Project
UNISECO - Understanding and Improving the Sustainability of Agro-ecological Farming Systems in the EU
Understanding and Improving the Sustainability of Agroecological Farming Systems in the EU
Strengthen the sustainability of EU farming systems, through co-constructing improved and practice-validated strategies and incentives for the promotion of improved agro-ecological approaches
Background and Objective
Agroecological approaches are increasingly discussed as an alternative to farming based on chemical inputs to address the challenges of viably producing enough food and biomass while preserving soil, water and biodiversity necessary for ecosystem services. While it is widely acknowledged that farming systems implementing such approaches generally require more knowledge and labour per hectare in comparison to conventional farming, there is a need for a better understanding of the socio-economic and policy factors that hinder or enhance the development and implementation of such systems.
The UNISECO project enhanced the understanding of the socio-economic and policy factors that hinder or enhance the development and implementation of agroecological approaches in EU farming systems by identifying the trends and drivers encouraging the involvement of farmers, actors in the value chain, consumers, educators and policy makers. The ambition and overarching objective was to strengthen the sustainability of European farming systems, through co-constructing improved and practice-validated strategies and incentives for the promotion of improved agroecological approaches.
Approach
The UNISECO project achieved these objectives through a work programme of:
- reviewing drivers and barriers to agro-ecological approaches and participatory scenario development;
- empirical data collection in participatory case studies, co-learning and co-construction of innovative knowledge and management strategies and incentives;
- cutting edge biophysical and socio-economic modelling and development of robust indicators for assessing sustainability and innovative strategies of AEFS;
- development of a methodological toolkit to assess impacts of management strategies, market incentives and policy instruments promoting AEFS in Europe.
The methodological toolkit will be developed and tested in participatory case studies in 15 EU Member States with particular attention paid to different biophysical, socio-economic and socio-cultural contexts of farming systems across the EU.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement N° 773901.
Results
Transitions to agro-ecological farming systems and farm practices offer prospects for tackling challenges of global significance, in particular climate change, reducing the loss of biodiversity and social justice. The UNISECO project aimed to improve the understanding of how barriers of drivers of agro-ecological transitions in the EU can be addressed. Bringing together complementary perspectives of actors in practice, policy, science and society in transdisciplinary Multi-Actor Platforms in case studies in 15 countries around Europe the UNISECO project co-constructed strategies for agro-ecological transitions to inform future policies at European, national and regional levels.
A first key lesson from the co-construction relates to the importance of mature social capital and improved farmer knowledge of the benefits of agro-ecological practices and economic opportunities for successful agro-ecological transitions. A second key lesson is the need for strengthened collaborative actions and collective institutions to increase negotiating power within the value chain. A third key lesson of the co-construction of the strategies is the importance of changes in consumer behaviour and diets, in particular if transformative change is the main objective of the agro-ecological transitions.
Further details of the project results and specific recommendations considering the different contexts of agro-ecological transitions in the the case studies in the 15 European countries can be found on the Agro-ecological Knowledge Hub of the project.
