–339

Moya JA, Balazs B, Balogh L, et al (2020) Agroecology initiatives in european countries

Nakić M (2018) Implementacija ekološke proizvodnje kao okosnica razvoja Hrvatske poljoprivrede Nakić, Mirela

Putar J (2020) Godisnje Izvjesce O stanju Poljoprivrede u 2019

Seremesic S, Jovović Z, Jug D, et al (2021) Agroecology in the West Balkans: pathway of development and future perspectives. Agroecol Sustain Food Syst 00:1–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2021.1913464

Vidaček Ž, Bogunović M, Bensa A (2005) Aktualno stanje zaštite tla u Hrvatskoj. Gazophylacium IX:95–107

Wezel A, Bellon S, Doré T, et al (2009) Agroecology as a science, a movement and a practice. Sustain Agric 2:27–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0394-0_3

Wezel A, Goris M, Bruil J, et al (2018) Challenges and action points to amplify agroecology in Europe. Sustain 10:1–12. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10051598

Znaor D, Landau SC (2014) Unlocking the Future Zameci promjene : održiva poljoprivreda kao put prosperiteta za Zapadni Balkan
MAPPING AGROECOLOGY IN
GERMANY

**AUTHOR:** Anna Brumer, ISARA.

**REVIEWERS:** Jens Dauber, Thünen Institute; Baptiste Grard and Alexander Wezel, ISARA; Vasileios Gkisakis, ELGO-DIMITRA.

**TO CITE:** Brumer A. (2023). Mapping agroecology in Germany. In: Wezel, A., Grard, B. and Gkisakis, V. (eds). Mapping agroecology in Europe. Country Reports Series, Vol. 1, ISARA, Lyon, France; Agroecology Europe, Corbais, Belgium.

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This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No101000478.

The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.

More information about the H2020-Agroecology for Europe project can be found here: www.ae4eu.eu

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GERMANY
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report analyses the current state of agroecology in Germany and is part of the H2020 project Agroecology for Europe<sup>73</sup> (AE4EU). Information and data provided here are results from interviews conducted with 13 experts (named key informants), 15 initiatives representatives and desktop research held between March and July 2021. In this study, information on the development and existing initiatives were collected according to five activity categories: Education and Training, Living Lab, Movements, Practice, and Science.

Agroecology is mainly understood as a science in Germany. Consequently, the concept itself is not much used outside of research institutions. In comparison, organic agriculture is well understood and recognised throughout German society. This lack of recognition can be seen as a major barrier for the development of agroecology, next to economic and political barriers.

Existing initiatives presented here, show that many ways exist to change the status quo. There are different movements, scientific projects as well as networks which were created recently and financed by the state. It aims to bridge the gap between science and practice by linking farmers, advisors and researchers. These initiatives also work to help the cooperation between farmers and nature conservation associations, which was considered as a conflict by many key informants. Education and awareness raising plays an integral part of the initiatives' work and is central for the agroecological transition.

<footnote n="73"><sup>73</sup> www.ae4eu.eu</footnote>
GERMANY
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (IN GERMAN)

Dieser Bericht analysiert den aktuellen Stand der Agrarökologie in Deutschland und ist Teil des H2020-Projekts Agrarökologie für Europa (AE4EU). Die hier bereitgestellten Informationen und Daten sind Ergebnisse aus Interviews, die zwischen März und Juli 2021 mit 13 Experten (genannt Schlüsselinformanten), 15 Initiativenvertretern und Desktop-Recherchen geführt wurden. In dieser Studie wurden Informationen zu Entwicklung und bestehenden Initiativen nach fünf Säulen gesammelt: Bildung und Ausbildung, Living Lab, Bewegungen, Praxis, und Wissenschaft.

Agrarökologie wird in Deutschland hauptsächlich als Wissenschaft verstanden. Folglich wird das Konzept außerhalb von Forschungseinrichtungen kaum verwendet. Im Vergleich dazu ist der ökologische Landbau in der deutschen Gesellschaft gut verstanden und anerkannt. Dieser Mangel an Anerkennung kann, neben wirtschaftlichen und politischen Hindernissen, als großes Hindernis für die Entwicklung der Agrarökologie angesehen werden.

Die hier beschriebenen bestehenden Initiativen zeigen, dass es viele Möglichkeiten gibt, den landwirtschaftlichen Status quo zu ändern. Es gibt verschiedene Bewegungen, wissenschaftliche Projekte und Netzwerke. Die vom Staat finanzierte Netzwerken, die Landwirte, Berater und Forscher miteinander verbinden, um die Kentnisse der Wissenschaft in Praxis zu implementieren. Diese Initiativen dienen auch der Zusammenarbeit zwischen Landwirten und Naturschutzverbänden, die zu oft im Konflikt sind, laut Schlüsselinformanten. Aufklärung und Sensibilisierung sind integraler Bestandteil der Arbeit der Initiativen und zentral für die agrarökologischen Transformation.
# 1. METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

The information regarding key informants in Germany are summarised in Table 1.

<table><caption>**Table 1:** List of key informants in Germany.</caption><thead><tr><th>Key informant n°</th><th>Type of organisation</th><th>Main sector of involvement</th><th>ACTIVITY CATEGORY CONCERNED</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Research infrastructure</td><td>Ecosystem services for sustainable agricultural systems</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>University</td><td>Organic agriculture, agroecology</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>NGO</td><td>World nutrition and global agriculture</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>University</td><td>Organic agriculture, agroecology</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Research infrastructure</td><td>Experimental and applied ecology pollinators, biodiversity</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>University</td><td>Sustainable use of natural resources</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Ministry of agriculture</td><td>Research and innovation</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Ministry of agriculture</td><td>Coordination of the Research area</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>University</td><td>Research and innovation, Coordination of the Research area</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Research infrastructure</td><td>Zoological Biodiversity</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Chamber of agriculture</td><td>Farm economics</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Research infrastructure</td><td>Rural development</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Chamber of agriculture or Research infrastructure</td><td>Biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, botanic</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

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## 2. CONTEXT

Germany has a farmland area of 167 153 km², covering 47 % of the land area (Eurostat, 2019). The average size of agricultural holdings is 60.5 ha (BMEL, 2017), with a great disparity in the different regions in which smaller farms are in Southern and Western Germany (Gindele et al., 2015) and larger farms are in eastern Germany. In the last 30 years, the number of farms has been decreasing while the average size has been increasing. In 2020, 14 % of the agricultural holdings farm owned 62% of the agricultural land<sup>74</sup>. Of the 263 500 farms, 25 % are under 10 ha and 5 % over 200 ha (1500 over 1000 ha)<sup>75</sup>. Germany has had one of the highest declines of very small farms (Domptail et al., 2018). In 2019, around 10 % of the farmland was farmed organically (Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft, 2021). In Germany, organic agriculture goes beyond the European organic standard regulations for most organic farmers with many established labels and their guidelines such as Bioland, Naturland, and Demeter<sup>76</sup> (KI-4 & KI-10, Table 1).

The term agroecology is not commonly used in Germany. The concept is understood very differently among various stakeholders. The majority of key informants interviewed for this study defined agroecology as a scientific discipline studying the relationships and connections between species (including humans) in agricultural systems. Two informants stated that agroecology is based on the principles of organic farming or includes organic farming (DEU-KI-1 & KI-8, Table 1). Three informants in Germany also insisted on the notion/idea that agroecology represents a transformative process towards a sustainable food system (KI-2, KI-3 & KI-10, Table 1). The position paper of different NGOs (INKOTA, 2019), called for the German federal government to take a series of supporting measures for agroecology. These include specific financial support for research as well as the development of farmer-led research.

On top of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and EU organic regulations different strategies and policies like the 'Biodiversitätsstrategie' (biodiversity strategy; DEU-KI-1, KI-2, KI-7 & KI-8, Table 1), 'Nutztierstrategie' (livestock strategy; KI-8, Table 1), 'Ackerbaustrategie' (arable farming strategy; KI-2, KI-7 & KI-8, Table 1), the 'Düngeverordnung' (fertiliser regulation; DEU-KI-1, KI-3, KI-7, KI-11 & KI-13, Table 1) as well as the recent 'Insektenschutzgesetz' (insect protection law; KI-2 & KI-13, Table 1), and 'Naturschutzvertrag' (nature conservation agreement; KI-9, KI-11 & KI-12, Table 1) were mentioned by different key informants in Germany. These strategies and policies have some favourable elements for the development of agroecology, e.g. limiting the amount of fertiliser, or protecting specific species.

<footnote n="74">74 https://www destatis de/DE /Presse /Pressemitteilungen /2021 /01 /PD21 _028 _412.html</footnote>

<footnote n="75">75 https://www destatis de/DE /Presse /Pressemitteilungen /2021 /01 /PD21 _028 _412.html</footnote>

<footnote n="76">76 https://www umweltinstitut org/fileadmin /Mediapool /Downloads /07 _FAQ /Lebensmittel /vergleich _richtlinien.pdf</footnote>
# 3. CURRENT SITUATION OF AGROECOLOGY

## 3.1. EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Education plays a central role in agroecology. In Germany the field was described by key informants as being very fragmented (DEU-KI-1 & DEU-KI-3, Table 1). Different German universities offer courses and programmes in the field of agroecology. Only a few of the courses use specifically the term agroecology (listed in Table 2). Some have courses or programmes in organic agriculture, or about agroecological aspects related to landscape ecology and environmental sciences. The university of Göttingen has several courses in the Bachelor degree of agricultural sciences that are related to agroecology and was mentioned by the majority of key informants. The University of Kassel was the first university to introduce a degree course in organic agriculture in 1995.

<table><caption>**Table 2:** Courses and programmes in German universities.</caption><thead><tr><td>UNIVERSITY</td><td>COURSE OR PROGRAMME NAME</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Göttingen</td><td>- 'Agrarökologie und Biodiversität' (agricultural ecology and biodiversity, B.Sc. internship and seminar)<br/>- 'Agrarökologie und Umweltpolitik' (agroecology and environmental politics, B.Sc. lecture)<br/>- 'Agrarökologie, Agrobiodiversität und biotischer Ressourcenschutz' (agroecology, agrobiodiversity and biotic resource protection, B.Sc. lecture, exercises and seminar)</td></tr><tr><td>Hohenheim</td><td>- EUR-Organic: master in organic agriculture and food systems<br/>- M.Sc. Environmental Protection and Agricultural Food Production<br/>- Field course agroecology and biodiversity (lecture with exercises and seminar)<br/>- Agrarökologie (lecture)<br/>- Agroecology and Biotic Resource Conservation (lecture in M.Sc. Landscape Ecology)</td></tr><tr><td>Kassel - Witzenhausen</td><td>- B.Sc. and M.Sc. in organic farming<br/>- M.Sc. in sustainable international agriculture</td></tr><tr><td>Giessen</td><td>- Agrarökologie und integrierter Pflanzenschutz (Agricultural Ecology and Integrated Crop Protection, B.Sc.)<br/>- Agroforest und Mischkultursysteme<br/>- Umstellungs und Optimierungsplanung im Ökologischen Landbau</td></tr><tr><td>München-Weihenstephan (TUM)</td><td>Agrarökosysteme (agroecosystem, B.Sc. course)</td></tr><tr><td>Humboldt - Berlin</td><td>Agroecology as a community-based strategy for building resilience in contexts of shocks and crises (project seminar)</td></tr><tr><td>Greifswald</td><td>Landscape ecology and nature conservation, M.Sc.</td></tr><tr><td>Münster</td><td>"Agroökologie" (agroecology seminar, M.Sc. & Landscape Ecology, B.Sc.)</td></tr><tr><td>Bonn</td><td>Organic agriculture</td></tr></tbody></table>

In addition, different organisations provide trainings, for example the Demeter Akademie proposes courses on biodynamic agriculture. The Vilm Nature Protection Academy (see initiative description – part 3.1) organises a yearly conference series called "nature conservation and agriculture in dialogue" to improve cooperation among stakeholders.
## 3.2. LIVING LAB

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As living labs are not well known and just emerging, key informants had difficulties to name some. Nevertheless, some could be found in the DG-AGRI survey<fnref n="79" />: patchCROP and the model biodiversity farms in the federal state of North-Rhine Westphalia (see initiative description – part 3.2). PatchCROP is an on farm experiment studying temporal and spatial crop diversification. The model biodiversity farms test and implement biodiversity favouring measures. The other initiatives that were considered as living labs here involve many different stakeholders who cooperate (and sometimes co-designed the projects) to transform the food system. These networks (grassland biotope network, network for animal well-being and network for stock protection) develop practices that get tested by farmers with close scientific monitoring.

Other potential living labs are linked to insect protection like FINKA⁸⁰ ('Förderung von Insekten im Ackerbau', promotion of insects in arable farming), DINA⁸¹ (Diversity of Insects in Nature protected Areas), FInAL<fnref n="82" /> (Facilitating Insects in Agricultural Landscapes through renewable resources), BROMMI⁸³ ('Biosphärenreservate als Modelllandschaften für Insektenschutz', biosphere reserves as model landscapes for insect protection).

Other initiatives especially in the practice activity category, also have living lab characteristics. The model eco-region in Bavaria and the demonstration network pea/bean both have the aim to link farmers and consumers and have established close long-lasting cooperations between the different stakeholders.

## 3.3. MOVEMENT

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Many movements were mentioned by key informants, a lot of organisations exist and advocate for a paradigm shift in agriculture. The majority of them refer to organic farming and rarely use the concept of agroecology.

The 'save the bees' initiative is a good example of a successful grassroots movement that started in Bavaria and spread in other German regions. The petition for the referendum 'Artenvielfalt & Naturschöhnheit in Bayern' (biodiversity and beauty of Bavarian nature) known by its motto 'rettet die Bienen' (save the bees) to the most successful referendum in Bavarian history in terms of participation. In 2019, the Bavarian Nature Conservation Act was modified to ensure the development of biodiversity in flora and fauna on a permanent basis and to maintain and improve the existing habitats. In Baden-Württemberg a law regarding biodiversity conservation was changed in 2020.

Since 2011, the 'wir haben es satt' (we are fed up,- satt also in the sense of "we are full and cannot eat anymore") movement uniting 50 different organisations has focused on agriculture, environmental, animal and consumer protection, and organised demonstrations all over Germany every year asking for a paradigm shift in agriculture. The "AbL" ('Arbeitsgemeinschaft bäuerliche Landwirtschaft') is an association of rural farmers advocating for sustainable, socially and environmentally compatible agriculture.

Food policy councils (FPCs), starting in 2016 with Berlin and Cologne, are aiming to involve citizen in the decision-making process within the food systems (Sieveking, 2019), create a

<footnote n="79">79 https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/FirstScreeningAELLRI2020 - 80 https://finka-projekt.de - 81 https://www.dina-insektenforschung.de/konfliktmanagement-isoe</footnote>

<footnote n="82">82 https://www.final-projekt.de - 83 https://brommi.org - 84 https://volksbegehren-artenvielfalt.de - 85 https://volksbegehren-artenvielfalt.de/2019/03/14/jetzt-ist-es-offiziell-rettet-die-bienen-ist-das-erfolgreichste-volksbegehren-in-der-bayerischen-geschichte - 86 https://wir-haben-es-satt.de/</footnote>
new appreciation for food and its producers, and promote local, sustainable and fair food supply. FPCs are gaining in recognition in German cities. The FPCs are gaining in recognition in German cities and the FPC Frankfurt is described in the initiatives section (see initiative description – part 3.3).

'Solidarische Landwirtschaft' (solidary agriculture) is a further movement that has gained recognition, and the association of CSAs in Germany ('Netzwerk Solidarische Landwirtschaft e.V.' ) created in 2011 lists over 362 CSA (community supported agriculture) schemes"^87^.

3.4. PRACTICE

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Key informants mentioned mainly five practices that they consider as implemented and as agroecological practices: flower strips, organic farming, agroforestry, reduced or no tillage, and intercropping. One informant specified that while flowering strips are very commonly used since the last years, they probably only represent maximum 1% of agricultural surfaces (DEU-KI-11, Table 1). Furthermore, flower strips can be established for different purposes, e.g. supporting natural enemies to reduce the application of insecticides can be considered as an agroecological practice. Organic farming was often mentioned by key informants (DEU-KI-1, DEU-KI-2, DEU-KI-4, DEU-KI-8, DEU-KI-10 & DEU-KI-11, Table 1). However, it is formally not an agroecological practice (Migliorini and Wezel, 2017; Wezel et al., 2014) but a set of practices, under the regulation of organic certification and currently covering 10% of agricultural surfaces in Germany ('Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft', 2021). The practices mentioned by key informants are being implemented by farmers, but it is not possible to easily identify the implementation at the country level. Moreover, they are not necessarily labelled in Germany as being agroecological.

In Germany different federal states are actively promoting organic farming at regional or territorial scale with the aim to increase surfaces farmed organically and provide higher amounts of regionally produced organic products: the "Öko-Modelregionen" (eco-model region) in Bavaria (see initiatives descriptions – part 3.4) and Hesse, the "Öko-Musterregionen" (eco-exemplary region) in Baden Württemberg, the "Bio-Regio-Modellregionen" (bio-regional model region) in Lower Saxony. North-Rhine-Westphalia is just starting to develop such initiatives.

3.5. SCIENCE

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In Germany, many universities have research groups working on agroecology related themes as is shown in Table 3. Key informants named several research institutions (listed below), which are involved in many different research projects, of which some are presented later in the section on existing initiatives.

Main research topics related to agroecology are: (conservation) biological control, non-chemical plant protection, organic farming practices, agroecological practices, biodiversity conservation, agriculture under climate change, evaluation of agro-environment schemes, land use conflicts, alternative supply chains and food systems. Several institutions carry out specific work with research infrastructures such as the Biodiversity Exploratories (see initiatives descriptions – part 3.5).

