#5 Policy Brief - How to Value and Fund Agroecological Transformation

Agroecology aims to comprehensively transform food and farming systems, in all dimensions, from production to distribution and consumption, as well as governance. The aim is to achieve greater environmental and societal benefits, while reversing the negative effects caused by existing food systems. Yet an agroecological transformation requires ‘valuing’ agroecology and making available investments that strengthen innovative agroecological approaches, support new markets and help food system actors break free from current lock-ins. Therefore, funding agroecology is a fundamental step to enable the necessary transition.

Thus, AE4EU has created a snapshot of agroecological funding. Quantitative data was collected via European online statistic platforms, whereas qualitative data was generated through questionnaires and interviews with stakeholders directly involved in practicing, funding, and implementing programmes on agroecology in various countries.

Our research has shown that across Europe, good examples do exist to support agroecology. These can be used as models to be scaled out in other contexts. Crucially, it is necessary to create more accessible and effective funding for agroecology to reach ‘grassroots’ actors on the ground, that is, the growing agroecology movement, which includes many young people and new entrants into farming, as well as small-scale farmers more broadly. Therefore AE4EU suggests the following recommendations:

1. Fund projects that are dedicated to all levels and dimensions of food system change.
2. Avoid projects that are too large (beyond 10-15 million), as it could concentrate power.
3. Integrate long-term thinking into funding strategies and allow transformative results over time, including the continuation of successful projects after reassessment and amendments.
4. Develop results-based payments that reward evidenced results (e.g. increasing soil carbon content and insects, less pollution, higher welfare).
5. Increase the understanding and capacity of agroecology by supporting participatory agroecological research; introducing agroecological expertise into agricultural colleges and training programmes; and create farmer-to-farmer knowledge exchanges and field schools.
6. Create intelligent and responsive funding mechanisms with simplified application processes; free or low cost advisory services for small farmers to access funding; more small-scale funding opportunities; and more flexible funding schemes which empower applicants to experiment with agroecological principles.
7. Empower local governments and municipalities to dispense funds to local initiatives, and continue to build and provide funding via the LEADER approach.
8. Create an enabling environment for agroecology by strengthening the development of short food supply chains (including public procurement); value and support small agroecological farms and enterprises, including those under 1 ha in size; support new entrants to use agroecological practices; and educate advisory services and bank personnel on the potential of agroecology.
9. Think and act systemically by overcoming siloed conversations, connecting institutions and ministries, and building integrated thinking and funding.

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#3 Policy Brief - Fostering the transformative role of agroecological research in Europe

This policy brief aims to provide research-based policy recommendations for policy makers that are responsible for the design and funding of research programmes related to sustainable agriculture, as well as agroecology.

The research was undertaken as a desk-based activity in order to collect information on research projects and funding programmes which deal with agroecology in Europe, principally at the European (within the Horizon framework which is funded by the European Union) and transnational (codesigned and co-funded by Member States with the participation of European Union) levels.

Based on the research and three surveys that were conducted, the policy brief introduces science-based recommendations, with the aim to steer the actions of policy makers responsible for the design and funding of research programmes related to agroecology, in order to fortify its transformative role for the future of agriculture and sustainable food systems.

1. Establish research programmes that consider the entire agri-food system and its actors, not only on the agronomic field and farming scales.
2. Strengthen research cooperation and networks at the European scale by lowering the barriers that hinder the connection and participation of the currently less involved countries.
3. Promote research programmes addressing, at least, level 3 (redesign) of Gliessman’s framework, and especially those that go beyond this and include the social and governance aspects of level 4 and 5 on the other hand, diminish research programmes addressing only level 1 (efficiency) and 2 (substitution).
4. Design research programmes that strengthen transdisciplinary research, and explicitly demand the implementation of transdisciplinary designs and processes.
5. Enhance the involvement of a greater number of actors from the entire agri-food system, in particular those who have been less represented thus far, such as upstream and downstream value chain actors, and the non-economic actors of the food system (i.e., citizens).
6. Identify important elements and traits of agroecological Living Labs to truly guarantee the implementation of transdisciplinary approaches.
7. Promote appropriate policies regarding scientific data to guarantee data sharing and reuse within the scientific community (i.e., rewards, mandatory data sharing agreements).
8. Introduce institutional and procedural innovation to guarantee higher flexibility in the implementation of research projects, especially within budget and partnership management.
9. Increase the duration of projects that are dealing with agroecology.
10. Frame research programmes in a way that does not allow small projects whose results might be too simplified, as well as very large ones that cannot be efficiently managed

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#1 Policy Brief - Improving Eco-Schemes in the Light Of Agroecology: Key Recommendations for the 2023-2027 Common Agricultural Policy

Improving Eco-Schemes in the Light Of Agroecology: Key Recommendations for the 2023-2027 Common Agricultural Policy discusses the new CAP structure, as well as its content, through recommendations gathered from previous work of partners and contemporary insights within the various work packages of AE4EU. One of principal changes within the new CAP has been the inclusion of Eco-schemes – voluntary programmes linked to the first pillar which will be available to farmers with the hope to incentivize more ecological and environmentally-friendly farming practices. While agroecology holds an eminent space within this list by being listed as one of the primary recommendations, it does so within a role of just another practice to achieve a more sustainable farming system. The recommendations concluded for the Eco-schemes were the following:

1. Separate practices from production systems.
2. Create basic premiums for all eco-friendly agricultural production systems.
3. Create multi-dimensional Eco-schemes that encourage the implementation of multiple practices at once.
4. Ensure proportionality between the level of payment and the expected environmental benefits.
5. Maintain rigorous conditionality by not paying for what should be mandatory.
6. Public money for public goods.

The work included an assessment on which countries have included agroecology in their plans, as well as which schemes seem promising or concerning for the advancement of agroecology. Assessments showed that only 19 % Eco-schemes are likely to deliver their environmental objectives, well designed schemes are underfunded, while their less demanding counterparts remain more financially attractive (BirdLife Europe et al., 2021). This is dangerous for true environmental benefits to biodiversity, soil health, and climate mitigation and adaptation. For more information download and read the full policy brief below.

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