This year, the 2nd edition of the International Forum of Agroecosystem Living Labs (IF-ALL) took place in Bordeaux, France, between 15 and 17 October, co-organised by the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).
ÖMKi was represented by a delegation of eight including colleagues from different research teams (Judit Berényi Üveges, Valéria Csonka, Bálint Kapcsos, Aliz Márton, László Mezőfi, Virág Nagypál, Éva Stibinger, and Korinna Varga). The international forum attracted more than 150 participants from six continents. The event featured panel discussions and parallel scientific sessions presenting state-of-the-art agroecological practices and case studies, while also providing an opportunity to explore the challenges and experiences of agroecology living labs.
In the poster session of the forum, we presented the results of our ÖMKi On-Farm Living Lab
Field visits were also part of the program, where we had the opportunity to see two different living labs and a social experiment. At BACCHUS living lab, we had the opportunity to see an participatory initiative which facilitates the agroecological transition of vineyards dominated landscape through the combination of cultivated (mainly vineyards) and uncultivated (forests, meadows) habitats. The activities of the living lab primarily affect Libournais and Entre-Deux-Mers wine-growing regions, where producers face similar challenges (such as climate change, biodiversity loss, economic crisis in the wine sector, decrease in the attractiveness of the landscape, and difficulties arising from the coexistence of different stakeholders). The other field visit focused on the research activities of the Bocage Forestier living lab, which applies innovative strategies in the Landes de Gascogne region to restore biodiversity and improve the resilience of forests in agroforestry systems. The third visit was in Begles, a suburb of Bordeaux, where a one-year pilot project was presented about the experiences of a citizen-led food program. The project aimed to combat social inequalities and coordinate the ecological transformation of food systems by experimenting with 180 households where food was integrated into the general social security system therefore creating a new food social security system.
Enriched with experiences, we look forward to the third forum in 2027!