<footnote n="87">87 https://www.solidarische-landwirtschaft.org/solawis-finden/karte#</footnote>
* FiBL Germany: Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Frankfurt

* Thünen Institute: Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries, Braunschweig

* Julius Kühn Institute (JKI): Federal Research Center for Cultivated Plants, Quedlinburg

* Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ): Center for Environmental Research, Leipzig/ Halle and Magdeburg

* 'Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung ZALF e.V.': Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Müncheberg

* Institut für Agrarökologie und Biodiversität (IFAB): Institute for Agro-ecology and Biodiversity, Mannheim

<table><caption>**Table 3:** Research groups in German universities.</caption><thead><tr><td>UNIVERSITY</td><td>RESEARCH GROUP</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Göttingen</td><td>Agroecology; Functional Agrobiodiversity</td></tr><tr><td>Hohenheim</td><td>Ecology of Tropical Agricultural Systems</td></tr><tr><td>Kassel - Witzenhausen</td><td>Organic Agricultural Sciences</td></tr><tr><td>Freiburg</td><td>Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology</td></tr><tr><td>Munich - Weihenstephan (TUM)</td><td>Life Science Systems</td></tr><tr><td>Humboldt - Berlin</td><td>Agricultural and Food Policy</td></tr><tr><td>Giessen</td><td>Animal Ecology - Landscape Ecology</td></tr><tr><td>Kiel</td><td>Landscape Ecology</td></tr><tr><td>Bonn</td><td>Economics of Sustainable Land Use and Bioeconomy<br>Fachgebiet Agrarökologie und Organischer Landbau (AOL)* des Instituts für Nutzpflanzenwissenschaften und Ressourcenschutz (INRES)</td></tr><tr><td>Lüneburg</td><td>Ecosystem Functioning and Services Lab</td></tr><tr><td>Greifswald</td><td>Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Dynamics</td></tr><tr><td>Münster</td><td>Applied Landscape Ecology and Ecological Planning</td></tr><tr><td>Koblenz - Landau</td><td>Ecosystem Analysis</td></tr><tr><td>Btu Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU)</td><td>Ecology department, focus agroecology:<br>Organic Pest Management<br>Chair of Social Science Environmental Issues</td></tr></tbody></table>
## 4. AGROECOLOGY INITIATIVES, CASES AND EXAMPLES

<table><caption>**Table 4:** An overview about initiatives, cases and examples described and analysed.</caption><thead><tr><th rowspan="2">INITIATIVE N°</th><th rowspan="2">INITIATIVE NAME</th><th rowspan="2">SCALE</th><th rowspan="2">TYPE OF STRUCTURE</th><th rowspan="2">AIM</th><th colspan="5">ACTIVITY CATEGORIES</th></tr><tr><th>EDUCATION & RESEARCH</th><th>LIVING LAB</th><th>MOVEMENT</th><th>PRACTICE</th><th>SCIENCE</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Agriculture management and biodiversity</td><td>National</td><td>State academy</td><td>Master level course to teach advisors on biodiversity management</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Bridging generations in agroecology</td><td>International</td><td>University (and associations)</td><td>Develop methods of knowledge transmission in agroecology</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Field - vegetable academy</td><td>International</td><td>Association</td><td>Strengthening awareness of the importance of nature and the appreciation of food</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>patchCROP</td><td>Regional</td><td>Farm, University</td><td>Increase agricultural diversification by temporal and spatial approaches at the landscape level</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Network for animal welfare</td><td>National</td><td>Farms, Chambers of agriculture, Association, Research institute</td><td>Animal welfare, environmentally friendly and sustainable livestock farming</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Grassland biotope network</td><td>Regional</td><td>Farms, University, Research institute</td><td>Create and maintain biotopes in grasslands</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>VSnet, Network for stock protection</td><td>National</td><td>BLE (central German implementation authority for agriculture and food)</td><td>Sustainable post-harvest protection</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Biodiversity model farms in North-Rhine Westphalia</td><td>Regional</td><td>Farms, Chamber of agriculture</td><td>Implementation and adaptation of agri-environmental measures</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

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<table><thead><tr><th rowspan="2">INITIATIVE N°</th><th rowspan="2">INITIATIVE NAME</th><th rowspan="2">SCALE</th><th rowspan="2">TYPE OF STRUCTURE</th><th rowspan="2">AIM</th><th colspan="5">ACTIVITY CATEGORIES</th></tr><tr><th>EDUCATION & RESEARCH</th><th>LIVING LAB</th><th>MOVEMENT</th><th>PRACTICE</th><th>SCIENCE</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>9</td><td>Aktion Agrar</td><td>National</td><td>NGO</td><td>Actions for agricultural turnaround</td><td></td><td></td><td>People, Children, House</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>DeFAF (German Association for Agroforestry)</td><td>National</td><td>NGO</td><td>German network of agroforestry</td><td></td><td></td><td>People, Children, House</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Food policy council Frankfurt</td><td>Local / National</td><td>NGO</td><td>Promote regional, fair and ecological food supply</td><td></td><td></td><td>People, Children, House</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Model eco-regions Bavaria</td><td>Regional</td><td>Farms, Businesses, local decision-makers</td><td>Increase organic production, create regional value chain</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>House, Children, House</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Demonstration network pea/ beans</td><td>National</td><td>Farms, Universities</td><td>Support the cultivation and processing of Peas and broad bean and bring together demand and supply</td><td></td><td></td><td>House, Children, House</td><td></td><td>House, Children, House</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Biodiversity Exploratories</td><td>Regional/ National</td><td>Research infrastructure, farms</td><td>Fundamental research on ecology</td><td></td><td></td><td>House, Children, House</td><td></td><td>House, Children, House</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>F.R.A.N.Z.</td><td>National</td><td>Research institutes, farms</td><td>Implementing effective biodiversity promoting measures</td><td></td><td></td><td>House, Children, House</td><td></td><td>House, Children, House</td></tr></tbody></table>

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<table><caption>**Table 5:** Additional initiatives, cases and examples in the country - not included in this report.</caption><thead><tr><th rowspan="2">INITIATIVE NAME</th><th rowspan="2">SCALE</th><th rowspan="2">TYPE OF STRUCTURE</th><th rowspan="2">AIM</th><th colspan="5">ACTIVITY CATEGORIES</th></tr><tr><th>EDUCATION & RESEARCH</th><th>LIVING LAB</th><th>MOVEMENT</th><th>PRACTICE</th><th>SCIENCE</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Soil & More impacts</td><td>National</td><td>Company</td><td>Advising companies in the food industry on climate protection and sustainability (true cost accounting, carbon footprint, among other)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>My agriculture - we are fed up with the agricultural industry<br>Meine Landwirtschaft - wir haben Agrarindustrie satt</td><td>National</td><td>Alliance</td><td>Initiator of the "es satt movement" ('it fed up movement')</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Solidarity network in agriculture<br>Netzwerk Solidarische Landwirtschaft</td><td>National</td><td>Organisation</td><td>Spreading of solidarity agriculture</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Young working group of peasant agriculture<br>jAbL- junge Arbeitsgemeinschaft bäuerliche Landwirtschaft</td><td>National</td><td>Association</td><td>Young farmers, gardeners, beekeepers and other people from the agricultural environment working together on agricultural policy issues</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Agroecology on the upper rhine<br>Agrarökologie am Oberrhein</td><td>Regional</td><td>EU INTERREG- Project</td><td>Support efforts to develop and anchor agroecology in the Upper Rhine region</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Agricultural initiative and sustainable leasing<br>Agrarinitiative und nachhaltige Verpachtung (Verein Greifswalder Agrarinitiative e.V.)</td><td>Local</td><td>Association</td><td>Develop nature conservation measures through a dialogue between owners and farmers (working beyond rigid property boundaries)</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>KOPOS-New cooperation and poling models for land use and food supply in the urban-rural network</td><td>Regional</td><td>Project</td><td>Establish regional supply structures to reconnect urban and rural areas and to practice environmentally friendly management</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Facilitating insects in agricultural landscapes through renewable resources - FInAL</td><td>National</td><td>Research project</td><td>Demonstrate how diversity, biomass and functionality of insects can be enhanced in agricultural landscapes, through integration of renewable resources and implementation of methods of integrated pest management.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Green grass</td><td>National</td><td>Research project</td><td>Development of innovative technologies for pasture farming</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The agronomists<br>Die Agronauten</td><td>National</td><td>Non-profit research company</td><td>Research company for sustainable, regional agricultural and food culture</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

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Bundesamt für
Naturschutz

AGRARMANAGEMENT
UND BIODIVERSITÄT
https://www.bfn.de/

INITIATIVE N°1 – AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT & BIODIVERSITY

# AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT AND BIODIVERSITY

Agrarmanagement und Biodiversität is an optional master level course for future agricultural advisors for biodiversity and nature conservation. The course is accessible to all master students studying either agriculture, agroecology or nature conservation (and related fields) in Germany and has been proposed since 2018 by the International Academy for Nature Conservation Isle of Vilm (INA) in cooperation with the IFAB (Institute for Agroecology and Biodiversity), in Mannheim.

Because agricultural advisors often either have knowledge on agriculture or on nature conservation and ecology, and rarely on both, therefore this course aims to consolidate the links between those two fields of knowledge.

The course is recognised by German universities and comprises 130 hours (50 hours optional additional work for more ECTS). After every cycle an evaluation is made with the students and the course is adapted and modified for the next year. A total of 18 students has been set per year. Often more students apply (e.g. over 80 students in 2020) and in this case, an equilibrium of students coming from agricultural universities and students in nature conservation is targeted.

The course is organised as follows:

1. Two days introductory module, including theoretical input, in Göttingen, during Spring;

2. One month practical work (55 hours) in April – September (near the students’ universities). Students help and interview a farmer and monitor species on their agricultural land;

3. Five days at the INA to discuss results, exchange experiences and to learn more about concrete measures.

The INA is a facility of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), which finance the course. The course is promoted until 2022. A future objective is to create a nationwide uniformly certifying qualification for biodiversity advisors. Currently the biodiversity advisor job is still very new and there is no comprehensive training in Germany yet. Advisors often have a very good ecological and nature conservation background but do not have the farm management knowledge which often leads to little or unsustainable implementation of measures (which are often not adapted to farmers' reality and economic possibilities).

The IFAB is responsible for organising the theoretical teaching in the course, inviting experts (advisors, farmers) and supervising students. They learn about different agri-environmental measures, the elements of the current CAP, how to implement these and create new ones (or adapt existing measures).

## KEY FEATURES

* **Type of education and training:** master level course

* **Main topics:** agricultural management and biodiversity

* **Training duration:** 1 semester

* **Course language:** German

* **Founded in:** 2018

* **Accessible to:** master students in agriculture or nature conservation (and related topics)
<figure><img src="image_632.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 1:** The participants of the course agriculture management and biodiversity in October 2021 at the International Academy for Nature Conservation Isle of Vilm under Corona hygiene measures. Source: Kathrin Bockmühl.</figcaption></figure>

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

The course provides a first training for students interested in becoming agricultural advisors for biodiversity, and it is currently the only one in this form in Germany. The course is made up of a didactic mix of theoretical lectures and interventions by experts which are followed by practical work at a farm.

A very positive element is the fact that students get to give feedback on the course at the end of each cycle, which leads to the improvement of the course. For the moment, each university decides how many credits are provided, usually it is around 6 ECTS when the 180 hours are done.
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EDUCATION

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MOVEMENT

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SCIENCE

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bridging
generations
in agroecology

https://www.hnee.de/de/Fachbereiche/
Landschaftsnutzung-und-Naturschutz/
Forschung/Forschungsprojekte/Aktuelle-
Projekte/BAG/Bridging-Generations-in-
Agroecology-K7197.html

INITIATIVE N°2 – BRIDGING GENERATIONS IN AGROECOLOGY

BRIDGING GENERATIONS
IN AGROECOLOGY (BAG)

**Bridging generations in agroecology** is an ERASMUS+ project on the transmission of knowledge in agroecology, that started in September 2020. The Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde – HNEE), a university of applied sciences, is one of the six European partners of the project. The partners exchange on educational methods in the field of agroecology sharing their experiences and developing facilitation methods of knowledge transfer. As the project just started recently the partners are still in the process of gathering themes and setting the topics. The next step will consist of developing educational courses and seminars on organic agriculture, cultivation methods, marketing and processing for example, as well educational material such as videos and podcasts. All courses will include practical work. The main target group of the courses are farmers. The developed courses will support young farmers just starting and anyone interested in becoming a farmer.

**KEY FEATURES**

* **Type of education and training:** courses and seminars
* **Main topics:** agricultural management and biodiversity
* **Type of legal entity:** university
* **Project duration:** 3 years

KEY FEATURES

* **Type of education and training:** courses and seminars

* **Main topics:** agricultural management and biodiversity

* **Type of legal entity:** university

* **Project duration:** 3 years

The project is coordinated by ZIARNO an association for environmental education and training in organic agriculture in Poland. The other partners are: Toekomstboeren, a farmers' association focusing on access to land, connecting and sharing best practices in the Netherland; InterAfocg, a French national network of farmer's organisations; Schola Campesina, a school and action-research center on agroecology and food sovereignty; Verein für biologisch-dynamische Landwirtschaft, an association offering courses in biodynamic agriculture in Switzerland.

Defining agroecology and develop a common understanding of its principles has been one of the initial steps in the project which refered to the Declaration of the International Forum for Agroecology Nyeleni 2015⁸⁸. Horizontal and intergenerational exchanges are considered as playing a key role for learning about agroecology.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

The "bridging generations for agroecology" project regroups six partners from different countries trying to share their expertise, knowledge and experiences to develop an educational material and tools in agroecology. A leading principle is the horizontal and intergenerational transmission of knowledge. The project is a good example of international cooperation to further develop knowledge sharing in agroecology and facilitate the application of practices.

<footnote n="87">87 https://www.foodsovereignty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Download-declaration-Agroecology-Nyeleni-2015.pdf</footnote>
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Acker

ACKER E.V. - GEMÜSE ACKERDEMIE
https://www.acker.co

INITIATIVE N°3 – FIELD - VEGETABLE ACADEMY

FIELD - VEGETABLE ACADEMY

ACKER E.V. (until 2020 named Ackerdemia e. V.) is a non-profit social enterprise aiming to increase the appreciation of food in the society by educating children.

The educational programme GemüseAckerdemie (vegetable academy), was founded in 2014, with the objective to teach children on the origins and production of the food they consume. This is done through creating school gardens, following specific cultivation principles of organic farming. Practices applied are for example mulching, crop rotation, and plant associations. A key aspect is to link practice and theoretical teaching on climate change, sustainability, food appreciation, and interactions in nature.

KEY FEATURES

* **Type of education and training:** garden courses

* **Main topics:** gardening

* **Training duration:** 1 growing season

* **Type of legal entity:** non profit social association

* **Accessible to:** children or students

There are around 140 employees in the association, with a central team in Berlin and different teams in each region (5-8 people per region). There are also "Ackercoaches" (field coaches) engaged temporarily for helping during the season and "Ackerbuddies" (field buddies) who volunteer in the schools (in total 480 people).

In a year there are about 300 hours of courses, usually integrated in the Sachkundeunterricht (teaching of basics in biology, ecology and geography at primary school level), but there are also teachers from different disciplines who use the garden. The teaching cycle is elaborated so that it fits the school programme. Usually it starts in May, the young plants and seeds are planted in the school garden, a member of the organisation is present. Currently there are over 920 pre-schools and schools taking part mainly in Germany. The others are in Austria and Switzerland where the association also accompanies schools (GemüseAckerdemie Schweiz and GemüseAckerdemie Austria). There is an online platform where learning material is provided, and a newsletter consists of tips and indications of things that can be done in the garden is sent every week.

A further project of the association is the programme called Ackerpause (field break). The objective is to promote urban gardening through accompanying enterprises to create gardens and start growing vegetables.

The aim of this initiative is to (re)connect children and adults to food. They follow agroecological principles even though the term in itself is not commonly used. The seeds used in the gardens are local and the sustainable practices taught. The initiative attaches importance to its impact, regularly evaluating their impact on children's learning and the adults surrounding them (teachers and parents). This is done through focus group conversations and qualitative interviews. Every year an impact report is published on the whole initiative.
The initiative works with different scientific partners (University of Education PH Ludwigsburg, University of Magdeburg, Potstam Institute for Climate Impact Research-PIK) and supervises different student's projects (bachelor/master thesis). The initiative is funded by public funds, foundations, donations and private companies, and partly by the schools. In 3-4 years the school gardens should be managed without exterior help. Acker e.V. has the vision that by 2030 every child in Germany will go through the programme and will have had the chance to harvest vegetables. Gardens should be an evident component of every school. In Germany, for the moment, Thüringen is the only federal state where the subject school garden is officially part of school curricula.

<figure><img src="image_644.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 2:** Learning through practice, children are taught in the school garden. Source: Nadine Stenzel.</figcaption></figure>

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

The GemüseAckerdemie is an initiative that aims to educate children by giving them an opportunity to learn in practice through school gardens and become aware of their consumption habits by creating links with nature and a sense of the complexity of food systems. The agroecology transition will only be possible if citizens are informed and learn about it as early as possible. The initiative has gained a lot of recognition since its creation and has received many awards like the "Zu gut für die Tonne Award" (too good for the garbage bin) in 2019 and as an excellent project by the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity.
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INITIATIVE N°4 – PATCHCROP

PATCHCROP

**PatchCROP** is an experimental platform for a multifunctional and sustainable cropping system. The project started in 2019 and the first experimental implementation took place in 2020. There are over 35 active stakeholders in the project including scientists, students, technicians, but also an agricultural enterprise. This on-farm demonstration project was initiated and is coordinated by ZALF, the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research. The Julius-Kühn-Institut (German research institution) provided expertise developing strategies to reduce the application of synthetic -chemical pesticides. The living lab is financed by the Brandenburgian Ministry of Science, Research and Culture (MWFK) and the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL).

The main goal of pachCrop is to increase agricultural diversification by temporal and spatial approaches at the landscape level. Research is done on the influence of subdivided field units (patches) and site-specific management on ecosystem services, climate and yield stability. A specificity of the experiment is the simoulteanous analysis of various parameters from different subject areas: plant physiology, plant protection, soil fertility, biodiversity, remote sensing, business economics, and modelling at patch, field and landscape level.

The on-farm experiment is done on a 70 ha of land owned by the agricultural enterprise Komturei Lietzen GMBH<fnref n="89" /> in Brandenburg. The farm carries out practices of precision agriculture, conservation soil tillage and retention of crops residues to increase soil organic carbon content. develops practices to reduce the application of pesticides, leaves crops residues on the field to increase the humus content. The patches of 0.5 ha, with every plot having a different crops. Food for pollinators is guaranteed through permanent soil cover and permanent bloom (rapeseed, lupine, sunflower, soybean). Cover and protection for breeding habitats for birds is also provided, favouring the presence of natural enemies. Herbicide reduction is done through mechanical weed control. In order to compare yield and plant growth, they rely on reference fields where common crop rotations are implemented and located in the neighbouring area (the total of 750 ha).

The term agroecology is not used in the projects communication. The development of site-specific management, diversification practices, multidisciplinary research and knowledge dissemination correspond to the agroecological transformation process.

Involved stakeholders meet and discuss regularly on what needs to be measured and the next steps to be taken. The experiment, e.g. the specific crop rotation, the size of the patches (depending on existing machinery), was co-designed with the farm. The co-design and co-innovation approach is a key element of this living lab, objections and remarks from all stakeholders are always considered and integrated throughout the project.

