Organic Innovation Days 2022: Living labs & lighthouse farms in organic, 11-12 October 2022, Rumbeke-Beitem & Brussels, Belgium

After two virtual editions of the Organic Innovation Days, this year’s edition will once again take place as a physical event on 11-12 October! As the only EU event on organic and agroecological research and innovation organised by TP Organics, the European Technology Platform for organic food and farming hosted by IFOAM Organics Europe, the Organic Innovation Days provide a unique opportunity to meet and network with stakeholders and EU decision-makers.

What to expect
This year’s Organic Innovation Days are dedicated to living labs and lighthouse farms in the organic sector and will feature the launch of TP Organics’ study on this theme.

Day 1, 11 October will be hosted by agri- and horticultural research and knowledge centre Inagro (Flanders, Belgium – a bus will be organised from Brussels). Exemplary cases from different parts of Europe analysed in the study will be presented such as ÖMKi On-Farm Living Lab etc., followed by an innovation workshop on how to implement the study recommendations. In the afternoon, we will visit the Inagro trial farm (14 ha sandy loam mixed vegetable and arable cropping farm, certified organic since 2003), celebrating its 20-year anniversary this year. The different trials conducted on the farm are always demand-driven by the organic farmers in Flanders.

Day 2, 12 October will take place at BluePoint Brussels, with keynote speeches from the European Commission and Thünen Institute of Farm Economics which will make the link to EU research & innovation policy (Horizon Europe) and to conversion to organic agriculture. The highlight will be the high-level policy debate with the European Commission and experts from the organic sector on the new Horizon Europe instruments EU Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ and the European R&I Partnership candidate on agroecology living labs and research infrastructures.

In the afternoon, the Stakeholder Forum for TP Organics Members will take place as a space for organic and agroecological stakeholders to exchange about and discuss recent developments and the past and future activities of TP Organics.

Download the draft agenda and stay tuned – always find upcoming updates on the dedicated event webpage! Do not miss this opportunity to get the latest insights into organic research and innovation at European level – register by 8 September!

Are you a member of TP Organics? Please fill in the dedicated registration form for the Stakeholder Forum by 13 September.

TP Organics are looking forward to welcoming you in person!

TP Organics is the European Technology Platform for Organic Food and Farming. IFOAM Organics Europe is a founding member and hosts its secretariat. Visit www.tporganics.eu for more information and follow its Twitter @TPorganics.