How does crop rotation contribute to healthier ecosystems and more resilient farming systems? In this short field interview, Lorenzo Gabriele Tramacere, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Università di Pisa (UNIPI), and Stefano Carlesi, Assistant Professor at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies (SSSA), discuss the importance of crop rotation within the Italian VALERECO Living Lab. Filmed in Pisa, Italy, the conversation explores the value of crop diversification, the essential role of pollinators, and the next steps towards fostering sustainable and biodiversity-friendly agricultural practices.

Building on the first session of the series, this webinar focused on how legume-based systems can strengthen ecosystem services and foster more sustainable, biodiversity-rich farming landscapes. Experts discussed and presented how diversified legume systems enhance pollination by bees, improve soil health, and reveal the complex cause–effect relationships that shape resilient agroecosystems. The session also presented preliminary soil health insights from cowpea trials in Portugal, alongside perspectives from both the GOOD and VALERECO projects.

What role can legumes play in building more sustainable, climate-resilient food systems? In this short field interview, Ilias Travlos, Professor at the Agricultural University of Athens and VALERECO Project Coordinator, shares key insights into the potential of legume crops and their importance for farmers, biodiversity, and the future of European agriculture. Filmed at the VALERECO Living Lab in Pisa, Italy, the interview explores how legumes contribute to soil health, reduce dependence on synthetic inputs, and provide practical benefits to farmers.