EU-FarmBook

Biogas done right: 10 "FARMING FOR FUTURE” actions for the agroecological transition. In particular, the aim is a greater stock efficency of C and N into the soils and a lower GHG and N emissions in the atmosphere linked to the digestate use in agriculture. Ecological practices (minimum soil tillage, innovative low-emission systems for the distribution of digestate) to reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and increase the supply of organic matter in the soils. The "FARMING FOR FUTURE" actions for the agroecological transition are the follow: - Renewable energy in agriculture, replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources to reduce pollution and emissions; - Agriculture 4.0, adopt advanced agricultural techniques and farming to optimize the use of nutrients; - Livestock manure management,use livestock manure and agricultural by-product to reduce emissions and produce renewable bioenergy - Organic fertilization, using digestate to guarantee the return of nutrients into the soil and reduce the chemical input; - Innovative agricultural processes, adopt agronomic techniques (e.g., minimum tillage, no-tillage, organic fertilization) to reduce emissions into the atmosphere; - Quality and animal welfare, implement agricultural and farm techniques to improve quality and animal welfare. - Increase in soil fertility, adopt double crops to increase carbon sequestration and soil fertility; - Agroforestry, integrate woody crops to increase photosynthesis and organic matter into the soil; - Production and utilisation of biomaterials, using biological, natural and renewable materials - Biogas and other renewable gas, produce methane and hydrogen from agricultural biogas.

• Sustainable agrotechnics
• Renewable fertilizers
• Fertigation
• Digestate microfiltration
• Subsurface drip fertigation

There is growing interest in more direct means of food distribution and consumption, as well as the emergence of innovative and alternative models that change the way food is retailed and purchased. These diverse models of direct distribution are known as Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs) which are gaining increasing attention across Europe in response to the challenges faced by conventional long food chains, both in rural and urban areas. A commonly shared view of SFSCs is that they may strengthen farmers’ position in the value chain and tackle unfair trading practices, whilst providing greater added value, contributing to local economic development, and operating in a more socially and environmentally responsible way. For many consumers, SFSCs represent a means to access high quality, fresh, locally sourced produce, as well as a way of contributing to the social life of local communities. These SFSCs have the potential to stimulate consumers’ interest in the value and origins of food, as well as strengthen social relations. SFSCs have gained political attention in recent years with EU rural development and food policies emphasizing that SFSCs can generate economic, social, and environmental benefits that contribute to sustainability. However, scientific evidence on the economic, social, and environmental impacts of various types of SFSCs has been, until recently, mixed and scattered, lacking a comprehensive and holistic assessment. The European Union Horizon 2020 project ‘Strength2Food’ sought to fill this gap, undertaking an in-depth, empirical evaluation of the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of SFSCs, based on both quantitative and qualitative analysis. To help practitioners achieve tangible benefits and move toward more sustainable strategies, this guide provides evidence-based insights on good practices and recommendations to strengthen SFSCs according to the three pillars of sustainability. This guide is specifically aimed at practitioners who are working with the sale and distribution of food in SFSCs, as well as policy makers and public authorities shaping the institutional framework for these initiatives. It focuses on two main questions: (i) to what extent, and in what ways, do SFSCs contribute to sustainability? (ii) how can practitioners and policy makers strengthen the sustainability of SFSCs? Addressing these questions through our research-informed insights provides an opportunity to reflect on the potential of SFSCs and learn from existing good practices.

• Short Food Supply Chains
• Sustainability
• Case-studies
• Evidence-based
• Good practice
• Recommendations

ReMIX aimed at analysing and optimizing the functioning of species mixtures, also called intercrops, in order to help design sustainable and diversified cropping systems for both conventional and organic agriculture. The studied species mixtures were mainly cereals and grain legumes. Eleven multi-actor platforms (MAPs) were set up in ten countries in order to demonstrate potential performances and interests of species mixtures. MAPs were a rich picture of promising species mixtures embedded in local negotiations and adjustments by relevant actors securing developing effective solutions fitted to the social and economic context in which farmers operate. Several knowledge syntheses, new experimental and modelling studies have been carried out to determine how plant traits (e.g. root architecture and canopy morphology), cropping practices (e.g. plant density), and environment (availability of N, P and water, light quality) influence the performances of species mixtures as compared to sole crops for the capture of abiotic resources and the control of animal pests, diseases and weeds. Novel ideas and specific concepts were developed in order to support breeding for intercropping. As much as possible, we aimed at converting scientific results into practical tools and synthetic information disseminated not only to farmers, advisors, and other farming sector stakeholders, but also to policy makers.

• Intercropping
• cereal-legume mixture
• multi-actor approach