The overall objective of AF4EU is to promote the European AF through the development of a multi-actor interactive and innovation-driven expanded agroforestry network. This will be based on the sharing of successful practical experiences and existing research knowledge (applied to different and new territories, climates and agricultural sectors) connected through ICT-Tools, with a special focus on the development and implementation of new cost-effective practices, business models and AF-extension services considering the whole food chain and therefore including consumers. All AF4EU partners have associated networks of AF farmers, policy makers and advisors thanks to their leadership of the European Agroforestry Association National Network and others are large farmers association itself (e.g. EFI) that will be an essential part of the 11 Regional Agroforestry Innovation Networks including relevant actors and specially operational groups. The Andalucian ministry of agriculture as policy maker is also part of the consortium. A set of 33 successful AF farm business models will be analysed across Europe from a sustainability perspective (economic, environmental and social). The project builds up on previous H2020 projects and aims at developing an AF knowledge platform that integrates a end-user (i) searchable knowledge reservoir namely Knowledge cloud, (ii) an alive-handbook, (iii) an agroforestry innovation business decision support tool (AFi-Bus DSS) including a business and a business environment analysis targeting AF policy in Europe and a Multilingual Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) with training modules targeting farmers and advisors. AF4EU will definitively contribute to the implementation and uptake across Europe thanks to the supply of cost-effective business models techniques and a successful communication, dissemination and exploitation planning reaching a large audience in Europe.

Viral diseases can cause severe losses to vegetable crop production which has an estimated annual value of 34,5 billion EUR in Europe. Therefore several billions are lost every year due to the prominence of viral diseases and the emergence of new viruses in European fields and greenhouses. Importantly viral diseases also lead to the extensive use of pesticides, thereby exposing European growers and consumers to pesticide residues. In relation to the work programme, the project aims at developing rapid and lasting solutions to emerging viral diseases caused by begomoviruses (whitefly-transmitted) and tobamoviruses (mechanically transmitted) on cucurbits and tomato in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean Basin as well as at increasing knowledge to better control and manage the viral diseases. The project is structured in 6 objectives : 1. Knowledge sharing and engagement of stakeholders in research activities (Short term impact) 2. Develop robust diagnostic tests, quarantine measures and identify ecological factors driving disease outbreaks (Short term impact) 3. Understand plant-virus(es)-vector interactions (Medium term impact) 4. Develop IPM solutions (Medium term impact) 5. Pyramidize natural resistance (Long term impact) 6. Train the value chain (Medium term impact) The objectives will build on 1) detailed study of virus biology and transmission under climate change conditions; 2) development of classical solutions (IPM and natural resistance) to control viral diseases with two distinct modes of transmission; 3) testing novel approaches (biopesticides, biological control, cross-protection) to mitigate viral diseases and to reduce pesticide usage. In order to take into account the diversity of vegetable cropping systems and viral diseases, focus groups involving extension services, commercial companies and growers will help co-designing research activities and mitigation strategies from the onset of the project.

AGROECOLOGY, the European Partnership ‘Accelerating Farming Systems Transition: Agroecology Living Labs and Research Infrastructures’, is an ambitious, large-scale European research and innovation endeavour between the EC and 26 Member States (MS), Associated Countries (AC) and Third Countries. AGROECOLOGY will support an agriculture sector that is fit to meet the targets and challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, food security and sovereignty, and the environment, while ensuring a profitable and attractive activity for farmers. Major change is needed to make the agriculture sector more sustainable, resilient and responsive to societal and policy demands. Agroecology builds on natural, biological interactions while using state-of-the-art science, technology and innovation based on farmers’ knowledge. It represents a promising approach with the potential to respond to challenges faced by the European agriculture sector and to meet its needs. Real-life testing and experimentation environments, living labs are an appropriate instrument to accelerate the agroecology transition. Research infrastructures will also contribute to making scientific knowledge on agroecology available for this transition. Together these instruments will allow for ambitious experimentation at different scales, merging science and practice, to provide science-based evidence on the effects of novel approaches and accelerate the agroecology transition. AGROECOLOGY will pool the resources of the EC and the states involved to fund high-level research generating appropriate knowledge and technologies aligned with the core themes described in the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, while also implementing a series of supporting activities to inform, consult, advise and involve different stakeholders to build capacities, raise awareness and manage and exchange the knowledge and data created.

The EU Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ (Soil Mission) aims to lead the transition to healthy soils via sustainable soil management. This requires knowledge and awareness of the importance and value of soil health and its challenges and drivers across Europe. Engaging and activating municipalities and regions across Europe to protect and restore soil health is vital for a successful Soil Mission deployment. The creation of spaces for dialogue with Quadruple Helix stakeholders, including marginalized and/or vulnerable strata of the population, on soil health and land management issues may contribute to develop a shared understanding of the challenges and help co-create solutions for the protection and restoration of soil. Within this context, HuMUS main aim is to facilitate the deployment of the Soil Mission across regions and municipalities, through: (i) the creation and experimentation of spaces for social dialogue on soil health among public and private actors in Europe; (ii) the promotion of a shared understanding and co-assessment exercises of soil challenges (biophysical and socio-economic dimensions); and, (iii) the enhancement of knowledge sharing among municipalities and regions, including on the needed transformations in current S4 (Sustainable Smart Specialisation) strategies and the use of available EU funds to support the transition. HuMUS will support the involvement of stakeholders and citizens in the decision-making processes via case studies, educational and capacity building activities as well as exchanges of best practices at regional and local levels. HuMUS will further contribute to raising the problem awareness of regional and local governments, businesses and society at large through the use of the Bio-districts multi-stakeholder methodology, whereby well-informed local production and consumption patterns are planned in a coordinated way by all actors of the supply chain. HuMUS will particularly encourage social innovation and the implementation of a trans-disciplinary approach. At each partner territory, regional and local governments will be closely associated from an early stage in order to develop effective participatory processes, and stimulate extensive dialogues on soil health. Regions and municipalities will be empowered to reflect, deliberate and propose appropriate and realistic solutions together with citizens and stakeholders. HuMUS will create and manage collaboration opportunities and spaces of dialogue between citizens and other stakeholders (e.g. farmers and other land users) and public authorities to mutually benefit from discussions in HuMUS as well as from the latest developments and findings from European projects and networks. HuMUS will also support public authorities at local / regional level, associations of land managers (e.g. farmer associations), civil society organisations and research institutions throughout Europe to establish constructive dialogues on soil health, through the launch of an EU-wide Open Call aiming to provide funding to at least 20 exemplary pilot projects. Hence, HuMUS will also contribute to increasing knowledge sharing among municipalities and regions, matching needs with already available methods, tools and approaches for social engagement and knowledge valorisation. The consortium is composed of universities and research centres with experience in participatory approaches and multi-stakeholder associations with large coverage of EU, regional and municipal governance levels.