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PATCHCROP

https://comm.zalf.de/sites/patchcrop/ SitePages/Homepage.aspx

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KEY FEATURES

• Main topics: diversification in the agricultural landscape

• Founded in: 2020

• Type of organisation supporting the living lab: research institution

• Type of actor involved: agricultural enterprise, scientists and students, agricultural industry

• Scale of the living lab: local

SCIENCE

PRACTICE

LIVING LAB

<footnote n="89">89 https://www.komturei-lietzen.de/landwirtschaft.html</footnote>
The project is in the first phase of collecting scientific data, which are made available in later stages of the project to more stakeholders, to show that site-specific management in small fields has positive effects on different ecosystem services and represents a viable design of agricultural systems of the future. At the moment, the researchers recognise that such a system is not yet economically viable, and that it is not recommendable to use big machines for fields. A future objective is to expand the implementation to other farms as research has proven that diversification provides multidimensional advantages and opportunities for farmers and environment. The project team are

now trying to look for contacts and cooperation possibilities with universities, other research centers, and industries. This is a necessary step to develop the project, innovate, creating new technology and monitoring devices, and acquire missing expertise.

The project was also designed with the intention that these smaller plots within one field will in the future be managed by multi-use and multi-purpose robots.

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

PatchCROP is a living lab that aims to show that temporal and spatial diversification has a positive effect, helping to reduce disease and pest pressure. Through its multidisciplinary research and data acquisition, the project will try to give answers on ecosystem services, yield stability, climate adaptation and mitigation. The project links a multitude of stakeholders from researchers, to technicians, and an agricultural enterprise. Co-design and co-innovation is an integral part of this initiative.

<figure><img src="image_654.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 3:** "Das patchCROP Landschaftslabor" - the patchCROP landscape laboratory. Source: Hendrik Schneider, ZALF, July 2020.</figcaption></figure>

## POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_655.png" /></figure>

### NATURAL RESOURCES AND BIODIVERSITY

**MANAGEMENT:** Through the promotion of diversification in crop rotations the initiative favours biodiversity and will provide a necessary information on the effectiveness of such a management on ecosystem services.

<figure><img src="image_656.png" /></figure>

### COOPERATION:

Co-design with all the participants of this project is a key feature of this initiative.

## LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

<figure><img src="image_657.png" /></figure>

### SUSTAINABLE AND FAIR

**ECONOMICS:**

At the moment, this type of management, while obviously beneficial for biodiversity, seems not yet economically viable.

**Further limitation:** There is no consensus on the use of digital technologies in agroecology, but digitalisation in agriculture could play a "complementary role in the agroecological transition only when certain prerequisites" are met (Gkisakis and Damianakis, 2020). While the initiative in itself will provide many information and data on diversification, economic viability, among other the idea on which it is based, has to be questioned from an agroecological point of view.
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LIVING LAB

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PRACTICE

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SCIENCE

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MOVEMENT

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EDUCATION

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NETZWERK fokus tierwohl

NETZWERK FOKUS TIERWOHL
https://fokus-tierwohl.de/de

INITIATIVE N°5 – NETWORK FOR ANIMAL WELFARE

NETWORK FOR ANIMAL WELFARE

The network for animal welfare aims to improve the transfer of knowledge on livestock husbandry practices that promote animal welfare, are environmentally friendly and sustainable in Germany. The project started in December 2019 and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) as part of the federal program for livestock farming until April of 2023. The network is coordinated by the association of agricultural chambers (Verband der Landwirtschaftskammern) and the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food (BLE) is responsible for the project.

The network consists of farmers, scientists, advisors and veterinarians. 144 "impulsbetriebe" (impulse operations, 37 poultry, 50 pig, 43 cattle farms) all over Germany, using or developing innovations for animal welfare were chosen by the German Agricultural Society (DLG) and the FiBL (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture). Since there is no financial incentive given to the farmers, the motivation to participate to this project comes from the farmers themselves. Overall 18 partners, including chambers of agriculture, agricultural state offices/institutions are involved in the project.

Specific themes of the network include: handling of sick and injured animals, calf losses, obstetrics and monitoring, mother-related calf rearing, alternative slaughter options/pasture shooting, animal transport, sustainable and animal-friendly husbandry systems, feather pecking and cannibalism, alternative housing forms, animal health, dual-purpose breeds. The different topics are set by the expert advisory board for each animal species (poultry, pig and cattle) consisting of advisors, farmers, scientists and veterinarians. Information is not only gathered on the farms but also from various projects such as the European Innovation Partnership 'Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability' (EIP-AGRI<fnref n="90" />) and the MuD Tierschutz<fnref n="91" /> (Model and demonstration projects on animal protection). The information is bundled and shared through regular seminars, workshops and the internet platform. For each state 1-2 so called "Wissenstransfer Tierwohlmultiplikatoren (TWM, animal welfare multiplicators) are responsible for the transfer of knowledge within the state.

The term agroecology is not used by the initiative, however the main goal is to make poultry, pig and cattle farms sustainable putting knowledge transfer on animal welfare and ecology at the center of the initiative.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

The network for animal welfare is a nation-wide network that provides expertise on (innovative) practices used in animal productions that respect animal welfare and are sustainable. The involvement of organic and non-organic farms, advisors, scientists, veterinarians and the open communication between all the stakeholders involved in animal production are necessary for the development of future livestock farming in Germany.

KEY FEATURES

* Main topics: animal welfare

* Founded in: 2020

* Type of organisation
supporting the living lab:
research institution

* Type of actor involved:
farmers, advisors, veterinarians

* Scale of the living lab: national

SCIENCE

PRACTICE

LIVING LAB

<footnote n="90">⁹⁰ https://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/en-</footnote>

<footnote n="91">⁹¹ https://www.mud-tierschutz.de</footnote>
<figure><img src="image_664.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 4:** Location of the "Impulsbetriebe", labels represent poultry, pig and cattle farms. Source: https://fokus-tierwohl.de/de/impulsbetriebe.</figcaption></figure>

## POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_665.png" /></figure>

**HEALTH:** Animal welfare is closely linked to animal (and human) health and this is reflected in the practices that are shared through the network.

<figure><img src="image_666.png" /></figure>

**EDUCATION:** The main goal of this initiative is to transfer knowledge which reflected by the 152 events that were organised in the five first months. Information is available on the networks websites and stakeholders can freely register to seminars. The initiative also aims to include the acquired knowledge in vocational trainings for young farmers. Communication outside of the network to the general public is also important for the network.

<figure><img src="image_667.png" /></figure>

**COOPERATION:** The involvement, exchange and cooperation between all stakeholders in the animal production sector is an important part of this network.

## LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

The initiative itself does not set standards on animal welfare and sustainability, it is therefore difficult to determine if the promoted practices are sufficient to improve animal welfare and agroecological animal production. For animal production related practices animal welfare is just one of the key aspects that need to be considered. Animal housing, breed choices, animal management, animal nutrition, veterinary management and integration of cropping, and animal systems are also relevant. Principles for animal production systems include "adopting management practices aiming to improve animal health, decreasing the inputs needed for production, decreasing pollution by optimising the metabolic functioning of farming systems, enhancing diversity within animal production, systems to strengthen their resilience, preserving biological diversity in agroecosystems by adapting management practices" (Migliorini and Wezel, 2017).
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LIVING LAB

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PRACTICE

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SCIENCE

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MOVEMENT

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EDUCATION

INITIATIVE N°6 – VSNET - NETWORK FOR STOCK PROTECTION

<figure><img src="image_673.png" /></figure>

NETZWERK
VORRATSSCHUTZ

VORRATSCHUTZ NETZWERK

https://www.netzwerk-vorratsschutz.de/vsnet/de/home

# VSNET - NETWORK FOR STOCK PROTECTION

The Vorratschutz Netzwerk (VSnet) is a project aiming to make the stock protecting measures (e.g. measures to store harvested products) from the national guideline of integrated pest management known to stakeholders, through their implementation in 8 "Demonstrationsbetriebe" (demonstration enterprises) along the value chain (farms, a cooperative, a grain dealer and an organic mill). The VSnet is a BÖLN (The Federal Programme for organic farming and other forms of sustainable agriculture) project, funded by the BLE (Federal Office of Agriculture and Food).

The project started in January 2019 and is led by the Julius-Künen Institut (JKI). The Bundesverband Agrarhandel e.V. (BVA, interest representation of the agricultural trade) is a cooperation partner and other contractors are working

on the evaluation of the economical aspects and technical implementation. Among the demonstration enterprises some are conventional and some certified organic.

After a first survey about knowledge and opinions of practiconners on good cereal stocking practices, practical experiments were set up to measures alternatives that can be used to reduce pesticides. For example, the introduction of natural enemies (like parasitic wasps against cereal moths) in the storage and use of preventive methods to keep the storage clean before filling. This practice is still rare in the stock protection sector because it requires an intensive advisory accompaniment. Through expert workshops and collecting experiences, improved stocking guideline should be available at the end of the project. A key aspect is to identify the current problems and look at the technical and financial possibilities to provide adaptable and applicable methodologies. An example that is being tested is a silo with a specific painting which stops gas exchange (a standard practice used already in Australia), therefore protecting what is being stored.

The basic principle followed by the project is to use preventive methods, without pesticides needed, by controlling the grains before they are stored and having a clean storage unit where insects cannot enter. If it gets to an infestation, it is not only important to get rid of it but to understand its origin. This is a repeated process to optimise the practice and avoid any losses (contaminated goods can still be used in biogas plants). Peer-to-peer learning plays an important role in this project involving farmers, advisors and scientists.

The project is funded over three years. Beyond the project, the hope is that the network will be maintained, and in the best case the guidelines will continue to be improved by close cooperation between practitioners, advisors and scientists. The practice storage sector has always been a niche, already in the education of farmer's little amount of time is spent on the subject. Phytosanitary services give little advice on the topic as it is not that lucrative.

## KEY FEATURES

* Main topic: input reduction in storage

* Founded in: 2019

* Type of organisation supporting the living lab: BLE (central German implementation authority for agriculture and food)

* Type of actor involved: farmers, advisors and scientists

* Scale of the living lab: national
<figure><img src="image_674.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 5:** Location of the demonstration enterprises.</figcaption></figure>

Source: https://www.netzwerk-vorratsschutz.de/vsnet/de/home/file/fileId/293/name/Karte%20der%20Demobetriebe.JPG.

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

The Vorratschutz Netzwerk is a project that focuses on cereal and other commodities stock protecting measures, specifically on the objective to reduce the use of synthetic pesticides. The network includes also demonstrations enterprises along the food chain and scientists. Through its methodology the project should provide an important knowledge base on alternatives to conventional stock protecting methods contributing to render storage more sustainable.

## POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_675.png" /></figure>

**HEALTH:** This initiative focuses on an often neglected part of the production system. Establishing measures for reducing the use of pesticides in storage is essential for human health and environment protection. The use of preventive methods, the adaptation and testing of methods is a key feature of this initiative.

<figure><img src="image_676.png" /></figure>

**EDUCATION:** The project provides information to concerned stakeholders, promotes peer-to-peer learning.

## LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

<figure><img src="image_677.png" /></figure>

**COOPERATION:** In order to change storage practices, financial support is needed as it is currently not lucrative for advisors. Changing policies, proposing effective measures is key to boost participation.
<figure><img src="image_678.png" /></figure>

LIVING LAB

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PRACTICE

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SCIENCE

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MOVEMENT

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EDUCATION

INITIATIVE N°7 – GRASSLAND BIOTOPE NETWORK

BIOTOPVERBUND GRASLAND

Ein Netzwerk für mehr Artenvielfalt

BIOTOPVERBUND GRASLAND

https://www.gruenlandzentrum.org/projekte/biotopverbund-grasland

# GRASSLAND BIOTOPE NETWORK

The biotope network aims to stabilise, maintain and develop species diversity, to counteract the loss of species-rich grassland in Lower Saxony, north-western Germany. More than half of the plant species listed in the red list can be found in grassland and around a third of all plant and animal species found in Germany live in grassland. Although the majority of agricultural land is under intensive dairy farming, Lower Saxony areas with extensive grassland exist and need to be managed sustainably.

The project ran from 2017 to 2021. The three-year project was implemented by the Grassland Center of Lower Saxony/Bremen, the University of Oldenburg and the NABU (Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union) Oldenburger Land. It was funded by the German Federal Environment Foundation (DBU) and implemented by the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture in cooperation with

the Grassland Center. The work was carried out in 3 counties, with 1-2 pilot projects involving around 150 stakeholders including regional government, parish districts, road construction management enterprises, water and soil associations, rural associations, hunters, land owners as well as 20-30 farmers.

## KEY FEATURES

* **Main topic:** connecting grassland biotopes

* **Founded in:** 2017

* **Type of organisation supporting the living lab:** grassland center (research center)

* **Type of actor involved:** farmers, scientists and advisors, association, enterprises

* **Scale of the living lab:** regional

Variety of methodologies used:

(i) Introducing regional species-rich mixtures for upgrading the core areas

(ii) "Mahdgutübertragung" e.g. transferring species-rich seeds stands that are mowed when the seeds are ripe (end of June-beginning of July) to areas which are species-poor

(iii) Adjust care and management of grassland, using the important seed stock already present in the soil or mowing later

The grassland biotope network can be seen as an innovative system as the cooperation permitted the creation, dissemination and implementation of scientific and methodological knowledge. Measures to increase awareness and acceptance, bundle knowledge are key to further develop and adapt agricultural management.

The project steps included identify core areas for grassland management, find out how to connect them, implement measures and prepare for the future development of conservation and management of species-rich grasslands. The next step is to maintain these biotope networks which will be done by the local actors of the Grünlandzentrum (centre for grassland). The Universität Oldenburg will continue to scientifically monitor the areas. This project was only the beginning of an ongoing cooperation. In the federal states of Schleswig-Holstein and North-Rhine Westphalia, there are comparable on going projects.
The project is innovative in its cooperative approach. Different actors from agriculture, nature conservation, science and authorities were involved and worked together on several pilot areas. Even though the project in itself has ended, the network has been established and will continue to work on linking biotopes and maintain the created corridors. Although they do not specifically name the project in relation with agroecology, it uses agroecological approaches to improve management of grasslands used for dairy production and biodiversity conservation, and uses a multi-actor approach of co-creation and sharing of knowledge.

<figure><img src="image_683.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 6:** Biotope network planning, meeting of stakeholders.
Source: Grünlandzentrum, https://www.gruenlandzentrum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2021-07-15-Endbericht_final.pdf.</figcaption></figure>

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

The initiative established biotope networks in pilot areas aims to involve many stakeholders. Raising awareness and acceptance of the different measures is a challenge for many agroecological initiatives nevertheless the network managed to do this. This project is a good example that effective measures can be taken to counteract the high biodiversity loss on the used agricultural land.

## POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_684.png" /></figure>

**NATURAL RESOURCES AND BIODIVERSITY**

**MANAGEMENT:** It has been shown that maintaining and (re) creating connection between grassland biotopes is crucial for the protection of biodiversity. This initiative has shown how to establish such biotope networks.

<figure><img src="image_685.png" /></figure>

**EDUCATION:** Education and exchange of knowledge was a key aspect in this initiative. Raising awareness and explaining why and how to create biotope networks was done throughout the project. It was the key to convince farmers and communes to implement effective measures.

## LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

<figure><img src="image_686.png" /></figure>

**COOPERATION:** A main challenge throughout the project was to include all stakeholders and motivate them to actively participate. The acceptance process is long but essential. Maintaining the involvement and going beyond pilot areas is necessary. The Grünland center will continue to do this.
<figure><img src="image_687.png" /></figure>

LIVING LAB

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PRACTICE

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SCIENCE

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MOVEMENT

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EDUCATION

Landwirtschaftskammer
Nordrhein-Westfalen

LEITBETRIEBE BIODIVERSITÄT
NORDRHEIN-WESTPHALIEN

https://www.landwirtschaftskammer.de/
landwirtschaft/naturschutz/leitbiodiversitaet/
index.htm

INITIATIVE N°8 – BIODIVERSITY MODEL FARMS

# BIODIVERSITY MODEL FARMS IN NORTH-RHINE WESTPHALIA

The biodiversity model farms is a project started in 2016, with 14 model farms implementing biodiversity promoting measures, located in different regions of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), western Germany. Each farm was chosen for being representative for the regions, landscapes and main production in the areas. 12 farms practice conventional agriculture while the other 2 are certified organic. The project is coordinated by the chamber of agriculture of NRW.

The main objective is to implement feasible and applicable measures for the farmer, and to measures that will be effective from a nature conservation point of view. The project is based on the 2014 framework agreement to promote biodiversity in the agricultural landscape, carried out by the agricultural associations, the Ministry of Environment, Nature, Agriculture and Consumer Protection of NRW, and the agriculture chamber of NRW.

## KEY FEATURES

* Main topic: biodiversity favouring measures

* Founded in: 2016

* Type of organisation supporting the living lab: chamber of agriculture

* Type of actor involved: farmers and advisors

* Scale of the living lab: regional

Through different trials on the farms, farmers collect practical experience which helps further to develop and improve the different measures with the help of advisors. Possible measures are:

* Greening measures (related to the CAP first category - until 2021): ecological focus areas, catch crops, annual flowering mixture for bees "honey fallow" (Honigbrache);

* Agri-environmental measures: flower strips and herbaceous field margins;

* Measures within nature conservation contracts carried out in close cooperation with the biological stations and the lower nature conservation authorities in the region, various funding packages depending on the region: flower strips, fallow land, harvest abandonment, any combination of these measures;

* Voluntary measures (no funding) for grassland management and maintenance: part of the mowing remains over the winter or delayed mowing to provide food and habitat for pollinators.

Increasing biodiversity is at the heart of the initiative, the measures implemented are agri-environmental measures and as such can be considered as agroecological even though the term agroecology is not really used by the initiative. The cooperation of both organic and non-organic farms with advisors is essential for the successful implementation of the measures.

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

The biodiversity model farms in NRW is an initiative that promotes the implementation of biodiversity favouring measures. The measures are adapted and modified through farm trials. The cooperation between the farmers and advisors is a key aspect of this initiative.

PRACTICE

LIVING LAB
<figure><img src="image_692.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 7:** Location of the 14 farms. Source: Team Biodiversität Landwirtschaftskammer NRW (top) - Different regional seed mixtures. Source: Team Biodiversität Landwirtschaftskammer NRW (right).</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_693.png" /></figure>

## POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_694.png" /></figure>

### NATURAL RESOURCES AND BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT:

Through the different measures, the initiative promotes practices that favour biodiversity. The close cooperation between the advisors and farmers is necessary for increasing the acceptance of these measures.

## LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

<figure><img src="image_695.png" /></figure>

**COOPERATION:** Only 14 farms take part in the project. The team at the chamber of agriculture advises farms all over the region using the experience gathered by the model companies. Much bigger participation will be needed to extend to larger areas and possibly all over Germany.
<figure><img src="image_696.png" /></figure>

MOVEMENT

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EDUCATION

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PRACTICE

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LIVING LAB

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SCIENCE

INITIATIVE N°9 – AKTION AGRAR

AKTION AGRAR

<figure><img src="image_701.png" /></figure>

aktion
agrar

https://www.aktion-agrar.de

**Aktion Agrar** is an association created in 2014, aiming to change the current conventional agricultural system by establishing a more agroecological one, meaning a fairer, more sustainable and more social peasant farming system. To reach this goal, the initiative implements different actions (petitions, awareness-raising events, demonstrations) to promote the adaptation of the necessary framework conditions.

The association has around 300 members from civil society and almost 18 000 people receive their newsletters. The core team consists of 6 people (3 employees and 3 interns), organising the actions. Decisions are taken by the core team and most active voluntary members.

KEY FEATURES

* **Main goals:** transform the current conventional agricultural system

* **Founded in:** 2014

* **Type of organisation:** association

* **Farming sector:** every sector

* **Scale of the organisation:** national

Currently the association works on the topic of access to land, and demands a fairer land allocation process, more assistance for new farmers and better distribution of subsides (CAP). Other themes that Aktion Agrar work on in the last years are seeds as common property, milk prices, meat consumption linked to deforestation in the Amazon, and soy imports from outside Europe, for example.

The initiative works on different levels, the first one is to raise awareness, for this, action booklets and information material on different themes are created. A key aspect is then to promote participatory actions and to include citizens that have little or no knowledge on agricultural topics. The association also proposes shorter courses in agricultural training schools and workshops at universities to help young students to build their critical thinking competences.

Agroecology is recognised by the association and while the term in itself is not commonly used, the initiative is promoting the transition through its different actions. Half of the initiatives and actions funding comes from member fees and sponsors; the rest is funded through educational projects.

Aktion Agrar is part of the "Wir haben es satt" alliance<fnref n="92" />, grouping over 50 associations made up of different stakeholders along the food chain and demanding another agricultural policy. The alliance is known for organising big demonstrations and actions in Germany. For every campaign, the initiative looks for partners. In particular, they are collaborating with the AbL (Arbeitsgemainschaft für Bäuerliche Landwirtschaft) and the Bündnis Junge Landwirtschaft (German young farmer's alliance) for the current land allocation theme.

<footnote n="92">⁹² https://wir-haben-es-satt.de</footnote>
<figure><img src="image_702.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 8:** Demonstration before the meeting of the agriculture ministers in Koblenz, "against the deaths of farms and insects and misguided agricultural policies".
Source: https://www.aktion-agrar.de/aktionen/agrargipfel-koblenz.</figcaption></figure>

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

The association works for and with farmers to build a different agricultural system. Providing information and educating for future farmers is key to accelerate the agroecological transition. The initiative works on many different themes and does essential work of raising awareness among citizens and increasing citizen pressure on policy makers to change the current political framework.

### POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_703.png" /></figure>

**SUSTAINABLE AND FAIR**

**ECONOMICS:** A key driver of this initiative is to promote a sustainable and fair agricultural system. The theme on access to land is a good illustration for this.

<figure><img src="image_704.png" /></figure>

**EDUCATION:** Through courses, information booklets the initiative is raising awareness.

### LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

<figure><img src="image_705.png" /></figure>

**COMMERCIALISATION IS LOCAL, FAIR AND/OR COLLECTIVE:** Aktion Agrar is a relatively small association with limited number of staff to carry out awareness-raising and other actions. To increase its impact they lack of financial support.
<figure><img src="image_706.png" /></figure>

MOVEMENT

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PRACTICE

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EDUCATION

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LIVING LAB

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SCIENCE

<figure><img src="image_711.png" /></figure>

DeFAF

Deutscher Fachverband
für Agroforstwirtschaft

DEUTSCHER FACHVERBAND
FÜR AGROFORSTWIRTSCHAFT
https://agroforst-info.de

INITIATIVE N°10 – DeFAF

# GERMAN ASSOCIATION FOR AGROFORESTRY (DeFAF)

DeFAF is a non-profit organisation created in 2019 aiming to promote agroforestry in Germany. The organisation has currently 198 members, including interns, scientists, students, politicians, advisors, farmers, arborists, and tree nursery companies.

The organisation emerged from the proposition (roadmap) of a scientific project on how to advance agroforestry in Germany, conducted by the "Innovationsgruppe AUFWERTEN" (innovation group 'upgrade'). Throughout the project it became clear that a legal structure was needed. AUFWERTEN established the most extensive and up-to-date knowledge on agroforestry in Germany. Many universities were part and active member to the project: Cottbus (Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg), Freiburg, Göttingen, Weihenstefan (TUM), Gießen and Trier universities.

DeFAF focuses on raising awareness and providing information, this is mainly done through their website which includes an info portal for agroforestry. A main objective is to connect people and provide support to farmers. A map of existing agroforestry systems in Germany was created. Anyone can register and agrees to either give their contact information or not (if yes the DeFAF publishes in then on the portal). The map contains details on the surface of agroforestry systems in Germany by giving a first overview. Although for some federal states there is no information provided yet - does not mean that agroforestry does not exist there. Among the shown agroforestry systems in the map, there are the so called "Streuobstwiesen" (fruit tree meadows) which is a traditional extensively used orchard system in many parts of Germany.

DeFAF is organised in 9 departments working on different themes, in which the members all work voluntarily. So far there is only one administrative employee working for the association.

The law and administration department is working to raise awareness among politicians. In January 2021 the Bundestag (parliament of Germany) voted to promote agroforestry<fnref n="93" />. However, there is no legally binding definition on agroforestry yet which makes it difficult to determine whether it is an agroforestry system or not. Therefore, DeFAF is urging the Bundestag to decide on one.

As there is no standalone study programme on agroforestry in Germany, DeFAF is trying to convince agricultural schools and universities to create and develop programmes. There is also a youth group called JungenDeFAF for young people interested in agroforestry.

## KEY FEATURES

* **Type of organisation:** formal NGO

* **Main goals:** promoting sustainable development in organic production, helping to implement just ecological policies, taking care of national natural resources

* **Founded in:** 2017

* **Farming sectors:** organic agriculture

* **Scale of the organisation:** national

<footnote n="93">⁹³ https://www.bundestag.de/dokumente/textarchiv/2021/kw02-de-agroforstwirtschaft-814222</footnote>
DeFAF is active in different scientific projects, including "Agroforst als Agrar Umwelt und Klimamaßnahme in Brandenburg"<fnref n="94" /> (AUKM, Agroforestry as an agricultural and climatic measure in Brandenburg). Another project is to create communication and educational programs in Brandenburg, eastern Germany (podcast videos) for farmers and students.

The organisation cooperates with many other organisations and universities through common projects. These include: NABU (Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union), Deutscher Naturschutzring (German nature protection ring), AbL, links to regional and German farmer's union (Bauernverband). At European level, DeFAF is mainly involved in cooperation with EURAF, the European Agroforestry Federation.

The organisation is funded via donations, member fees and through scientific projects.

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

The DeFAF works to promote and increase the number of agroforestry systems in Germany. The strength of the organisation is the diversity of its adhering members with different types of stakeholders involved. Agroforestry is gaining popularity through the actions carried out by DeFAF and the work done by the AUFWERTEN group. As an illustration, the Bundestag decided to implement specific funding scheme for agroforestry. In just two years of existence DeFAF has more than doubled the number of adherents and provides information to bridge the gap between scientists, politicians, practitioners, nature conservationists.

<figure><img src="image_712.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_713.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_714.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 9:** Examples of different agroforestry systems. Source: https://agroforst-info.de.</figcaption></figure>

## POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_715.png" /></figure>

**COOPERATION:** The DeFAF has greatly grown in its two years of existence. Researchers, farmers, advisors, students, technicians from all over Germany participate. Through its cooperation with the NABU, the German nature protection ring, AbL and even the German farmers union, the DeFAF is showing that agroforestry is a practice that can unite agriculture and nature conservation.

<figure><img src="image_716.png" /></figure>

**TRADITIONAL FOOD AND HERITAGE CONSERVATION:** Agroforestry is not a new agricultural system in Germany. Maintaining traditional production systems like fruit tree meadow orchards is an important objective of this initiative.

<figure><img src="image_717.png" /></figure>

**EDUCATION:** The increase in recognition of agroforestry in Germany creates also an increasing demand for more knowledge in the field. The association provides information and is key to the dissemination of new knowledge. A further objective of the association is to create a study programme completely dedicated to this field in German universities.

## LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

<figure><img src="image_718.png" /></figure>

**SUSTAINABLE AND FAIR ECONOMICS:** National and European policies seem to limit the development of agroforestry systems. The initiative is working towards clarifying what agroforestry is but this will remain a challenge in the next years, in particular to gain the recognition by policy makers.

<footnote n="94">⁹⁴ https://agroforst-info.de/aukm</footnote>
<figure><img src="image_719.png" /></figure>

MOVEMENT

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EDUCATION

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PRACTICE

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LIVING LAB

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SCIENCE

INITIATIVE N°11 – FOOD POLICY COUNCIL FRANKFURT

<figure><img src="image_724.png" /></figure>

ERNÄHRUNGS

<figure><img src="image_725.png" /></figure>

ORAT

<figure><img src="image_726.png" /></figure>

FRANKFURT

ERNÄHRUNGSRAT FRANKFURT

https://ernaehrungsrat-frankfurt.de

# FOOD POLICY COUNCIL FRANKFURT

The food policy council (FPC) Frankfurt was created in 2017 by different associations and individuals, it is formally managed by the organisation BIONALES<fnref n="95" /> (citizens for regional agriculture and food organisation), which has many initiatives working for transforming the food system by building bridges between consumers and farmers. The FPC Frankfurt was created by representatives of different movements (Transition Town Frankfurt, Slow Food, Echt Hessisch, SOLAWI Frankfurt, environment and energy department of the city) to achieve food sovereignty, promoting regional and seasonal production and consumption, and also supporting the city in the implementation of the Urban Food Policy Act<fnref n="96" /> signed in 2015. There are 7 working groups and one steering comity. The association has currently around 150 active members.

## KEY FEATURES

* **Main goal:** democratization of food systems

* **Founded in:** 2017

* **Type of organisation:** NGO

* **Farming sectors:** food production and consumption

* **Scale of the organisation:** regional, national and international.

The major themes of work as well as the action carried out by the FPC Frankfurt are:

1. Nutritional education and urban school gardens: runs a school garden, where 3rd class children from surrounding schools learn to garden. Since 2021 more schools signed up and there are demands from other districts of the city to run the education programme.

2. Production and marketing: establish and promote short value chains, organic and sustainable production from the region to the city.

3. Communication via website and newsletters showing advancements of actions and programmes.

4. "Main Mittagessen" (my lunch): improving the quality of nutrition in public institutions, a current project in close cooperation with the city so that schools can decide what type of catering they want to have for schools and kindergarten.

5. Zero waste: reduce plastics by working on the conception of reusable food containers in the gastronomy sector (e.g. restaurants use the same container and reuse it, and coffee shops accept (re)filling cups and bottles).

6. Permaculture island: model production of vegetables in city gardens using permaculture.

7. This working group is working to establish a "house of food" with different goals: develop a place where people can meet (caterers can meet with producers), warehouse for regional products, could also include a kitchen where caterers and cooks for public facilities could train to use local fresh products. This project is for the moment only at the conception stage and funding is needed to go further.

The food policy council is partly funded by the city every year for specific projects, while the rest is financed through donations and other projects.

PRACTICE

EDUCATION

MOVEMENT

<footnote n="95">⁹⁵ https://buerger-fuer-regionale-landwirtschaft.de</footnote>

<footnote n="96">⁹⁶ https://www.milanurbanfoodpolicypact.org/</footnote>
The food policy council has strong links to farmers in their surrounding, making it easy to find interested farmers for different projects or actions. The initiative cooperates with other FPCs in Germany. The food policy councils in Munich, Berlin, Cologne and Frankfurt were the first ones to be developed in Germany. Today there are about 75 FPCs in Germany which regularly connected through networking meetings and information sharing. In the federal state of Hesse, the food policy council is the oldest and biggest in Germany. They also closely work with the food policy councils in the state Marburg and Gießen. With the association called Nachhhaft in Kassel, the food policy council is putting forward positions to influence the nutrition strategy of the state, and regularly meets with representatives of the agriculture ministry of Hesse. They also have further cooperations with Acker e.V. (until recently Ackerdemia e.V., see initiative description), Refill Deutschland, Öko-Modell Regionen (model eco-region), and Solidarische Landwirtschaft.

<figure><img src="image_727.png" /></figure>

Müll und plastikfrei

LEBEN IN

FRANKFURT

<figure><img src="image_728.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_729.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_730.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_731.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 10:** Zero waste in Frankfurt, one of the food policy councils working group (left).</figcaption></figure>

Source: https://ernaehrungsrat-frankfurt.de/arbeitskreise/zerowaste/, Permaculture island: citizen produce food in the city (right). Source: https://ernaehrungsrat-frankfurt.de/arbeitskreise/permakulturinseln.

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

The FPC Frankfurt works on many different fronts to increase awareness, connect people to the (local and regional) food system and work directly with politicians to change the nutrition strategy of the city. The food policy council has a high number of members and is cooperating with many different other associations. Education and communication are among its priorities and is seen as essential to successfully change food systems.

## POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_732.png" /></figure>

**ENERGY AND WASTE MANAGEMENT:** The food policy council is engaged in the reduction of food waste and promotes regional supply chains.

<figure><img src="image_733.png" /></figure>

**GOVERNANCE:** Through the active participation of around 150 volunteers, the food policy councils are key to raise awareness, involve citizens in food systems decisions.

<figure><img src="image_734.png" /></figure>

**EDUCATION:** The food policy council Frankfurt has real weight and is recognised by decision-makers. Awareness raising is done throughout newsletters, publication of position papers, and active involvement in different city projects linked to education.

## LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

<figure><img src="image_735.png" /></figure>

**COMMERCIALISATION IS LOCAL, FAIR AND/OR COLLECTIVE:** The majority of the work is mainly done voluntarily. This type of initiative is seeking for sustainable and more consequent funding.
<figure><img src="image_736.png" /></figure>

PRACTICE

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MOVEMENT

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LIVING LAB

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SCIENCE

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EDUCATION

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Öko-Modellregionen

ÖKOMODELLREGIONEN BAYERN

https://www.oekomodellregionen.bayern

INITIATIVE N°12 – MODEL ECO-REGIONS BAVARIA

# MODEL ECO-REGIONS BAVARIA

The model eco-regions in Bavaria are aiming to increase the share organic production. In 2012-2013 a study was made to evaluate the state of organic agriculture in Bavaria. Based on this evaluation the agriculture ministry created the initiative in 2013 as one category of the "BioRegio Bayern 2020" programme of the Bavarian state government. A goal of this programme is to strengthen the organic production along the entire value chain and design framework conditions accordingly. For this, the aim is to reach 12% of organic farms in Bavaria by 2020 and set and ever since, it has been decided to reach 30% by 2030.

Model eco-regions should aim to gather a community of stakeholders to promote the development of organic agriculture in the region. The funding comes from the Bavarian rural development programme and regions have to apply for it. Since 2014, 27 regions were nominated. Bavaria was the first state to start nominating model eco-regions, followed by Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, and Lower Saxony. North-Rhine-Westphalia was just starting. The main objective is to promote organic farming, every

state has a different funding scheme and ways to do this. Every region has one or two project managers coordinating the different projects. They meet every year for three days to exchange on successes and failures in their respective regions.

In all regions the organic production has increased, moreover in some regions it has doubled. The project recognises the importance to involve municipalities as key actor of this transition. A main objective is to promote short supply chains, link producers and processors, involve canteens and fully use the marketing potential. In Bavaria, there are "agroecology competence centers", which focus on organic farming, but also on soil erosion protection and biodiversity for example. They provide advice for nature conservation-oriented agriculture.

In the following section details on the following interviews of three regions are given:

## >> WAGINGER SEE – RUPERTIWINKEL

The region around the Waginger lake was the first nominated model eco-region, with currently 10 municipalities involved. The water of the Waginger lake was very polluted, the main objective of the project was to increase the water quality by changing the agricultural systems in the water catchment.

## KEY FEATURES

* **Agroecological practices concerned: organic farming practices**

* **Founded in: 2013**

* **Farming sectors concerned: all**

* **Leading organisation: state of Bavaria**

* **Types of stakeholders involved: farmers, municipalities, food processors, shops, restaurants**

* **Scale of the organisation: regional**
In 2013, 7 % of the farms in the region were certified organic, currently there are around 14 %. Over 80 % of the region is grassland, as it is near the Alps, with a high organic meat and milk production. Around 150 organic farms are involved in different projects in the region:

* local production of brewing barley, involving 17 farmers in collaboration with a brewery (Stein), to guarantee fair prices for the domestic production.

* organic spelt and oats production, cooperation project with Bauernhaus (muesli producer)

* extensive old cultivated wheat, with the Bavarian conservation academy, working with Austrian farmers, cooperation with the organic baker network, producing bread.

* increase percentage of local food in canteens.

* a recently started initiative is a CSA system "purely regional food box" that is distributed in the region.

* orchard planting campaign, aiming to plant 1500 fruit trees (850 have already been planted).

* further development of the local meat marketing channels.

Direct marketing is strongly promoted, with the establishment of accessible producers lists and shop lists. A future project is to build up a network of vegetable producers, so that in three to four years local canteens of institutions will use fresh local vegetables. The region cooperates with the Heumilch (hay milk) region in Upper Austria (initiative presented in Moraine et al., 2016).

## >> ILZER-LAND

The region was nominated in 2015 and includes 12 municipalities that are part of the alliance for integrated rural development (ILE-Verband). 9 % of the farms are certified organic. The region aims to increase biodiversity, with a project called "blühendes Ilzer-Land" (flowering Ilzer-Land) by planting perennial flowers in different municipalities. A further project of the region is the orchard campaign, aiming to

produce juice from local orchards which is then distributed to the people who collected the fruits and donated to social institutions (kindergarten, retirement homes). Around 30 organic farms are involved. Another programme is the "Ilzer-Land Weidefleisch" (meat from pastures in the Ilzer-Land) aiming to distribute regional on pastures produced meat to restaurant and local shops.