Links and Downloads
More details of the project are available on the project website: www.uniseco-project.eu
Thünen-Contact
Involved Thünen-Partners
Involved external Thünen-Partners
- CREA, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria
(Rom, Italien) -
Agricultural University of Athens (AUA)
(Athen, Griechenland) - Universität für Bodenkultur (BOKU)
(Wien, Österreich) - The James Hutton Institute (JHI)
(Dundee, Großbritannien (inkl. Nordirland)) -
University of Aberdeen
(Aberdeen, Großbritannien (inkl. Nordirland)) -
Institut Superieur D’Agriculture Rhone Alpes (ISARA)
(Lyon, Frankreich) -
Baltic Environmental Forum Latvia
(Riga, Lettland) -
Baltic Environmental Forum Lithuania
(Vilnius, Litauen) - Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau (FiBL)
(Frick, Schweiz) -
Geonardo
(Budapest, Ungarn) -
Swedish University of Agricultural Science - SLU
(Uppsala, Lysekil, Schweden) -
Gestion Ambiental de Navarra
(Pamplona, Spanien) -
Asociatia WWF Programul Dunare Carpati Romania
(Bukarest, Rumänien) -
Ustav Zemedelske Ekonomiky a Informaci
(Prag, Tschechische Republik) -
European Landowners Organization
(Brüssel, Belgien) -
Bioinstitut
(Olomouc, Tschechische Republik) - Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE)
(Helsinki, Mikkeli, Jokioinen, Vanda, Finnland)
Funding Body
-
European Union (EU)
(international, öffentlich)
Duration
5.2018 - 4.2021
More Information
Project funding number: 773901
Funding program: EU – Horizon 2020 – Societal Challenge "Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry, Marine, Maritime and Inland Water Research and the Bioeconomy"
Project status:
finished
Publications to the project
- 0
Gava O, Vanni F, Schwarz G, Guisepelli E, Vincent A, Prazan J, Weisshaidinger R, Frick R, Hrabalová A, Carolus J, Iragui Yoldi U, Pyysiäinen J, Smyrniotopoulou A, Vlahos G, Balazs K, Szilágyi AJ, Jegelevicius G, Miksyte E, Zilans A, Fratila M, et al (2025) Governance networks for agroecology transitions in rural Europe. J Rural Studies 114:103482, DOI:10.1016/j.jrurstud.2024.103482
- 1
Zawalinska K, Smyrniotopoulou A, Balazs K, Böhm M, Chitea M, Florian V, Fratila M, Gradziuk P, Henderson S, Irvine K, Konstantidelli V, Krupin V, Latruffe L, Miksyte E, Miller D, Monteleone D, Polaschegg M, Schwarz G, Tzanopoulos J, Tzouramani I, et al (2022) Advancing the contributions of European stakeholders in farming systems to transitions to agroecology. EuroChoices 21(3):50-63, DOI:10.1111/1746-692X.12378
- 2
Röös E, Mayer A, Muller A, Kalt G, Ferguson S, Erb K-H, Hart R, Matej S, Kaufmann L, Pfeifer C, Frehner A, Smith P, Schwarz G (2022) Agroecological practices in combination with healthy diets can help meet EU food system policy targets. Sci Total Environ 847:157612, DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157612
- 3
Niedermayr A, Landert J, Albanito F, Carolus JF, Desjeux Y, Heinrichs J, Hrabalová A, Jeanneaux P, Kantelhardt J, Latruffe L, Sanders J, Schaller L, Schwarz G (2022) Assessing farming systems in transition to agroecology. EuroChoices 21(3):48-49, DOI:10.1111/1746-692X.12359
- 4
Linares Quero A, Iragui Yoldi U, Gava O, Schwarz G, Povellato A, Astrain C (2022) Assessment of the Common Agricultural Policy 2014-2020 in supporting agroecological transitions: A comparative study of 15 cases across Europe. Sustainability 14(15):9261, DOI:10.3390/su14159261
- 5
Miller D, Legras S, Barnes A, Cazacu M, Gava O, Helin J, Irvine K, Kantelhardt J, Landert J, Latruffe L, Mayer A, Niedermayr A, Povellato A, Schaller L, Schwarz G, Smith P, Vanni F, Vedrine L, Viaggi D, Vincent A, Vlahos G (2022) Creating conditions for harnessing the potential of transitions to agroecology in Europe and requirements for policy. EuroChoices 21(3):72-79, DOI:10.1111/1746-692X.12374
- 6
