Editor’s choice
Editor’s choice
part of Agroecology
Agroecology is emerging as a promising approach to transforming European food systems. It can deliver social, economic, environmental and health benefits, while helping to address the multiple crises facing agriculture today.
At the same time, agroecology challenges the dominant industrial food model. This model depends on long global supply chains, intensive inputs, policies designed for conventional production, and concentrated market power that limits the autonomy of farmers and communities. It also conflicts with agroecology in its core principles, including diversity, local production and fairness, as well as in the economic and policy frameworks that shape how food is produced, distributed and consumed.
Overcoming these tensions is essential for large-scale change. This will require coordinated action at every stage of the food value chain.
AgroPolis (Promoting AGROecology through co-creating value chain innovations and improved multi-level POLIcieS in a beyond-growth Europe) explores how agroecology can be supported throughout entire value chains. The project identifies the innovations, future visions and policy frameworks needed to build sustainable and resilient systems. It brings together researchers, practitioners and policymakers to co-develop solutions that connect production, processing, distribution and consumption, while advancing agroecological and beyond-growth approaches.
The work is guided by a two-tier, multi-actor living lab approach. Six national living labs in Germany, Italy, Norway, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden test and refine innovations in different parts of the value chain. A cross-country policy hub supports knowledge exchange, identifies structural barriers and develops practical policy recommendations at national and European levels.
By combining real-world experimentation with policy innovation, AgroPolis takes a systemic approach. It shows how food value chains can be redesigned to be locally rooted, resilient, equitable and ecologically regenerative. The project highlights practical pathways for European food systems to deliver social, environmental and economic benefits while supporting a beyond-growth vision.
The project is funded by Formas under the EU Agroecology Partnership.
Project / ASAPP works with farmers worldwide to document and share real examples of agroecology in practice, bridging theory and action for sustainable food systems.
Project / This project aims to make food and agricultural systems in Southeast Asia more sustainable, safer, and inclusive through agroecology.
Journal article / Publicly accessible housing data and machine learning hold genuine promise for large-scale urban retrofit strategy.
Press release / SEI researchers publish analysis on whether “rights of rivers” initiatives have led to environmental protections.
Project / SEI's Green Agenda project is helping Moldova design an EU-aligned agricultural conditionality system on its path towards EU accession.