<figure><img src="image_742.png" /><figcaption>Picture 11: Map of the Bavarian eco-model regions. Presented here 5, 7 and 27. Source: https://www.oekomodellregionen.bayern/ueberblick.</figcaption></figure>

## >> OBERMAIN-JURA

The region was nominated in 2019 and includes 16 communes. It currently has 5% of organic farms. Similar to the regions presented before, different projects are taking place. The region produces organic meat but processors and shops selling this meat are lacking. To preserve the small-scale agriculture of the region, field days and information events are done regularly. A recent project is the establishment of a CSA, answering to the high demand of regional organic vegetables.
## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

The model eco-regions in Bavaria are examples on how states can promote organic farming, soil and water protection, animal welfare, preservation of the typical biodiversity and landscape features, local recreation and tourism as well as the preservation and creation of jobs derive from these initiatives. The different projects involve whole communities, farmers, and official institutions. By 2030, the state of Bavaria wants to increase the proportion of organically farmed land to reach 30%. BioRegio Bayern 2030 sets new priorities on market development and increasing the demand and sales of organic products from Bavaria.

## POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_743.png" /></figure>

### NATURAL RESOURCES AND BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT:

Increasing the share of organic farming in the regions is essential to protect and maintain biodiversity. This initiative promotes efficient water management, soil fertility, and biodiversity conservation.

<figure><img src="image_744.png" /></figure>

**HEALTH:** The diversification of production and production of healthy food is key features of this initiative.

<figure><img src="image_745.png" /></figure>

### SUSTAINABLE AND FAIR

**ECONOMICS:** In order to convince farmers to change their practices the creation of local commercialisation channels is necessary and always integrated in the projects.

<figure><img src="image_746.png" /></figure>

### TRADITIONAL FOOD AND HERITAGE

**CONSERVATION:** Traditional knowledge and gastronomic culture is promoted through this initiative.

## LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

<figure><img src="image_747.png" /></figure>

**COOPERATION:** A major challenge is to get communes to participate. Getting all involved stakeholders (mayors, citizens, farmers) to actively participate and agree on projects is a difficult task.

<figure><img src="image_748.png" /></figure>

**COMMERCIALISATION IS LOCAL, FAIR AND/OR COLLECTIVE:** Funding is needed to ensure the functioning of model eco-region. To reach the ambitious goal of 30% of organic farms by 2030 at the region level, more financial support will be needed.
<figure><img src="image_749.png" /></figure>

PRACTICE

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LIVING LAB

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SCIENCE

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MOVEMENT

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EDUCATION

INITIATIVE N°13 – DEMONSTRATION NETWORK PEA/BEAN

# DEMONSTRATION NETWORK PEA/BEAN

The demonstration network pea/beans (Demonstrations- netzwerk Erbse/Bohne) aims to improve and expand the cultivation of peas and broad beans in Germany. For this, stakeholders along the food chain are involved, from the plant breeder to the grower, the trader and processors of legumes (different similar networks exist on soy bean and lupin) and retailers.

49 demonstration farms have been chosen, distributed all over Germany. Two thirds are under conventional agricultural while the rest is organic. A lot of know-how comes from the organic farms as they are already using legumes in their crop rotations. Organic farms and conventional farms have different approaches. The organic farms answer the questions about how to cultivate legumes sustainably and how to have long-term high legume proportion in the crop rotation. However for the conventional farmers, the focus

needs to be on the basic knowledge of cultivating legumes, integrating them in a crop rotation, the importance of adapting their production with the phytosanitary product guidelines, and dealing with yield fluctuations.

The project aims to study diverse crop rotations, to understand the interactions and connectedness of the different parts of the system, to link landscape elements to the cultivation, and to reduce synthetic fertiliser (nitrogen fixation and release) and phytosanitary products (especially fungicides, promoting mychozriza formation). A main focus of the project is to promote knowledge transfer through peer-to-peer learning. Events are organised with lectures and round tables to facilitate the meetings and exchange of different stakeholders.

There are 14 project partners: mostly agricultural advisor bodies and the AbL. Further developments include: organising legumes market, linking farmers for direct inter-company trades; different work with the UFOP (Union zur Förderung von Öl- und proteinpflanzen e.V., union for the promotion of oil and protein plants), lobbying for political measures on legumes to increase the cultivation and remuneration of farmers, creating the association Rheinische Ackerbohne e.V. that links to backers and other food stakeholders to perpetuate the practice. The initiative is funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), for the participation and creation of demonstrations systems and farm expense allowances.

In 2020 around 220 000 ha of grain legumes were grown in Germany. The cultivated surface has risen in the last 7 years. Broad beans are more used in the food system nowadays, for example in the baking industry. Through the network, the political subventions, and the scientific projects, the cultivation of peas and beans has risen hence, more importantly, the producer also received a rising price for broad bean.

DemoNet
Erbse
Bohne

<figure><img src="image_754.png" /></figure>

DEMONSTRATIONSNETZWERK
ERBSE/BOHNE

https://www.demoneterbo.agrarpraxis-forschung.de

## KEY FEATURES

* **Agroecological practices concerned:** diversified crop rotations

* **Founded in:** 2016

* **Farming sectors concerned:** cultivation of legumes for feed sector, and food sector

* **Types of stakeholders involved:** farmers, agricultural advisor bodies, farmer's union, processors

* **Scale of the initiative:** national

SCIENCE

LIVING LAB

PRACTICE

<footnote n="98">⁹⁸ Landesbetrieb Landwirtschaft Hessen, Landesforschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Fischerei Mecklenburg Vorpommern, Ministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt Energie und Mobilität Rheinland Pfalz, Bayerische Landesanstalt für landwirtschaft (Llf), Naturland, Bioland Beratung, Landwirtschaftliches Technologiezentrum Augustenburg, Landwirtschaftskammer Nordrhein-Westfallen, Landesamt für Umwelt, landwirtschaft und Geologie Freistaat Sachsen</footnote>

<footnote n="99">⁹⁹ www.leguminosenmarkt.de - ¹⁰⁰ www.ufop.de/agrar-info/erzeuger-info/abnehmekarte</footnote>
<figure><img src="image_755.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_756.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_757.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 12:** Examples of pea and beans cultivation in crop rotations. Source: https://www.demoneterbo.agrarpraxis-forschung.de/index.php?id=1.</figcaption></figure>

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

The demonstration network Erbse/Bohne involved many stakeholders and showed the importance of increasing the share of beans and peas. The project aim was to analyse the impact of including legumes in crop rotations (in terms of yield, financial gain, reduction of pesticides, etc.) and disseminate the obtained knowledge.

### POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_758.png" /></figure>

**HEALTH:** This initiative promotes the diversification of productions. Including beans and peas in crop rotations has been shown to increase soil fertility and it is then used for animal or human consumption which representing a healthy food source.

<figure><img src="image_759.png" /></figure>

**COOPERATION:** The project promoted the collaboration between actors of the food chain, creating a resilient market system.

<figure><img src="image_760.png" /></figure>

**EDUCATION:** The initiative promotes and develop farmer-to-farmer exchange, as well as knowledge exchange. Dissemination of new knowledge and scientific results was assured.

### LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

<figure><img src="image_761.png" /></figure>

**COMMERCIALISATION IS LOCAL, FAIR AND/OR COLLECTIVE:** Creating fair markets for the products remains a challenge. However, such projects are essential to establish or increase national and EU agricultural subventions and influence market demand. The project shows already some economic benefits for farmers.
<figure><img src="image_762.png" /></figure>

SCIENCE

<figure><img src="image_763.png" /></figure>

PRACTICE

<figure><img src="image_764.png" /></figure>

LIVING LAB

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MOVEMENT

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EDUCATION

INITIATIVE N°14 – BIODIVERSITY EXPLORATORIES

# BIODIVERSITY EXPLORATORIES

The **biodiversity exploratories** are an open research platform in Germany funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). Fundamental ecological research is done in three different regions in Germany. These three large long-term study areas were established between 2006-2008. Projects are coordinated by multiple institutions, universities and research centers in Germany, involving around 250 research participants. The objectives of the exploratories is to investigate how biodiversity responds land use intensification, how components of biodiversity interact and how these influence ecosystem processes and ecosystem services.

The three regions (Schorfheide-Chorin (North-East), Hainich-Dün (northwestern Thuringia in the middle of Germany) and Schwäbische Alp (South-West)) differ in their landscape structure and climatic conditions. There are 300 experimental plots overall: 50 grassland plots (around 50x50 m) and 50 forest plots (around 100x100) in each region. Each region has a team working directly with farmers who manage the grasslands. The scientists observe practices, rate of fertilisation, number of livestock on each plot but do not impose rules or specific management. Every year an abstract book in German, where all the abstract of published articles are translated, is published and distributed to key stakeholders.

Currently there are more than 40 active projects, including long-term core projects and contributing projects for shorter periods. The project biodiversity synthesis<fnref n="101" /> uses all the collected data in the three regions and does a large scale analysis looking at the effects of land-use intensification on interactions between species, ecosystem functions and incorporates social system into the work. This project is in its third funding period and uses the findings from the previous phases. The BEF-Up I & II (Upscaling Biodiversity-Ecosystem Functioning) projects go beyond plots and incorporate the wider landscape surrounding the plots. Biodiversity and ecosystem services are influenced by within-plot management, and the biodiversity and landscape properties around the plot. The BEF-Up I project focusing on grassland, research will be extended to forest and cropland in BEF-Up II<fnref n="102" />. The obtained data will be linked to the findings of the SoCuDES project. In the later, local stakeholders (farmers, foresters, nature conservationists, hunters) are involved to see which ecosystem services they rely on. The overall goal of the BEF-UP II is to produce a landscape model to see how biodiversity changes, and how land-use intensification and cover affect biodiversity, ecosystem services, and the people. This is needed to design a multifunctional and more equitable landscape for all.

This initiative provides data on biodiversity and ecosystem services that are very valuable for agroecology. Through its multidisciplinary projects, fundamental biodiversity research within real-world landscapes is done.

biodiversity
exploratories
functional biodiversity
research

<figure><img src="image_767.png" /></figure>

BIODIVERSITÄTS EXPLORATORIEN
https://www.biodiversity-exploratories.de/en

## KEY FEATURES

* Main topic: biodiversity favouring measures

* Founded in: 2016

* Type of organisation supporting the living lab: chamber of agriculture

* Type of actor involved: farmers and advisors

PRACTICE

SCIENCE

<footnote n="101">¹⁰¹ https://www.biodiversity-exploratories.de/en/projects/core-project-ecological-synthesis/</footnote>

<footnote n="102">¹⁰² https://www.biodiversity-exploratories.de/en/projects/upscaling-exploratories-data-to-understand-the-drivers-of-landscape-multifunctionality/</footnote>
<figure><img src="image_768.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 13:** Location of the three biodiversity exploratories. Source: https://www.biodiversity-exploratories.de/de/regionen/uebersicht/.</figcaption></figure>

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

The biodiversity exploratories have the most comprehensive existing data set on how biodiversity responds land use intensification. All data and results are shared via the Biodiversity Exploratories Information System (BExIS<fnref n="103" />). Through the groundbreaking scientific research the ecosystem functioning in a real-world setting is analysed.

### POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_769.png" /></figure>

**COOPERATION:** The data collected by the initiative is made available to researchers and to a large extent the general public.

### LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

<figure><img src="image_770.png" /></figure>

**NATURAL RESOURCES AND BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT:** While the initiative provides a lot of knowledge on ecosystem functioning and the importance of a diverse landscape to maintain biodiversity, the aim is not to produce recommendations favouring biodiversity. Transferring the obtained knowledge into practices, proposing innovative practices are not part of the initiative.

<footnote n="103">¹⁰³ https://fusion.cs.uni-jena.de/bpp/</footnote>
<figure><img src="image_771.png" /></figure>

SCIENCE

<figure><img src="image_772.png" /></figure>

PRACTICE

<figure><img src="image_773.png" /></figure>

LIVING LAB

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MOVEMENT

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EDUCATION

F·R·A·N·Z

<figure><img src="image_776.png" /></figure>

https://www.franz-projekt.de

INITIATIVE N°15 – F.R.A.N.Z.

F.R.A.N.Z.

The F.R.A.N.Z (acronym for resources, agriculture and nature conservation with a future) project is long-term project (10 years), that started in the beginning of 2017 and aims to find and develop biodiversity promoting solutions. Ten farms distributed throughout Germany are involved, each is typical of the region, and have an area between 70 and 1700 ha. Overall around 40 people are involved in the project, including 1-2 advisors per farms, 5 research institutes (19 scientists), 13 farmers and 4 project managers.

16 measures were developed, 4 for grassland and the rest for arable land. Measures include: blooming measures (annual and perennial plants), extensive grain cultivation with or without undersowing as winter or summer cereal, wild herbs sowing, extensification measures, topsoil removal, beetle/insect bank in the middle of a field, fallow land, nesting places, bird landing areas, vegetation strips for birds inside maize fields, runner bean maize mixture (proposed by the farmers). Every measure has to be implemented 3 times on a farm and on two other farms to be scientifically analysed. The measure catalogue is established in cooperation between the stakeholders.

KEY FEATURES

* **Main goal:** implementing practical and economically viable biodiversity-promoting measures on farms

* **Founded in:** 2017

* **Main topics:** biodiversity-increase in agricultural landscape

* **Lead organisation:** Umweltstiftung Michael Otto and Deutscher Bauernverband

* **Type of actors involved:** farmers, scientists, advisors

* **Funded by:** BMU and BMEL via BfN/Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank

The ecological effects of the measures are analysed, while different target organisms are monitored e.g. vertebrates, rabbits, farmland birds, wild bees, ground beetles, and arable weeds. Different research institutions carry out the monitoring of species or involve in socio-economic and cost investigations such as University of Göttingen, three Thünen Institutes and the Michael Otto Institut of the NABU (MOIN). The project coordination is done by the Umweltstiftung Michael Otto (Environmental Foundation Michael Otto) and the German Farmers' Association (Deutscher Bauernverband). F.R.A.N.Z has set itself the target to develop and test measures to preserve and increase biodiversity in agricultural landscape. The measures for nature conservation should be transferred to other farms on a mid-term to long-term basis. Therefore, it is important that the measures can be easily integrated into normal farming practices and that farmers do not suffer economic disadvantages.

Regional events on farms are organised annually with farmers, nature conservation associations, agricultural associations, scientists and administration stakeholders. A special attention is given to increase the acceptance of biodiversity promoting measures for farmers. Moreover, exchange between experts and scientists are organised as well as dialogue with politicians and other stakeholder for awareness raising and change mindsets from all sides.

Success of the project is dependent on the framework as it is a project where farmers can try out things without risking too much yield or economic loss as each measure is reimbursed if occuring, and there is a good accompaniment by experts.
<figure><img src="image_777.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 14:** Location of the demonstration farms.
Source: Umweltstiftung Michael Otto.</figcaption></figure>

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

The F.R.A.N.Z project is developing biodiversity favouring measures through a close cooperation with farmers, advisors and scientists. The impact and feasibility (cost and acceptance) of these measures are studied and will be used to provide policy recommendations. The project considers that bundles of measures are necessary. The measures need to be well-accepted and have ecological beneficial impacts. A further important aspect is the longevity of the project as this is key to develop effective measures.

## POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_778.png" /></figure>

**NATURAL RESOURCES AND BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT:** The initiative promotes the implementation of biodiversity favouring measures and monitors them. A main characteristic of the initiative is the development and site specific adaptation of measures ensuring long-term impact.

<figure><img src="image_779.png" /></figure>

**COOPERATION:** Farmers, scientists and advisors cooperate together and co-design the measures.

<figure><img src="image_780.png" /></figure>

**EDUCATION:** Workshops, expert exchanges, field days represent a major part of this project. The farmers were hesitant to implement measures in the beginning however, this has changed over time.

## LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

<figure><img src="image_781.png" /></figure>

**GOVERNANCE:** The farmers get compensation through the project. The current European and national political framework do not always permit innovation or even adaptation to local settings.
# 5. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVE

In Germany, agroecology is not a term commonly used, as the concept is still mainly understood as a science which was found already more than a decade ago (Wezel et al., 2009). Nevertheless, there are recent agrarian and social movements which recognise and apply the agroecological approach and practices, even though the term is still rarely named. The unclear definition and various interpretation of the concept of agroecology still remains a barrier for its development in Germany. In particular, economic and political barriers were mentioned by both key informants and initiatives representatives. These findings concur with many other studies (Aare et al., 2021; Ferrando et al., 2021; Gliessman, 2019; Miles et al., 2017). The administrative burden was perceived as a discouraging factor for the development and implementation of agroecological practices. The conflict between nature conservation organisation and farmer's unions was mentioned by most key informants. The network and education initiatives presented here all offer potential towards resolving this conflict and have been successful in raising acceptance. Key informants also addressed the fear that agroecology, as it is not clearly defined and understood, could weaken the high standards of organic farming and further play into the confusion of consumers. The most considerable opportunity for agroecology, perceived by some key informants, is to link food system stakeholders and to foster cooperative and bottom-up movements.

The initiatives described in this report are examples of what is already being done or currently being developed and extended. Many of the initiatives do not specifically use the term agroecology. The initiatives show that there are many different ways to transform the agricultural and food system. They rarely have a holistic approach and have limited impacts, however they can definitely serve as good starting points to scale out agroecology. The emergence of living labs (although this notion is almost unknown and not yet used) and networks promoting collaborations between conventional farmers, organic farmers and scientists shows a lot of promises for the future of agroecology in Germany. A key challenge for many of the existing projects is that they are limited in time while getting proper funding is a constant battle. Similar to the development in other European countries, citizens are more aware of the disastrous effects of conventional food systems and are asking for change. The dramatic consequences of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic are key drivers of this changing awareness in Germany.
## ABBREVIATION

AbL: Arbeitsgemeinschaft für bäuerliche Landwirtschaft

BfN: Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Federal Agency for Nature Conservation

BLE: Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung, Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food

BMEL: Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft, Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture

BMU: Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und nukleare Sicherheit, Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety

CAP: Common Agricultural Policy

DFG: Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft, German Research foundation

DLG: Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft, German Agricultural Society

FiBL: Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture

F.R.A.N.Z: Für Ressourcen, Agrarwirtschaft & Naturschutz mit Zukunft

IFAB: Institut Für Agrarökologie und Biodiversität

JKI: Julius Kühn Institute, Federal Research Center for Cultivated Plants

NABU: Naturschutzbund Deutschland e.V., Nature And Biodiversity Conservation Union

MUd: Modell- und Demonstrationsvorhaben (Biologische Vielfalt, Pflanzliche Erzeugung und Tierschutz), Model and demonstration projects (Biodiversity, Plant production, Animal protection)

UFZ: Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung, Center for Environmental Research

ZALF: Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research

## ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Thank you to all the participants of this study for your time, expertise and inspiring engagement in the different initiatives. Thanks also go to the reviewers who helped enrich this document. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under a grant agreement No101000478.

