Agroecology: LEGVALUE and IWMPRAISE projects by Sant’Anna School Institute of Life Sciences selected for funding under EU Horizon 2020

The Agroecology Team of Sant’Anna School Institute of Life Sciences added another achievement to its list. Funding for two research projects have been obtained from EU Horizon 2020. Sant’Anna School scientists proposed one project to investigate innovative farming systems for enhancing sustainable legume-based farming systems and developing value chains for food and agri-feed. A second project will be aimed at reducing pesticide use by promoting non-chemical methods of weed control.

The LEGVALUE project (“Fostering sustainable legume-based farming systems and agri-feed and food chains in the EU”), will cover the diversity of available legume species across Europe and will explore the impact of the potential development of legumes on other crops encouraging management practices that safeguard harvests, human health, and the environment. Researchers developed an analytical framework for complex global collaboration involving people and academics (farms, the feed industry, the food chain and the EU institutions). Paolo Bàrberi, professor of agronomy at Sant’Anna School, is the team leader for the Agroecology group.

The IWMPRAISE project (“Integrated Weed Management: PRActical Implementation and Solutions for Europe”) aims to provide integrated pest management solutions to reduce dependence on pesticides in major farming systems in Europe by emphasizing the application of ecological concepts. The future of the integrated weed management if applied in combination with good agronomic practice will enable a more sustainable agriculture with less impact on the environment and biodiversity, providing safe food for human populations. Anna-Camilla Moonen, researcher of agronomy at Sant’Anna School, is the team leader for the Agroecology group.

Paolo Bàrberi, as the team leader for the Agroecology group, said: “Our research activities are now receiving increasing attention as an integrated approach to sustainable agriculture capable of producing adequate food for all. We need to support agroecological and agroindustrial systems to make them more productive, environmentally sustainable and resilient”.

Cover photo and gallery: the Agroecology Team of Sant’Anna School Institute of Life Sciences working on Horizon2020 projects.