Schwarz G, Vanni F, Miller D, Helin J, Prazan J, Albanito F, Fratila M, Galioto F, Gava O, Irvine K, Landert J, Linares Quero A, Mayer A, Monteleone D, Muller A, Röös E, Smyrniotopoulou A, Vincent A, Vlahos G, Zilans A (2022) Exploring sustainability implications of transitions to agroecology: a transdisciplinary perspective. EuroChoices 21(3):37-47, DOI:10.1111/1746-692X.12377
- 7
Latruffe L, Schwarz G (2022) Insights on transitions to agroecological farming from across Europe. EuroChoices 21(3):3-4, DOI:10.1111/1746-692X.12375
- 8
Gava O, Povellato A, Galioto F, Prazan J, Schwarz G, Linares Quero A, Iragui Yoldi U, Astrain Massa C, Zilans A, Carolus JF (2022) Policy instruments to support agroecological transitions in Europe. EuroChoices 21(3):13-20, DOI:10.1111/1746-692X.12367
- 9
Carolus JF, Polaschegg M, Schwarz G (2021) Förderung von Wissensnetzwerken für eine nachhaltige Landwirtschaft in Niedersachsen. UNISECO project, 2 p, Policy Brief, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.4766246
- 10
Vanni F, Schwarz G, Miller D, Helin J, Prazan J (2021) Integrated Sustainability Assessment in a Transdisciplinary Perspective : Deliverable Report D6.2. UNISECO project, 28 p, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.5555090
- 11
Cazacu M, Balazs K, Schwarz G, Miller D (2021) Issue Briefs for Practitioners and Policy-Makers : Deliverable Report D6.5. UNISECO project, 11 p, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.5557052
- 12
Carolus JF, Polaschegg M, Schwarz G (2021) Marktimpulse für eine gesteigerte Wertschöpfung durch agrarökologische Praktiken im marktorientierten Ackerbau. UNISECO project, 2 p, Policy Brief, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.4803335
- 13
Schwarz G, Carolus JF, Irvine K, Miller D, Smyrniotopoulou A, Vlahos G, Povellato A, Vanni F, Prazan J, Fleury P, Guisepelli E, Vincent A, Landert J, Albanito F, Röös E, Cazacu M, Fratila M (2021) Methodological Briefs : Deliverable Report D6.4. UNISECO project, 56 p, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.5555079
- 14
Miller D, Smyrniotopoulou A, Irvine K, Vlahos G, Schwarz G, Budniok M-A (2021) Operation of a Multi-Actor Platform in a transdisciplinary project focused on agro-ecological transitions. UNISECO project, 2 p, Policy Brief, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.4980160
- 15
Schwarz G, Miller D, Smith P, Balazs K, Ruskute E (2021) Recommendations for future research needs and actions to enhance agro-ecological transitions. UNISECO project, 2 p, Policy Brief, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.4964098
- 16
Schwarz G, Prazan J, Landert J, Miller D, Vanni F, Carolus JF, Weisshaidinger R, Bartel-Kratochvil R, Mayer A, Frick R, Hrabalová A, Linares Quero A, Iragui U, Astrain Massa C, Helin J, Huismann D, Guisepelli E, Fleury P, Vincent A, Smyrniotopoulou A, et al (2021) Report on Key Barriers of Agro-ecological Farming Systems in Europe and Co-constructed Strategies : Deliverable Report D3.4. UNISECO project, 126 p, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.5549542
- 17
Schwarz G, Prazan J, Landert J, Miller D, Vanni F (2021) Supporting advice, education and lifelong learning to promote agroecological transitions. UNISECO project, 2 p, Policy Brief, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.5009012
- 18
Schwarz G, Vanni F, Miller D (2021) The role of transdisciplinary research in the transformation of food systems. Agric Food Econ 9:35, DOI:10.1186/s40100-021-00207-2
- 19
Landert J, Schwarz G, Cazacu M, Prazan J, Helin J, Weisshaidinger R, Bartel-Kratochvil R, Mayer A, Hrabalová A, Guisepelli E, Fleury P, Vincent A, Carolus JF, Smyrniotopoulou A, Vlahos G, Balazs K, Szilagyi A, Podmaniczky L, Gava O, Povellato A, et al (2021) Updated Story Maps on Lessons Learnt from each Case Study : Deliverable Report D3.6. UNISECO project, 15 p, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.5576192
- 20