## REFERENCES

Aare, A.K., Egmose, J., Lund, S., Hauggaard-Nielsen, H., 2021. Opportunities and barriers in diversified farming and the use of agroecological principles in the Global North – The experiences of Danish biodynamic farmers. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 45, 390–416.

BMEL, 2017. Daten und Facten - Land-, Forst- und Ernährungswirtschaft mit Fischerei und Wein- und Gartenbau.

Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft, 2021. Ökologischer Landbau in Deutschland 32.

Domptail, S., Rauer, S., Müller, B., Mühlleitner, D., 2018. From land restructuration to land grabbing – the political context of agroecology 20.

Eurostat, 2019. Agriculture, forestry and fishery statistics — 2019 edition. Publications Office of the European Union, Statistical books.

Ferrando, T., Claeys, P., Diesner, D., Pol, J.L.V., Woods, D., 2021. Commons and commoning for a just agroecological transition: the importance of de-colonising and de-commodifying our food system. Resourcing an Agroecological Urbanism: Political, Transformational and Territorial Dimensions 61–84.

Gindele, N., Kaps, S., Doluschitz, R., 2015. Strukturelle Veränderungen in der Landwirtschaft – Reaktion der landwirtschaftlichen Betriebsleiter sowie ableitbare Konsequenzen für den Landwirt als Unternehmer. Journal of Socio-Economics in Agriculture (Until 2015: Yearbook of Socioeconomics in Agriculture) 8, 11–20.

Gkisakis, V.D., Damianakis, K., 2020. Digital innovations for the agroecological transition: A user innovation and commons-based approach. Landbauforschung : journal of sustainable and organic agricultural systems 1–4.

Gliessman, S., 2019. Making the transition away from industrial agriculture: using agroecology to promote food systems transformation. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 43, 121–122.

INKOTA, 2019. Positionspapier Agrarökologie stärken: Für eine grundlegende Transformation der Agrar- und Ernährungssysteme.

Migliorini, P., Wezel, A., 2017. Converging and diverging principles and practices of organic agriculture regulations and agroecology. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 37, 63.

Miles, A., DeLonge, M.S., Carlisle, L., 2017. Triggering a positive research and policy feedback cycle to support a transition to agroecology and sustainable food systems. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 41, 855–879.

Moraine, M., Lumbroso, S., Poux, X., 2016. A comprehensive outlook on the diversity of Agroecological initiatives in Europe, TYFA. EFNCP, IDDRI.

Sieveking, A., 2019. Food Policy Councils as Loci for Practising Food Democracy? Insights from the Case of Oldenburg, Germany. Politics and Governance 7, 48–58.

Wezel, A., Casagrande, M., Celette, F., Vian, J.-F., Ferrer, A., Peigné, J., 2014. Agroecological practices for sustainable agriculture. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 34, 1–20.

Wezel, A., Soldat, V., 2009. A quantitative and qualitative historical analysis of the scientific discipline of agroecology. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability 7, 3–18.
MAPPING AGROECOLOGY IN
GREECE

**AUTHOR:** Vasileios Gkisakis, ELGO-DIMITRA; Athina Fragkiadoulaki, Agroecologiki; Panayotis Papadopoulos, Open farm; Vasiliki Giatsidou, Agroecology Greece.

**REVIEWERS:** Baptiste Grard and Alexander Wezel, ISARA

**TO CITE:** Gkisakis V., Fragkiadoulaki A., Papadopoulos P. and Giatsidou V. (2023). Mapping agroecology in Greece. In: Wezel, A., Grard, B. and Gkisakis V. (eds) 2023. Mapping the development of agroecology in Europe. Country Reports Series, Vol. 1, ISARA, Lyon, France and Agroecology Europe, Corbais, Belgium.

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This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No101000478. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union. More information about the H2020-Agroecology for Europe project can be found here: www.ae4eu.eu

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GREECE

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

**T**he current report provides an overview on the development and the current status of agroecology as a science, practice and movement in Greece. It also includes the description and analysis of a non-exhaustive number of 10 representative initiatives affiliated to the agroecological concept, as identified through personal interviews with key informants and literature resources reviewed, classified under the activity categories of Education and Training, Living Lab, Movements, Practice, and Science.

Although many elements of agroecology exist since the early 80's as developed by ecological farming pioneers and the several initiatives of organic farmers that followed, the agroecological concept has only recently started to be gradually understood and recognised. Indeed, the terms "organic" or "ecological" agriculture are currently more frequently used by stakeholders when they describe agroecological approaches for Greek agriculture. Nevertheless, several of the existing farming practices, organisational structures and principles followed by several initiatives, fit well into the agroecological approach. Further, some civil society and rural movements have started verbally adapting the agroecological framework to describe their work and objectives.

Considering the weaknesses of the agricultural sector in Greece and the potentiality of adapting agroecological approaches by the key actors (farmers, agronomists, decision makers) the development of agricultural education and training on agroecological principles and practices becomes important. This should be combined with focused research and targeted farming sector policies, in order to make possible a paradigm shift of the Greek agriculture towards a truly sustainable farming system at the national level.
GREECE

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (GREEK)

Η παρούσα έκθεση παρέχει μια γενική επισκόπηση της εξέλιξης και τρέχουσας κατάστασης της αγροοικολογίας ως επιστήμης, πρακτικής και κίνησης στην Ελλάδα. Περιλαμβάνει την περιγραφή και ανάλυση 10 αντιπροσωπευτικών πρωτοβουλιών που συνδέονται με την αγροοικολογική έννοια, όπως προσδιορίστηκε μέσω προσωπικών συνεντεύξεων με βασικούς πληροφοριοδότες και βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση, ταξινομημένων σε συγκεκριμένους πυλώνες της Εκπαίδευσης και Κατάρτισης, Ζωντανών εργαστηρίων, Κινήμάτων, Πρακτικής και Επιστήμης.

Αν και πολλά στοιχεία της Αγροοικολογίας υπάρχουν από τις αρχές της δεκαετίας του '80, όπως αναπτύχθηκε από τους πρωτοπόρους της οικολογικής γεωργίας και τις διάφορες πρωτοβουλίες των βιοκαλλιεργητών που ακολούθησαν, η αγροοικολογική έννοια μόλις πρόσφατα άρχισε να γίνεται βαθμιαία κατανοητή και αναγνωρίσιμη. Πράγματι, οι όροι «βιολογική» ή «οικολογική» γεωργία χρησιμοποιούνται επί του παρόντος συχνότερα από τα ενδιαφερόμενα μέρη, όταν περιγράφουν αγροοικολογικές προσεγγίσεις στα πλαίσια της Ελληνικής γεωργίας. Ωστόσο, αρκετές από τις υπάρχουσες γεωργικές πρακτικές, οργανωτικές δομές και αρχές που ακολουθούνται από πολλές πρωτοβουλίες, ταιριάζουν καλά στην αγροοικολογική προσέγγιση, ενώ ορισμένες πρωτοβουλίες της κοινωνίας των πολιτών και των αγροτικών κινημάτων έχουν αρχίσει να προσαρμόζουν λεκτικά το αγροοικολογικό πλαίσιο για να περιγράψουν το έργο τους.

Λαμβάνοντας υπόψη τις αδυναμίες του αγροτικού τομέα στην Ελλάδα και το δυναμικό προσαρμογής των αγροοικολογικών προσεγγίσεων από τους βασικούς παράγοντες (αγρότες, γεωπόνοι, υπεύθυνοι λήψης αποφάσεων), καθίσταται σημαντική η ανάπτυξη της γεωργικής εκπαίδευσης και κατάρτισης σχετικά με τις αγροοικολογικές αρχές και πρακτικές, σε συνδυασμό με εστιασμένη έρευνα και στοχευμένες πολιτικές στον τομέα της γεωργίας, προκειμένου να καταστεί δυνατή η αλλαγή παραδείγματος της ελληνικής γεωργίας προς ένα πραγματικά βιώσιμο αγρο-διατροφικό σύστημα σε εθνικό επίπεδο.
# 1. METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

The information regarding key informants in Greece are summarised in Table 1.

<table><caption>**Table 1:** List of key informants in Greece.</caption><thead><tr><td>Key informant n°</td><td>Type of organisation</td><td>Main sector of involvement</td><td colspan="2">ACTIVITY CATEGORY CONCERNED</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>University and research</td><td>Permanent crops and forestry</td><td>Image of a microscope</td><td>Image of a person with a computer screen</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Freelancer technical consultancy</td><td>Organic farming</td><td>Image of a house with a windmill</td><td>Image of a person with a computer screen</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>University and research</td><td>Organic farming / Agroecology</td><td>Image of a microscope</td><td>Image of a person with a computer screen</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>University and research</td><td>Agricultural economics</td><td>Image of a person with a computer screen</td><td>Image of a person with a computer screen</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Local farmer cooperative and movement</td><td>Organic horticulture</td><td>Image of a person with a computer screen</td><td>Image of a house with a windmill</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>International and national food system organisation</td><td>Organic farming</td><td colspan="2">Image of a person with a computer screen</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Freelancer technical consultancy</td><td>Organic farming</td><td>Image of a person with a computer screen</td><td>Image of a house with a windmill</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Local farmer cooperative and movement</td><td>Organic farming</td><td>Image of a person with a computer screen</td><td>Image of a house with a windmill</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Local farmer cooperative and living lab</td><td>Regenerative farming</td><td>Image of a house with a windmill</td><td>Image of a person with a computer screen</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>University and research</td><td>Agroecology</td><td colspan="2">Image of a microscope</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Freelancer technical consultancy</td><td>Organic farming</td><td>Image of a house with a windmill</td><td>Image of a person with a computer screen</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Science and Research</td><td>Agricultural sustainability</td><td>Image of a microscope</td><td>Image of a person with a computer screen</td></tr></tbody></table>

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## 2. CONTEXT

The Utilised Agricultural Area in Greece occupies 3.22 million ha, representing approximately a quarter of land use<fnref n="104" />, employing approximately 528,000 farmers (12% of total labour force), with numbers declining. It is mainly based on small, family-owned dispersed units, as the country is one of the EU Member States with the largest number of agricultural holdings (723,000) but with a low average farm size, of approximately 4.5 ha<fnref n="105" />. Characteristically, Greek agriculture produces only 3.9% of the national GDP which is heavily subsidised by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)³, with controversial results (World Bank, 2021).

The history of agroecology in Greece is strictly related with the development of the concepts of "ecological"/"organic" farming, having roots in the environmental movement at the beginning of the 1980s. Several entities worked on "ecological farming" starting from the 1980s, as well as on certifications bodies which were initiated in the 1990s (Van Der Smissen, 2001). The first ecological or organic farmers were mostly amateurs who experimented with different organic cultivation methods, following principles of biodynamic agriculture and natural farming. Commercial organic production began in 1982, with demand from abroad on products, like raisins, olives, and olive oil, but with no official related data available until 1992 (Migliorini et al., 2018). Currently there is a strong upward trend for organic farming, passing the 10% landmark (10.3%) in 2019, following official statistics<fnref n="106" />, with a general trend throughout Europe, placing Greece in 8th place among EU countries. More specifically, the organic crop area in the country increased from 3,426km² in 2016 (6.5% of total crops) to 5,288 km² (10.3%) in 2019.

The term "agroecology" has only been used in recent years by certain stakeholders (farmers, scientists and civil society), however it is slowly gaining momentum, driven among other reasons by the recent economic crisis (Migliorini et al., 2018). It should also be pointed out that the terms "organic" or "ecological" agriculture are frequently utilised by a number of entities when describing agroecological approaches for Greek agriculture (Migliorini et al., 2018), while the definition given to agroecology is not always clear (GRC-KI-2, Table 1). Organisations working on the conservation of local and traditional agricultural varieties refer to "ecological agriculture" in their activities (Gkisakis, 2011). Other related initiatives, like rural movements, worked and promoted concepts and approaches that largely resonate with agroecology, such as natural farming, regenerative farming, or permaculture (Migliorini et al., 2018), while, the regional group of IFOAM (Agribiomediterraneo<fnref n="107" />) has had several initiatives and events in Greece, linking organic agriculture and agroecology (Migliorini, 2011).

At the policy level, the agroecological concept is completely absent, and other references are used to describe existing agri-environmental schemes, such as organic farming (GRC-KI-6, Table 1).

In the academic and research sector, there are developments occuring in Bachelor and Master's programs on the topics of "organic farming" and "sustainable agriculture", which are being prioritised following the global trend by the main Greek agricultural universities, faculties, and technological education institutes. However, no official curriculum exists on agroecology. Finally, among farmers and formal farmer entities, the term "Agroecology" is not as common as "organic", or less frequently, "ecological" farming, which are used to describe sustainability-oriented approaches (GRC-KI-2, Table 1).

<footnote n="104">¹⁰⁴ ELSTAT (Greek National Statistical Institute), 2018. Annual statistical research on Agriculture – 2018. https://www.statistics.gr/documents/20181/7215cd6b-e28b-e577-10af-31dced4dfb40 (Retrieved July 2021)</footnote>

<footnote n="105">¹⁰⁵ Eurostat, 2020. EU database of agriculture. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/agriculture/data/database (Retrieved July 2021)</footnote>

<footnote n="106">¹⁰⁶ Eurostat, 2021. Organic farming area in Europe. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/ddn-20210127-1 (Retrieved July 2021)</footnote>

<footnote n="107">¹⁰⁷ https://www.ifoam.bio/about-us/our-network/regional-bodies/ifoam-agribio-mediterraneo</footnote>
A clear shift towards the adaptation of the agroecological terminology and framework appears within the foundation "Agroecological Network of Greece" (abbreviated as "Agroecology Greece"¹⁰⁸), a non-formal entity initiated in 2016. Its aim is to promote agroecology as a science, practice, and movement by connecting primarily agricultural scientists and trainers, to exchange information, knowledge, and research to familiarise with the principles and framework of Agroecology (Migliorini et al., 2018).

# 3. CURRENT SITUATION OF AGROECOLOGY

## 3.1. EDUCATION AND TRAINING

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Following the global trend in agricultural academia, the development of bachelor and Ms.C curricula on the topics of "organic farming" and "sustainable agriculture" has been previously prioritised by the main Greek agricultural universities, faculties, and technological education institutes. Nevertheless, agroecology was never conceptualised as a sole studies curriculum (Migliorini et al., 2018).

A notable exception to the above was the "Applied agroecology"<fnref n="109" /> inter-institutional study programme by the University of Ioannina (Northern-West Greece), running from 1998 to 2007. The study programme was formulated as a 4-year Bachelor degree curriculum, equivalent to the other study programmes of the university and recognised by the Greek state. It had the objective to educate students at the university level conceiving agroecology as applied ecology, aiming to protect agricultural ecosystems for production of high quality agricultural and animal products (GRC-KI-1, Table 1).

Currently, agroecology is also included, as an individual course, in the curricula of several universities, such as the Hellenic Mediterranean University (Crete), University of Peloponnese (Southern Greece) and Ionian University (Western Greece) (GRC-KI-1, Table 1), as well as in post-graduate programmes, like in the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (CIHEAM - IAMC) (Table 2). In a broader research context, a stated focus on agroecology is made by Hellenic Agricultural organisation (ELGO - Dimitra), formerly known as National Agricultural Research Foundation (NAGREF; Migliorini et al. 2018), as well as the Sustainable Agriculture department of the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (CIHEAM - IAMC; GRC-KI-1, Table 1).

<table><caption>**Table 2:** List of courses at Bachelor and Master level, related to agroecology in Greece.</caption><thead><tr><td>UNIVERSITY</td><td>LOCATION</td><td>DEGREE</td><td>COURSE OR CURRICULUM TITLE</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Hellenic Mediterranean University<br/>Ελληνικό Μεσογειακό Πανεπιστήμιο</td><td>Heraklion,<br/>Crete</td><td>Bachelor degree's<br/>curriculum</td><td>Agroecology course<br/>(5 ets, 1 academic semester)</td></tr><tr><td>University of Ioannina<br/>Πανεπιστήμιο Ιωαννίνων</td><td>Arta</td><td>Bachelor degree's<br/>curriculum</td><td>Agroecology course<br/>(4 ECTS, 1 academic semester)</td></tr><tr><td>University of Peloponnese<br/>Πανεπιστήμιο Πελοποννήσου</td><td>Kalamata</td><td>Bachelor degree's<br/>curriculum</td><td>Agroecology course<br/>(4 ets, 1 academic semester)</td></tr><tr><td>Mediterranean Agronomic institute<br/>of Chania (CIHEAM-MAICh)<br/>Μεσογειακό Αγρονομικό Ινστιτούτο<br/>Χανίων (MAIX)</td><td>Chania,<br/>Crete</td><td>Master's degree in<br/>Sustainable Agriculture</td><td>Sustainable Agriculture MSc<br/>degree (2 years)</td></tr></tbody></table>

<footnote n="109">¹⁰⁹ http://old.uoi.gr/services/epeaek/agroeco</footnote>
Besides the educational initiatives at the academic level, agroecology-related training by farm schools is encountered. Notably, a voluntary, free of charge, farm school on "ecological agriculture" was organised in previous years by organic farmers in the region of Attiki (East of Greece), with courses provided by farmers themselves, university professors, and NGOs (GRC-KI-2, Table 1).

## 3.2. LIVING LAB

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Currently the concept of living labs is not familiar to stakeholders, related or not to agroecology, with the exception of certain academic members and groups involved in EU-level projects and processes (GRC-KI-2 & GRC-KI-4, Table 1). Even so, there are certain examples of agroecological initiatives identified, which largely fulfil the description of a living lab as promoting synergies, co-creation of knowledge and co-design, as well as transdisciplinary activities and real-life implementation of results. These include mainly the work of entities like the Social Cooperative "Melitakes", located in Crete and the NGO "Southern Lights" (Peloponnese; see related chapter on living labs activity category).

