Partnerships

Accelerating Farming Systems Transitions (agroecology)

Accelerating Farming Systems Transitions (agroecology)

Partnership website: https://scar-europe.org/

This partnership aims to structure and support a network of living labs and research infrastructures accelerating the transition towards agroecology throughout Europe. These living labs and research infrastructures will support farmers in understanding and implementing agroecological practices at the scale needed for positive economic, environmental and social impacts. The European Commission chose the livings labs approach because agroecology is territory-bound and more important changes in ecosystems happen slowly so it is important to look at the same area over a longer period of time to determine the effects. 

The partnership is supported by the standing committee on agricultural research (SCAR) which has been in existence since the seventies. 

Contact

Commission services: Paola EulalioSusana Gaona Saez

Partners: SCAR Strategic Working Group on Agroecology (SCAR-AE) - Nicolas TinoisBenjamin SanchezTorsten Rodel Berg

background: Agroecology in this context means understanding ecosystems better and using this knowledge to design more sustainable farming practices and systems.

 

What are partnerships?

Partnerships group the EC and private and/or public partners, to coordinate and streamline the research & innovation initiatives and funding in some selected key domains.

How to use partnerships?

  • orientation
    Partnerships publish strategic documents, e.g. outlining the main research and innovation challenges or key focus points.
  • networking
    Partnerships often organise events, such as info days, brokerage events, etc. Meet potential partners and learn about the nuances that are not visible in the official documents.
  • ecosystem analysis
    Partnerships typically have an advisory board, and publish impact studies of previous actions. These are good sources of information to uncover the main R&D&I players in the domain.
  • steering the agenda
    Partnerships collaborate with the EC on outlining the strategy and the future funding opportunities in their domain, based on input from industry, academia, and other stakeholders.
Author Do you have an additional question? Or spotted a mistake? Don't hesitate to contact me!
Image of Pascal Verheye
Pascal Verheye

pascal.verheye@vlaio.be

Testimonial

image of Methylomic – Hope & Improved outcomes for Crohn’s disease patients across Europe

Methylomic – Hope & Improved outcomes for Crohn’s disease patients across Europe

The METHYLOMIC project, ‘targeting hope for personalised medicine in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases’ obtained funding from Horizon Europe’s Health Cluster. The project aims to personalise treatment allocation and enhance the effectiveness of medications for chronic immune-mediated diseases such as Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. BIRD, the Belgian inflammatory bowel disease research and development group, is a partner in the project and is involved in the OmiCrohn trial, a prospective randomised clinical trial for individualised therapy in Crohn’s disease patients. With BIRD’s active role in this trial, the project is set to deliver predictive, biomarker-based therapies that bring renewed hope for Crohn’s disease patients across Europe.