Landert J, Pfeifer C, Carolus JF, Schwarz G, Albanito F, Muller A, Smith P, Sanders J, Schader C, Vanni F, Prazan J, Baumgart L, Blockeel J, Weisshaidinger R, Bartel-Kratochvil R, Hollaus A, Mayer A, Hrabalová A, Helin J, Aakkula J, et al (2020) Assessing agro-ecological practices using a combination of three sustainability assessment tools. Landbauforsch J Sustainable Organic Agric Syst 70(2):129-144, DOI:10.3220/LBF1612794225000
- 21
Albanito F, Landert J, Carolus JF, Smith P, Schwarz G, Pfeifer C, Müller A, Helin J, Huismann D, Guisepelli E, Fleury P, Vincent A, Smyrniotopoulou A, Vlahos G, Iordanidis Y, Szilagyi A, Podmaniczky L, Balazs K, Galioto F, Sanders J, et al (2020) Assessment of sustainability trade-offs and synergies among agro-ecological practices at farm level : Deliverable Report D3.5. UNISECO project, 108 p, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.5576122
- 22
Linares Quero A, Gava O, Povellato A, Schwarz G, Iragui Yoldi U, Astrain Massa C, Galioto F, Vanni F (2020) Deliverable Report 5.3 Participatory analysis of market and policy instruments for agro-ecological transition. UNISECO, 40 p, DOI:10.5281/zenodo.5578043
- 23
Lampkin N, Schwarz G, Bellon S (2020) Policies for agroecology in Europe, building on experiences in France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Landbauforsch J Sustainable Organic Agric Syst 70(2):103-112, DOI:10.3220/LBF1611684471000
- 24
Landert J, Pfeifer C, Carolus JF, Albanito F, Müller A, Baumgart L, Blockeel J, Schwarz G, Weisshaidinger R, Bartel-Kratochvil R, Hollaus A, Hrabalová A, Helin J, Aakkula J, Svels K, Guisepelli E, Fleury P, Vincent A, Smyrniotopoulou A, Sanders J, et al (2019) Database on the performance of current AEFS as an input to the modelling in WP4 [Datenpublikation] [online]. UNISECO, zu finden in <https://zenodo.org/record/3593989#> [zitiert am 06.01.2020], DOI:10.5281/zenodo.3593988
- 25
Landert J, Pfeifer C, Carolus JF, Albanito F, Müller A, Baumgart L, Blockeel J, Schwarz G, Weisshaidinger R, Bartel-Kratochvil R, Hollaus A, Hrabalová A, Helin J, Aakkula J, Svels K, Guisepelli E, Fleury P, Vincent A, Smyrniotopoulou A, Sanders J, et al (2019) Deliverable Report D3.1 Report on environmental, economic and social performance of current AEFS, and comparison to conventional baseline. UNISECO, 234 p
- 26
Vanni F, Gava O, Povellato A, Guisepelli E, Fleury P, Vincent A, Prazan J, Schwarz G, Bartel-Kratochvil R, Hollaus A, Weisshaidinger R, Frick R, Hrabalová A, Carolus JF, Iragui Yoldi U, Elía Hurtado S, Pyysiäinen J, Aakkula J, Helin J, Rikkonen P, et al (2019) Deliverable Report D5.2 Governance networks supporting agro-ecological farming systems. UNISECO, 65 p
- 27
Helin J, Schwarz G (2019) Deliverable Report D6.1 Report on the prototype of the spatially explicit interactive online tool and functions. UNISECO, 27 p
- 28
Irvine KN, Miller D, Schwarz G, Smyrniotopoulou A, Vlahos G (2019) Deliverable Report D7.2 A guide to transdisciplinarity for partners. UNISECO, 46 p
- 29
Budniok M-A, Howe M, Miles B, Vlahos G, Smyrniotopoulou A, Irvine KN, Miller D, Schwarz G (2018) Deliverable 7.1 Guidelines for the selection of Multi-Actor Platform (MAP) Members. UNISECO, 17 p
- 30
Schwarz G, George V (2018) Enhancing the understanding of barriers and drivers of agro-ecological farming systems in the EU: Exploring contributions of a socio-ecological systems perspective. In: AAG 2018 New Orleans: Annual meeting abstracts, 10. April - 14. April, 2018, New Orleans, USA, Association of American Geographers (AAG). pp 1201-1202
- 31
Schwarz G, Zilans A, Zabalza Armendariz S, Vlahos G, Vincent A, Veidemane K, Vanni F, Theurl M, Smyrniotopoulou A, Smith P, Schrader C, Sanders J, Samsonova P, Röös E, Rikkonen P, Puscas A, Prazan J, Povellato A, Podmaniczky L, Pechrova M, et al (2018) Understanding and improving the sustainability of agro-ecological farming systems in the EU - the UNISECO project. Verhandl Gesellsch Ökol 47/48: 39