## 3.3. MOVEMENT

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As described in the contextual part, early traces of agroecology can be identified in several initiatives of ecological/organic farming since the 1980's and others regarding agricultural biodiversity conservation, including the NGOs Aegilops and Peliti, or alternative networks of food production and supply. None however have direct verbal references to agroecology, neither becoming officially affiliated to corresponding international movements, e.g to Via Campesina. Some other past collective actions considered to be related to the broader context of the agroecological approach including initiatives opposing the use of genetically modified organisms in agriculture, organised by Greenpeace, the Greek Green Party and organic farmers since 1999 and during the 2000's, as well as a permanent representation of groups and organisations working on agricultural biodiversity and organic farming in a consultative group on plant genetic resources of the Greek Ministry of Agriculture, active from 2010 to 2015 (Migliorini et al., 2018). A clear shift towards the adaptation of agroecological terminology and frameworks appeared with the foundation of the "Agroecological Network of Greece" (Agroecology Greece), in 2016 (GRC-KI-1, Table 1). The network's aim has been to promote agroecology as a science, practice, and movement in Greece by connecting primarily agricultural scientists and trainers. Its main goal is to exchange information, knowledge, and research that will familiarise stakeholders with the principles and framework of agroecology and promote the transition of food production systems towards a truly sustainable form. For these purposes "Agroecology Greece" delivers frequent technical reports on agroecological topics and organises events promoting the agroecological concept, while its members participate through private SMEs, NGOs and research and academic institutes in research and training projects related to agroecology. Additionally it co-hosted the 2nd Agroecology Europe Forum, held in Heraklion, Crete, in September 2019, estimated to have significantly boosted the promotion of agroecology in Greece (GRC-KI-1, Table 1).
## 3.4. PRACTICE

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Greek farmers and relevant stakeholders describe agroecological practices as "ecological farming" practices, when asked (GRC-KI-1 & GRC-KI-2, Table 1). These include for example soil management, plant protection, fertilisation and the use of agrobiodiversity, non-synthetic pesticides, green and animal manure, traditional and local varieties and minimal soil disturbance.

There is no official data found on the extent of application regarding the above practices, however they are applied by the majority of "ecological" farming producers (a very small fragment of active farmers at national level) as well as by commercial organic farmers, as required by organic legislation (GRC-KI-1 & GRC-KI-7, Table 1). However, this compliance with official organic regulations does not strictly imply that farming practices are conducted within the agroecological framework, as many commercial organic farmers perform only a substitution of synthetic inputs with organic ones (i.e. commercial organic fertilisers instead of mineral ones).

It should also be noted that there are several committed initiatives, working on the conservation of agricultural biodiversity (use of traditional/locally adapted varieties practices of agroforestry, permaculture, etc.) which are pioneers on experimenting and applying agroecological practices. In this case, they do not declare to be "agroecological", but instead use terms such as "ecological", "agroforestry", "permaculture", or "natural farming", and by adapting agroecological approaches in terms of socio-economic aspects (CSA networks, horizontal transfer of knowledge and innovation between farmers; GRC-KI-2, GRC-KI-2 & GRC-KI-4, Table 1).

## 3.5. SCIENCE

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Agroecological research is considered rather basic in Greece (GRC-KI-1, GRC-KI-2 & GRC-KI-4, Table 1). Research institutes, as well as universities, started focusing on research projects and educational programmes related mostly to organic farming and environment-friendly practices over the last two decades, following the global trends in agricultural academia (Migliorini et al. 2018; GRC-KI-4, Table 1). As in the case of other activity categories analysed in the current report, the concept of agroecology is broadly not well-known or well-defined in the Greek scientific community, with the exception of certain pioneer researchers and academics which have returned from research groups abroad, especially the USA (GRC-KI-1 & GRC-KI-10, Table 1). Research projects on agroecology are mainly coordinated by entities from other countries with participation by Greek institutes. Additionally, no department of an academic or research institute is completely devoted to agroecology or even organic farming, with the exception of the "Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania" (MAICh), Crete, part of an intergovernmental entity (International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies, CIHEAM) (GRC-KI-1, Table 1). A shift towards becoming more recognisable was achieved with the initiative of the Greek Agroecological Network and the co-organisation and hosting of the 2nd Agroecology Europe Forum (2019), in Crete (GRC-KI-1 & GRC-KI-2, Table 1). A main obstacle recognised is the multidimensional and still under development concept of agroecology in Greece (GRC-KI-3, Table 1).
## 4. AGROECOLOGY INITIATIVES, CASES AND EXAMPLES

<table><caption>**Table 3:** An overview about initiatives, cases and examples described and analysed.</caption><thead><tr><th rowspan="2">INITIATIVE N°</th><th rowspan="2">INITIATIVE NAME</th><th rowspan="2">SCALE</th><th rowspan="2">TYPE OF STRUCTURE</th><th rowspan="2">AIM</th><th colspan="5">ACTIVITY CATEGORIES</th></tr><tr><th>EDUCATION & RESEARCH</th><th>LIVING LAB</th><th>MOVEMENT</th><th>PRACTICE</th><th>SCIENCE</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>CIHEAM-MAICH Sustainable Agriculture dpt MAIX / Τμήμα Αειφόρου Γεωργίας</td><td>International</td><td>International governmental organisation</td><td>Research and education (MSc) in sustainable agriculture</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Perrotis College Κολλέγιο Περρωτή</td><td>National</td><td>Private college</td><td>Professional training</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Organisation Earth Οργάνωση Γη</td><td>National</td><td>Civil society</td><td>Promotion of Sustainable Development concept</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Culinary sanctuaries Γαστρονομικά καταφύγια</td><td>Regional</td><td>Private company</td><td>Training and consultancy on culture, nature and cuisine</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>The Southern Lights Το Νόπιο Σέλας</td><td>National</td><td>Non-profit organisation</td><td>Promotion of regenerative farming</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Melitakes Μελιτακες</td><td>Regional</td><td>Social coop of farmers and scientists</td><td>Farming, research and innovation on agroecology</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Agroecology Greece</td><td>National</td><td>Network of scientists and farmers</td><td>Promotion of Agroecology as science, practice and movement, in Greek</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Aegilops Αγιγλοπας</td><td>National</td><td>NGO</td><td>Conservation of heritage varieties, agricultural knowledge, reintroduction of these varieties and promotion of ecological farming.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Organic Farmers' Association of Northern Greece Ένωση Αγροτών Βιοκαλλιεργητών Βόρειας Ελλάδας</td><td>Regional / national</td><td>Farmers association</td><td>Promotion of organic farming in Greece, implementation of conferences, seminars, workshops</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Hellenic Agricultural Organisation (ELGO) DIMITRA Ελληνικός Γεωργικός Οργανισμός (ΕΛΓΟ) ΔΗΜΗΤΡΑ</td><td>National</td><td>Governmental Foundation</td><td>Research on sustainability of olive oil sector/ sustainable solution in management practices</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

<figure><img src="image_808.png" /></figure>

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<figure><img src="image_818.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_819.png" /></figure>
<table><caption>**Table 4:** Additional initiatives, cases and examples in the country - not included in this report.</caption><thead><tr><th rowspan="2">INITIATIVE NAME</th><th rowspan="2">SCALE</th><th rowspan="2">TYPE OF STRUCTURE</th><th rowspan="2">AIM</th><th colspan="5">ACTIVITY CATEGORIES</th></tr><tr><th>EDUCATION & RESEARCH</th><th>LIVING LAB</th><th>MOVEMENT</th><th>PRACTICE</th><th>SCIENCE</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Open Farm<br>Ανοιχτά Αγροκτήματα</td><td>National</td><td>Private company</td><td>Network of small scale farms in Greece providing guided tours & experiential workshops. Implementation of guided tours and experiential workshops promoting food literacy</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Greenpeace<br>Greece-Sustainable Agriculture campaign<br>Εκστρατεία για την Αειφόρο Γεωργία</td><td>National<br>International</td><td>Non-profit organisation</td><td>Campaign for sustainable farming/agroecology</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Re:Think</td><td>Regional</td><td>Social enterprise</td><td>Campaign for recycling and composting</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bioma Plants<br>Φυτώριο ΒΙΩΜΑ</td><td>Regional/<br>National</td><td>Private company</td><td>Nursery of organic farming plants and local varieties</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Peliti<br>Πελίτι</td><td>National</td><td>NGO</td><td>Alternative community/network active on local varieties seed collection and distribution, annual seed festivals, publication of books & guides, environmental education for school children and for communities, action for a legal framework on seed marketing</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

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EDUCATION

<figure><img src="image_828.png" /></figure>

MOVEMENT

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PRACTICE

<figure><img src="image_830.png" /></figure>

LIVING LAB

<figure><img src="image_831.png" /></figure>

SCIENCE

<figure><img src="image_832.png" /></figure>

CIHEAM
CHANIA

https://www.iamc.citheam.org/

Facebook: @SustainableMAICh

ΜΑΙΧ / Τμήμα Αειφόρου Γεωργίας

INITIATIVE N°1 – CIHEAM-IAMC

# MEDITERRANEAN AGRONOMIC INSTITUTE OF CHANIA (CIHEAM-IAMC)

## SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT

CIHEAM IAMC is a constituent institute of CIHEAM (International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies), an Intergovernmental Organisation which was founded at the joint initiative of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) and the Council of Europe on 1962 under an agreement signed by the governments of seven southern European countries: France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and ex-Yugoslavia.

Its mission consists of "providing supplementary education (economic as well as technical) and developing a spirit of international cooperation among agricultural personnel in Mediterranean countries". More specifically it pursues three main complementary missions through post-graduate specialised education, networked research and facilitation of regional debates. The postgraduate (MSc

level) programme of "Sustainable agriculture", carried out by the corresponding department, enables the students to understand the theoretical background of sustainable agriculture and familiarise with integrated crop management and organic farming applications, capabilities and limitations. Although agroecology is not officially declared in the official title of the studies programme, the curricula largely integrates the teaching of basic agroecological principles, ecosystem management and approaches, and concepts that largely resonate with agroecology (organic farming, agroforestry, regenerative farming, permaculture, functional agrobiodiversity management, etc.).

A number of approximately 10 post-graduate students, coming from countries across the Mediterranean, are enrolled every academic year, under a scholarship status, which proceed to a 2nd year of studies after selection based on their examination results.

The majority of the teaching staff are visiting professors from several other universities, therefore by definition, the department collaborates closely with other entities related to the topic of sustainable agriculture and agroecology.

Additionally, the Sustainable Agriculture department carries out vocational education and training projects, mostly funded by international programmes like Erasmus+, etc., largely focusing on agroecological or organic farming training.

## KEY FEATURES

* **Type of education and training:** postgraduate (MSc) studies

* **Training duration:** 2 years

* **Main topics:** sarming and food production

* **Type of legal entity:** intergovernmental organisation

* **Accessible to:** academic and support staff, students and farmers
<figure><img src="image_833.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 1:** Sustainable Agriculture MSc programme students on field exercise.
Source: Vasileios Gkisakis.</figcaption></figure>

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

The post-graduate programme offers a holistic view on different approaches and strategies targeting sustainability in agriculture, with a rather clear focus on the agroecological approach that provides comprehensive scientific knowledge to the students. Therefore, it gives the opportunity to understand the differences and similarities of sustainability related approaches in agriculture.

### POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_834.png" /></figure>

**COOPERATION:** internation network of students from all over the Mediterranean region (including Arab countries) which interacts with academic staff from many different universities and institutes, mainly from the EU but also from other countries.

<figure><img src="image_835.png" /></figure>

**EDUCATION:** Provision of a comprehensive curriculum focusing on sustainability in agriculture, with Agroecology as a main element, accompanied by the development of technical skills.

### LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

<figure><img src="image_836.png" /></figure>

**EDUCATION:** Further focus on the agroecological approach could be perceived, integrating frequent verbal use of the definition.
<figure><img src="image_837.png" /></figure>

EDUCATION

<figure><img src="image_838.png" /></figure>

MOVEMENT

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PRACTICE

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LIVING LAB

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SCIENCE

INITIATIVE N°2 – PERROTIS COLLEGE

<figure><img src="image_842.png" /></figure>

https://www.perrotiscollege.edu.gr
"Κολλέγιο Περρωτή"

# THE PERROTIS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

The Perrotis College of Agriculture, Environment & Life Sciences is a private legal entity that provides formal education to students and training activities to farmers, located in Thessaloniki (North-East of Greece). The College is a division of the American Farm School of Thessaloniki, an independent, non-profit (philanthropic) institution of secondary education related to agriculture. The college was initially founded as a Laboratory of Free Studies in 1996 in order to offer higher education programmes for careers in the food and agricultural industries. In 2007, through a partnership with the Cardiff Metropolitan University the College, they began offering BSc degrees. There are currently approximately 50 individuals working in the college, including teaching staff, a secretariat, farming technicians and others.

Perrotis College provides education to students from a variety of countries that want to pursue a career or post-secondary study in international business, agriculture, environmental protection and science. The college curriculum enables students to apply the theories they learn in the classroom to hands-on learning activities conducted on the campus farm, including fields of orchards, arable crops and greenhouses. In addition, students gain actual work experience through two summer internships conducted on a variety of professional and industrial sites in Greece, the Balkans, Europe or USA. As the studies offered by the college were not officially recognised on its equivalence to the Greek public universities by the Greek State, the college's post-secondary programme is validated since 2007 by the Cardiff Metropolitan University (UK) regarding accredited BSc degrees in Sustainable Agriculture and Management, of 3-year duration, as well as other disciplines such as Food Science & Technology, International Business, Environmental Science and Digital Marketing Management (Bachelor of Arts, B.A.).

Established in 2017, the Perrotis College School of Graduate Studies, offers MSc degrees in Sustainable Agriculture & Management, that last 2 years, as well as New Food Product & Business Development, and Marketing for the Agro-Food Sector. Agroecology is included in the description of the degrees in "Sustainable Agriculture & Management", mentioning agroecosystem management approaches and other agroecology related approaches. Perrotis College offers financial aid packages that include scholarships to most of its students, as well as a work-study programme.

## KEY FEATURES

* **Type of training:** BSc and MSc studies

* **Main topic:** farming and food production

* **Training duration:** variable, depending on the path and the subject

* **Type of initiative:** private organisation

* **Accessible to:** academic and support staff and students
<figure><img src="image_843.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 2:** Perrotis college student in class. Source: https://www.facebook.com/perrotiscollege/photos/2867871939902233.</figcaption></figure>

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

Although the college is not genuinely affiliated with the agroecological approach, it provides study curriculums that promote the principles and framework of agroecology through international collaborations with universities abroad, and offers knowledge of production of food and non-food products from land resources, and agroecosystem sustainability.

## POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_844.png" /></figure>

**EDUCATION:** Provision of applied knowledge regarding principles of land and crop management in a systems (holistic) approach, considering environmental interactions and multiple effects and production of food and non-food products from land resources, and agroecosystem sustainability.

<figure><img src="image_845.png" /></figure>

**COOPERATION:** Extended collaboration with several stakeholders at academic, industry and farmers level, providing pragmating input to students.

## LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

<figure><img src="image_846.png" /></figure>

**EDUCATION:** The studies framework is oriented towards generalised approaches of sustainability in agriculture, (including disciplines like smart-farming, etc.) which escape the framework and objectives of agroecology. A clear focus on agroecology could be pursued in the future.
<figure><img src="image_847.png" /></figure>

EDUCATION

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MOVEMENT

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PRACTICE

<figure><img src="image_850.png" /></figure>

LIVING LAB

<figure><img src="image_851.png" /></figure>

SCIENCE

INITIATIVE N°3 – ORGANISATION EARTH

ORGANISATION
EARTH

<figure><img src="image_852.png" /></figure>

https://www organizationearth.org
Οργάνωση Γη

**Organisation Earth** is a Greek non-profit NGO founded in 2010 by 40 members of various professional backgrounds (academics, media, business). Its mission is to establish the concept of Sustainable Development, as defined by the United Nations' 17 Global Goals, through the provision of experiential, non-formal education for sustainable development. The organisation is funded through donations, course participation fees and EU-funded project participation.

Its aims are the development of the concept of
environmental and social intelligence, by providing
experimental, non-formal education for sustainable
development, introducing key sustainability issues,
primarily through learning activities with an average 1-day
duration. These training days promote knowledge, skills,
attitudes and social values, using methods that motivate
and empower the students to change their behaviour
and take action towards a new economic model that
takes into account social and environmental impact. The
organisation holds in its premises a garden-farm where
much of the training is applied, and collaborates with
organic farmers in the broader Athens area.

KEY FEATURES

* **Type of education and training:** action experiential learning

* Main topic: sustainable development goals in the food system and transition towards agroecology

• **Trainings duration:** 1 day

* **Type of legal entity:** NGO

* **Accessible to:** more than 40 members, including 1 head and 9 staffs (volunteer or permanent)

Since 2012, the organisation has offered more than 70,000 children and 50,000 adults, activities related to environmental action, social empowerment and responsible entrepreneurship programmes, through their regional activities. In addition, the Earth Organisation collaborated with 18 universities, 7 institutions, 40 companies, 18 government agencies and over 100 civil society organisations.

Although the keyword agroecology is not specifically utilised, the initiative promotes agroecological principles through training targeting SDGs by farming. Additionally, Organisation Earth has been officially nominated to be the Special Secretariat of IFOAM-AgriBioMediterraneo. The initiative is also a member of the Global Compact (UN Global Compact), a global corporate responsibility initiative whose primary goal is to build and promote the social legitimacy of businesses and markets. It is also a member of SDGWatchEurope, a cross-sectoral NGO alliance at the European Union level, in areas such as the environment, education, human rights and more. Its purpose is to be a lever of pressure and control for governments in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
<figure><img src="image_853.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_854.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 3:** Activities of urban and school gardening in the premises of Organisation Earth. Source: https://www organizationearth.org/agrotesstinpoli and https://www organizationearth.org/perivallontikiekpaidefsi.</figcaption></figure>

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

The organisation applies an action learning approach and is located in the periphery of the Greek capital city (Athens), therefore it is easily accessible to urban dwellers, making it easy to transfer a farm experience, and agroecological values to them. It also provides hosting and is well-networked with international organisations regarding organic farming/agroecology and sustainable development issues making it well updated on relevant issues.

### POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_855.png" /></figure>

**EDUCATION:** Provision of applied knowledge to more than 100,000 school children and adults since 2010. Among other activities, visitors may attend free courses in sustainable development, which raise awareness about and promote urban attitudes and practices that ameliorate environmental degradation.

