AllEcoSys project

Congratulations to Dr. Achim Schmalenberger, School of Biological Sciences, and Dr. Mary Curtin, Kemmy Business School,  who successfully secured €496,000 for the University of Limerick.

The award is funded under the first AGROECOLOGY Partnership and the AllEcoSys project will investigates the implementation of agroecological practices across Europe. The  project aims to promote sustainable and resilient agricultural systems by implementing a network of living labs across Europe, that will facilitate the adoption of agroecological practices that enhance soil health, increase biodiversity, and foster natural pest and disease control. Through these practices, AllEcoSys seeks to create prosperous agro-businesses that contribute to sustainable food production and environmental conservation. The co-creation process, and combining traditional and indigenous knowledge with scientific insights, highlighting the role of producers' expertise and their close collaboration with the research infrastructure is at the core of AllEcoSys project.

Dr Curtinis leading WP5 on assessing the socioeconomic impact of agroecology-led farming methods at the farm level, with a focus on understanding the social, economic and environmental sustainability of these practices. WP5 will address socioeconomic evaluation and scale-up, analyzing the impact of agroecology-led farming methods on various social and economic factors, including gender dimensions. Dr Schmalenberger is co-lead on WP2, developing Living Labs in which he will investigate the role of microbes in the ground and on plants. The consortium includes researchers from Denmark, France, Germany, Romania and Norway.

Coordinator:  Professor Lene Sigsgaard, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Biosciences, NORWAY