Review of events
On 11 May 2022, the Farm Demo conference showed how knowledge-sharing promotes sustainable agriculture. Three Horizon 2020 projects – NEFERTITI, IPMWORKS and IPMDecisions – jointly organized the event.
NEFERTITI’s and IPMWORKS’ approaches are based on networks of pioneer farmers using sustainable agricultural practices. These practices are then disseminated between farmers through demonstration events and knowledge sharing, coordinated by advisors. IPMWORKS focuses on the holistic implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) while NEFERTITI covers a wider range of sustainability issues. IPM Decisions provides access to Decision Support Systems to NEFERTITI and IPMWORKS.
In the final panel, IFOAM Organics Europe’s Research and Innovation Manager, Bram Moeskops took part discussing the “Future of demo farms networks for sustainable agriculture” with Jean Baptiste Dollé (IDELE, FR) and Stefan Top (AVR / CEMA, BE).
Jean Baptiste Dollé is the coordinator of the Horizon Europe project Climate Farm Demo that will start in October 2022. The project will build on the experience of NERFERTITI and IPMWORKS on demo farm networks. Jean Baptiste stressed the importance of dissemination of sustainable practices to reach farmers outside demo farm networks.
Stefan Top emphasized that new technology supports sustainable agriculture as it reduces the need for agricultural inputs like pesticides and fertilizers.
Countering this, Bram Moeskops stated that we first have to redesign our farming system to make it more sustainable. To fulfill the Farm to Fork Strategy’s goal of 25% organic agricultural land in the EU by 2030, 1 million farmers and producers would have to enter the organic system according to calculations of IFOAM Organics Europe.
The NEFERTITI project is an EU-wide connected network of demonstration and pilot farms to enhance knowledge exchange and innovation uptake. It established 10 interactive thematic networks, connected 45 regional clusters of demo-farmers and related actors in 17 countries. IFOAM Organics Europe is a partner in the project.
Make sure to follow @NEFERTITI EU on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn & YouTube to stay tuned about the latest updates.
IPMWORKS promotes the adoption of IPM strategies, based on a EU-wide network of farmers, who will both progress further in the adoption of IPM – through peer-to-peer learning and joint efforts – and demonstrate to other farmers holistic IPM approaches. IFOAM Organics Europe is a partner in the project.
NEFERTITI has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 772705. This communication only reflects the author’s view. The Research Executive Agency is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information provided.
IPMWorks has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101000339. This communication only reflects the author’s view. The Research Executive Agency is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information provided.