<figure><img src="image_856.png" /></figure>

**COOPERATION:** Extended collaboration with stakeholders at the organic farming movement and farmer level.

### LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

<figure><img src="image_857.png" /></figure>

**EDUCATION:** Limitations exists in terms of maintaining infrastructure.
<figure><img src="image_858.png" /></figure>

EDUCATION

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MOVEMENT

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PRACTICE

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LIVING LAB

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SCIENCE

INITIATIVE N°4 – CRETE'S CULINARY SANCTUARIES

# CRETE'S CULINARY SANCTUARIES

<figure><img src="image_863.png" /></figure>

https://www.cookingincrete.com/
Facebook: @CretesCulinarySanctuaries
Γαστρονομικά καταφύγια

Crete's Culinary Sanctuaries (CCS) is a US-based private enterprise, formed to organise seminars and consultancy on culture, nature and cuisine on the island of Crete, Greece. In 1997, Crete's Culinary Sanctuaries Educational Network was founded by the Greek-American journalist, seminar director and professional chef Nikki Rose, to support residents working on action programmes to protect and share their heritage. Teaching staff involved in the initiative are part-time contracted, including archaeologists, ecologists, agroecologists, organic farmers, heirloom seed savers, chefs, artists, and others.

CCS organises accredited educational programmes on Crete's culture, nature, organic agriculture and cuisine with over 3,000 students, teachers and journalists from many different educational institutions and professional organisations. Most study tours are organised during the spring and summer months (weekly programme). It also

offers a 5-day programme on mixed topics of organic agriculture, botany, cuisine, history and culture, presented by the collaborating teaching staff. The initiative also organises tailored private seminars and workshops for researchers, students, and journalists covering Agroecology and Traditional-Sustainable Gastronomy, Intangible Heritage (Mediterranean Diet), and Sustainable Tourism.

A generalised agroecological approach could be attributed to the initiative (and they frequently used the word/concept in their activity), as it integrates action learning not only on (agroecological) farming but also culinary approaches, diet, sustainable tourism, local knowledge, food and agricultural heritage and (sustainable) tourism, therefore offering a holistic view.

The initiative collaborates with several academic entities, especially US-based universities, and also featured in journals like National Geographic, NY Times, Routledge Handbooks, as well as international organisations and related programmes like the United Nations, IFOAM-Organics, and NGOs like Food Tank.

## KEY FEATURES

* **Type of education and training:** experiential learning

* **Main topic:** sustainable food systems

* **Trainings duration:** 5-7 days

* **Type of legal entity:** private company

* **Accessible to:** chefs and agronomists
<figure><img src="image_864.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 4:** Field visits of participants to training seminars organised by Crete's Culinary sanctuaries.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10153582589783344&set=pb.100063588500648.-2207520000.</figcaption></figure>

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

Culinary sanctuaries provide an interesting transdisciplinary learning experience mixing introduction to agroecological farming, local knowledge, traditional/local culinary and Mediterranean diet within a sustainable tourism framework. Therefore, it could be considered close to an agroecological approach, providing a holistic introduction to an alternative food system that needs to be constructed on sustainability principles. This knowledge could be easily understood through an experiential learning process, allowing participants to "place a hand" on food and agricultural heritage.

### POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_865.png" /></figure>

**EDUCATION:** Provision of a multi-dimensional experimental learning easily adapted by participants.

<figure><img src="image_866.png" /></figure>

**TRADITIONAL FOOD AND HERITAGE CONSERVATION:** Promotion of locally resourced food and agriculture (local diet and culinary, crop varieties, etc.).

### LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

<figure><img src="image_867.png" /></figure>

**ECONOMY:** Economic viability of the initiative depends on the constant attraction of financial resources and touristic mobility from overseas (mainly US), easily affected by restrictions (i.e. the COVID pandemic).

<figure><img src="image_868.png" /></figure>

**COOPERATION:** Lack of experts in regenerative practices to exchange knowledge.
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<figure><img src="image_873.png" /></figure>

INITIATIVE N°5 – THE SOUTHERN LIGHTS

THE SOUTHERN LIGHTS

**The Southern Lights** is a non-profit organisation which was founded in 2016, who promotes regenerative practices in the fields of farming, consuming and organisational structures. It is regarded as an educational, land stewardship, non-profit organisation that aims to actively regenerate ecosystems in which people, inspired by nature, create and maintain healthy and abundant livelihoods. Its work is to empower people of all ages and backgrounds with knowledge, skills, and inspiration essential to cultivating regenerative habitats, inhabitants and habits, while enhancing their professional capabilities to initiate their own projects and/or businesses.

The organisation focuses on promoting and teaching, through cocreation and the use of innovative approaches, several agroecology-related practices such as permaculture, agroforestry, regenerative farming, healthy nutrition and renewable energy solutions. Although it is not self-defined as a living lab, the initiative strongly holds several such elements, including user-focusing, based on the co-creation of principles for developing innovation and research through collaboration with various stakeholders (farmers, scientists, campaigners).

It involves at least 10 members (multinational groups) as well as networks of farms, academics, advisors and others at the regional and national level. Its funding is based on institutions, sponsors (companies) and EU Programmes (i.e. Erasmus+). The governance of the initiative is horizontal and participatory, under non-hierarchical conditions.

The organisation presents several innovative attributes especially in the training component, incorporating techniques like "AGILE"<fnref n="111" /> learning. Southern Lights also organised a "Food Forest Tour", a series of events in farms and organisations all over Greece that share the same mission, in order to share knowledge on how to grow food following agroforestry approaches, by actually planting a food forest in the hosting organisation. It also co-initiated the REGEN Network<fnref n="112" /> in Greece aiming to identify and cover common needs of eco-projects and initiatives on regenerative topics and enable collaboration by exchanging and combining assets of the involved projects and initiatives to co-cover needs. Additionally, it is linked with several other networks abroad working on agroforestry and permaculture.

THE
SOUTHERN
LIGHTS

http://thesouthernlights.org
Το Νότιο Σέλας

KEY FEATURES

* Main topics: agroecological practice and production

* Founded in: 2016

* Type of organisation supporting the living lab: NGO

* Type of actors involved: farmers, scientists and advisors

* Scale of the living lab: regional/international

<footnote n="111">¹¹¹ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agile)_learning</footnote>

<footnote n="112">¹¹² https://www.regen.network/</footnote>
<figure><img src="image_874.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 5:** Field visits and traning seminars organised by Southern Lights.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/thesouthernlightsproject/photos.</figcaption></figure>

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

The initiative is largely interested in applying and time communicating its mission, referring mostly to concepts like agroforestry, permaculture and co-creation approaches. It holds a highly participatory perspective and attitude on the linkage and collaboration with other stakeholders (e.g. farmers, trainers, advisors, scientist), which potentially enforces the outcome of their projects. Besides the above, it also holds strong elements of innovation especially in communicating and providing training, through novel techniques and practices.

### POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_875.png" /></figure>

**SOCIETY AND EQUITY:** The initiative promotes a non-violent and equity approach.

<figure><img src="image_876.png" /></figure>

**COOPERATION:** Strong bonds with several stakeholders at regional, national, and international level.

### LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

<figure><img src="image_877.png" /></figure>

**COMMERCIALISATION IS LOCAL, FAIR AND/OR COLLECTIVE:** Lack of financial and technical support from national authorities.

<figure><img src="image_878.png" /></figure>

**COOPERATION:** Lack of a sufficient number of experts in regenerative or agroecological practices to exchange knowledge.
<figure><img src="image_879.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_880.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_881.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_882.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_883.png" /></figure>

INITIATIVE N°6 – MELITAKES

MELITAKES

**Melitakes** is a legal entity and social enterprise focusing on sustainability and agroecological farming, established in 2016, originally on the mission to cultivate and conserve seeds of local, traditional varieties, using agroecological methods (also verbally referring to the concept of agroecology). 8 full time people work for the enterprise. Besides producing agroecological products (olive oil, vegetables, dairy and cereals) they hold an annual "Seed Festival", for the exchange of local varieties produced by the initiative and the network of farmers involved, as well as workshops, the organisation of school gardens and the promotion of the conservation of agrobiodiversity and agroecology. Recently, they also opened a restaurant with food produced by them and local eco-farmers, promoting traditional recipes based on the Mediterranean diet, selling also processed products, therefore covering aspects of consumption, marketing and retail, as well as local development.

<figure><img src="image_884.png" /></figure>

ΜΕΛΙΤΑΚΕΣ

www.melitakes.gr
Facebook: @melitakes
Μελιτακές

KEY FEATURES

* Main topics: agroecological practice and production

* Founded in: 2016

* Type of organisation supporting the living lab: social enterprise

* Type of actor involved: farmers, civil society campaigners, scientists and advisors

* Scale of the living lab: regional/international

The above processes created new necessities and synergies both in farming, as well as networking with several initiatives on the same topic (e.g. Kokopeli, Kaligraines and Colibri foundation from France, Aegilops and Peliti from Greece), the academic sector Hellenic Mediterranean University, located in the area of the initiative as well as private entities, promoting largely the multi-actor's involvement and co-creation processes. Namely, Melitakes collaborate with NGOS on seed saving, participate in research projects regarding experimentation on agrobiodiversity and agroecological methods applied in situ, and host training seminars of other initiatives. Additionally, they incorporate in their work innovation development (i.e. the open-source development of agricultural tools - harvest machines like cereal grain harvesters) in collaboration with NGOs like Tzoumakers<fnref n="113" /> working on the topic. All the above elements indicate evidence of characterising the initiative as a living lab.

Melitakes are financially supported by their own activities (production, marketing and retail of agroecological products) but recently they also participated as partners in international research projects, amplifying the possibility of receiving extra financial support by EU programmes (Horizon Europe etc.).

<footnote n="113">¹¹³ https://www.tzoumakers.gr/english/</footnote>
<figure><img src="image_885.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_886.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 6:** Do-It-Yourself (DIY) harvesting tool and school gardening by Melitakes initiative.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/melitakes/photos.</figcaption></figure>

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

Melitakes operates based on an cooperative, participatory basis, willing to adapt innovations in their functioning. They are very keen on synergies which serve the purposes of the initiative, not only at the farming level but also at the academic and civil-society level, as well as others. They have developed (technical) innovations based on their needs and were willing to share it based on an open-source mode of knowledge exchange.

## POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_887.png" /></figure>

**COOPERATION:** Strong bonds with several stakeholders at the regional/national and international level for the promotion of the mission of the initiative.

<figure><img src="image_888.png" /></figure>

**NATURAL RESOURCES AND BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT:** Conservation of local/traditional varieties through the organisation of a community seed bank and the annual seed exchange events.

<figure><img src="image_889.png" /></figure>

**ECONOMY:** Commercialisation of agroecological products at the local level, using a fair and collective approach.

<figure><img src="image_890.png" /></figure>

**TRADITIONAL FOOD AND HERITAGE CONSERVATION:** Production of local products and restaurant/catering based on traditional recipes/ Mediterranean diet.

## LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

<figure><img src="image_891.png" /></figure>

**ECONOMY:** Lack of financial support from national authorities.
<figure><img src="image_892.png" /></figure>

MOVEMENT

<figure><img src="image_893.png" /></figure>

PRACTICE

<figure><img src="image_894.png" /></figure>

LIVING LAB

<figure><img src="image_895.png" /></figure>

SCIENCE

<figure><img src="image_896.png" /></figure>

EDUCATION

INITIATIVE N°7 – AGROECOLOGY GREECE

<figure><img src="image_897.png" /></figure>

Αγροοικολογικό Δίκτυο Ελλάδος
Agroecology Greece

www.agroecology.gr

Facebook: @AgroecologyGreece

Αγροοικολογικό Δίκτυο Ελλάδος

AGROECOLOGY
GREECE

The Agroecological Network of Greece (Agroecology Greece) was founded in 2017 and consists so far of 16 members, including agronomists and/or farmers, as well as trainers. It is a non-formal network and platform aiming to promote agroecology to related stakeholders (academics, agronomists, farmers as well as the general public, as a science, practice and movement, in Greece. Its objectives are defined as to network between agricultural scientists/ trainers, in order to exchange information, knowledge and research that will familiarise the principles and framework of agroecology and promote the transition of food production systems towards a truly sustainable form, integrating food sovereignty and security principles. Thus it performs a genuine use of the work and concept of agroecology.

KEY FEATURES

* **Main goal:** promotion of agroecology in Greece

* **Founded in:** 2017

* **Type of organisation supporting the living lab:** non-formal network

* **Farming sectors:** not specific

* **Scale of the organisation:** national

The activities of the network so far have included:

i) Technical reports on agroecological issues posted on the networks platform as well as an edition in Greek introducing agroecology;

ii) The organisation of events, seminars and workshops on Agroecology and related topics, including also the co-organisation of the 2nd Agroecology Europe Forum (September 2019, Heraklion, Crete);

iii) The promotion of agroecology to decision makers;

iv) The communication of news and developments regarding agroecology in Greek through social media.

All its activities are self-funded, based on the voluntary work of its members, while in the past have received very small financial assistance by Agroecology Europe (a European NGO aiming to promote agroecology at the European level; See website: https://www.agroecology-europe.org) for certain activities (organisation of events and edition on agroecology). Agroecology Greece is connected with other agroecological initiatives at national level (i.e. NGO Aegilops, Melitakes, Organic Farmers' Association of Northern Greece) and abroad (Agroecology Europe). Additionally, its members participate or they are active within initiatives, as the ones mentioned above.

The initiative is currently re-organising in order to become a formal legal entity, seek funding resources and expand its activities (organisation of training seminars, host a Greek forum on Agroecology, etc.).
<figure><img src="image_898.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 7:** Members of Agroecology Greece in the 2nd Agroecology Europe Forum.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10157400109069519&set=pob.1302921993.</figcaption></figure>

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

Agroecology Greece, although it has minimal funding and is a non-formal entity, operates on a flexible basis requiring small but concentrated and precise working effort by its members, taking advantage of their role and participation to other similar entities and initiatives.

### POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_899.png" /></figure>

**COOPERATION:** A constant number of people involved in activities to promote the agroecological concept at national level.

<figure><img src="image_900.png" /></figure>

**SOCIETY AND EQUITY:** The majority of the initiative's members are women, promoting the gender equity character of the network, while a participatory approach is followed in decision-making. All genders are equally involved in decision making.

<figure><img src="image_901.png" /></figure>

**EDUCATION:** Organisation of workshops and activities of promotion of agroecology.

### LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

<figure><img src="image_902.png" /></figure>

**ECONOMY:** The non-formal character of the initiative generates lack of financial and technical support from national authorities, not allowing further expansion of the initiative's activities.

<figure><img src="image_903.png" /></figure>

**EDUCATION:** Training offered is limited to basic level due to lack of financial resources and infrastructure.
<figure><img src="image_904.png" /></figure>

MOVEMENT

<figure><img src="image_905.png" /></figure>

PRACTICE

<figure><img src="image_906.png" /></figure>

EDUCATION

<figure><img src="image_907.png" /></figure>

LIVING LAB

<figure><img src="image_908.png" /></figure>

SCIENCE

INITIATIVE N°8 – AEGILOPS

<figure><img src="image_909.png" /></figure>

ΑΙΓΙΛΟΠΑΣ
AEGILOPS

https://www.aegilops.gr/en/
Facebook: @aigilops
Αιγίλοπας

# AEGILOPS – NETWORK FOR BIODIVERSITY AND ECOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE

Aegilops - Network for Biodiversity and Ecology in Agriculture, is an NGO founded in 2004. Its members (approximately 30) are eco-farmers and agronomists from all over Greece, many of them active since the 1980s in ecological farming. Its main activities are i) the conservation of heritage varieties and traditional agricultural knowledge (through a seed bank of over 200 varieties, mainly cereals, and ii) the reintroduction of these varieties into everyday agricultural practices (on farm conservation), the promotion of ecological farming and the use of agricultural biodiversity. Its headquarters are in the area of Volos, Central Greece. It also composed of "Focal Points" in various regions of the country working on the evaluation of research of local varieties of vegetables, legumes and grains, as well as training on agrobiodiversity and ecological farming issues. Additionally, since 2012, the organisation has held the "Greek Seed School", an annual event offering free courses all over Greece which aim to empower communities on seed saving, organic farming and successful seed management. Furthermore, it organises annually a "Day of traditional varieties", with seed exchange and seminars activities. Certain editions are published periodically, including a short magazine ("Kivotos", translated as Arch) as well as technical manuals on seed saving, local varieties and organic regulation.

## KEY FEATURES

* **Main goals:** conservation of heritage varieties and promotion of ecological farming

* **Founded in:** 2004

* **Type of organisation:** NGO

* **Farming sectors:** arable and tree crops

* **Scale of the organisation:** national

Aegilops participates in EU-funded research projects, on topics of agricultural genetic diversity conservation and participates in several international initiatives and campaigns regarding the conservation of agricultural diversity (e.g. Let's liberate diversity<fnref n="115" />), farmer rights and against the use of genetically modified varieties in agriculture. Recently, it also started the initiative "Aegilops Local Food"<fnref n="116" /> promoting food products made by local varieties by a team of organic farmers collaborating and/or members of Aegilops.

The organisation's funding sources include donations by members, as well as income from participation in international EU-funded projects.

Although the term "ecological farming" is mainly used by the initiative, the agroecological approach is well-recognised and recently appeared in the initiative's manifestations<fnref n="117" />.

<footnote n="115">¹¹⁵ https://liberatediversity.org/</footnote>

<footnote n="116">¹¹⁶ https://www.aegilopslocalfood.gr/</footnote>

<footnote n="117">¹¹⁷ https://bit.ly/3jzfPgX</footnote>
<figure><img src="image_910.png" /><figcaption>**Picture 8:** Communication material and field visit by Aegilops organisation. Source: https://www.facebook.com/ melitakes/photos.</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_911.png" /></figure>

## WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

Aegilops is operating as an agrobiodiversity conservation network and has developed several parallel activities, namely a combination of training on ecological farming, participation in international movements as well retail of local produce, and clearly promoting the agroecological in agriculture.

## POSITIVE IMPACTS

<figure><img src="image_912.png" /></figure>

**COOPERATION:** A network of farmers and agronomists dispersed at the national level and coordinated under a horizontal structure. Taking part in campaigns and community actions undertaken by farmers and consumers in Greece and worldwide.

<figure><img src="image_913.png" /></figure>

**NATURAL RESOURCES AND BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT:** Preservation - cultivation of local varieties / heritage crops and the development of varieties and seeds adapted to local conditions and organic farming / on farm breeding.

<figure><img src="image_914.png" /></figure>

**EDUCATION:** Organisation of "Seed schools" enhancing farming ability and capacity to utilise and manage agrobiodiversity by training and experience exchange.

<figure><img src="image_915.png" /></figure>

**TRADITIONAL FOOD AND HERITAGE CONSERVATION:** Commercialisation of "Local food" made by organic farmers with use of local varieties.

## LIMITATIONS & CHALLENGES

<figure><img src="image_916.png" /></figure>

**ECONOMY:** No permanent funding resources available.

<figure><img src="image_917.png" /></figure>

**EDUCATION:** Training offered is to on regular basis and limited to rather basic level due to lack of financial resources.