AFINET is coordinated by UNIVERSIDAD DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Agroforestry (AF) is the practice of deliberately integrating woody vegetation (trees or shrubs) with crop and/or animal systems to benefit from the resulting ecological and economic interactions. Research activities developed by AFINET partners indicates that appropriate application of AF principles and practices is a key avenue to help the European Union to achieve more sustainable methods of food and fibre production, producing both profits for farmers and environmental benefits. However up to now exists a lack of AF knowledge among end-users that prevent the correct implementation of these practices.

BIOFRUITNET is coordinated by NATURLAND - VERBAND FUR OKOLOGISCHEN LANDBAU EV

The EU is the leading region for the production of organic fruits, with a rapidly expanding production and a demand for organic products which grows every year. However, at the same time, the amount and value of organic imports from outside the EU is increasing. For organic fruit farmers in the EU this poses a challenge to succeed in an increasingly competitive market. In addition, organic fruit growing is a very demanding farming activity. This is because, the sector faces specific problems that cannot be solved using conventional approaches based on the use of synthetics substances. As organic fruit growers cannot rely on synthetic inputs, many of them have, on a local level, developed competitive strategies to improve plant health. Moreover, there is considerable research on improving organic fruit growing systems. The problem, however, is that this knowledge is not easily accessible to farmers all over Europe and remains either locally known or only available in the scientific sphere.

SUWANU is coordinated by BIOAZUL, SL

Agricultural practices put the biggest pressure on fresh water resources for irrigation (55% of the water use in Europe) and on fertilizer usage. The European farmers face serious problems such as freshwater scarcity and nutrient availability, extreme climate conditions and the growing demand of the increasing population. This results in rising prices for mineral fertilizers and food, risky measures such as untreated wastewater applications on fields, and environmental damages from overexploitation of resources.
Even though important local efforts have been made on research activities and initiatives for wastewater treatment and reuse in agriculture, an integrated approach is needed among regions which are developing such research, incentivizing scientific, governmental and business collaboration within wastewater reuse in Europe and supporting the establishment of common European guidelines and parameters for water and nutrient exploitation efficiency.

EUROSHEEP is coordinated by INSTITUT DE L'ELEVAGE

The future of the sheep farming industry, in Europe and other associated countries, will be heavily influenced by its capacity to respond to several challenges including sustainability and profitability; environmental (in part due to climate change); and new societal expectations. To address these challenges, animal health and nutrition management are key levers which can be used by farmers EuroSheep will focus on those 2 topics.
The overall objective of the EuroSheep project is to create a self-sustainable EU/international Thematic Network on “sheep profitability through health and nutrition” designed to stimulate knowledge exchange and cross-fertilisation among a wide range of actors & stakeholders in the sheep sector in order to widely disseminate relevant and ready to use best practices and innovations, and to value the grassroots input and knowledge exchange from farmers to farmers.