4-6th of Nov, CAWR researchers attended the SCALE-it annual consortium meeting in Granada, Spain. Plans were refined for 65 on-farm trials of alternatives to contentious inputs in organic farming & horticulture. Keep up to date with their newsletter: https://scale-it-organic.eu/newsletter/

Can you help an @coventrycawr.bsky.social MSc student who's investigating pollinating insects e.g how management approaches such as planting attractant plants can be most effectively utilised and their pros and cons? He has set up a short survey for growers to complete

forms.gle/FDj5Q4jXLn9u...

CAWR’s Ulrich Schmutz & Judith Conroy represented the Coventry Agroecological Living Lab (CALL) at the 2nd meeting of the European Network of Agroecology Living Labs & Research Infrastructures & attended the International Forum on Agroecosystem Living Labs in Bordeaux, France.

CAWR researchers Margi Lennartsson, Geraldine Brown & Judith Conroy are working with Garden Organic and their Heritage Seed Library on a new project, to raise awareness of heritage crop varieties and their significance for biodiversity and resilience: https://bit.ly/49daaHZ

In September CAWR colleagues began work on the Horizon Europe project WINN-ORGANIC (Widening INNovations for ORGANIC food). Partners aim to improve procurement of organic food through the creation of Organic Food Innovation Hubs, working towards the vision of ‘organic for all’.

The first SCALE-it newsletter is out! 🌿

From vibration-based pest control and medicinal plants in animal health to agroecology in action - discover how partners are advancing sustainable solutions for organic farming.

🔍Read it here: mailchi.mp/a7d22b082b1e...

#SCALE_it #OrganicFuture

With funding from CU's Sustainability theme, CAWR’s Gemma Foster & Judith Conroy have been exploring the potential of high-protein crops which are currently underutilised. Growers from Coventry's Agroecological Living Lab were interviewed & the findings explored in a workshop at The Pod Café.

CAWR researchers participated in the kick-off meeting for new project - SCALE-it (upSCALing Efficient alternatives for contentious InpuTs in organic farming). This Horizon Europe Innovation Action is a €7.5 million, 4year project with €6.1 EU funding.

Riverford Organic Farmers have released a new film about work to eliminate the use of peat-based growing media. Their recent project with CAWR, Delfland Nurseries & Cambridge Eco has led to exciting developments where a peat phase-out is closer than ever: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7r6...

A fantastic day! Thanks to all those who joined me to enjoy a great range of urban bees including: Willoughby's leafcutter (Megachile willughbiella), Patchwork leafcutter (Megachile centuncularis) and at least 2 species of Yellow-faced bees (Hylaeus spp.)

CAWR’s Judith Conroy & Ulrich Schmutz have co-authored a new publication exploring how living labs can contribute to agroecological transition. The open access paper is the result of work with partners on the Horizon Europe project Agroecology For Europe: bit.ly/3HnLYGQ

🥁🌱 Kick-off in Frick, Switzerland - hosted by FiBL!
36 partners, 16 countries, 4 years of scaling up #OrganicFarming with #SCALE_it 🌿

Highlights:
🔹 65+ demo trials
🎨 New visual ID
🐄 Field visits

More to come - stay tuned!

#HorizonEurope #NatureBasedInputs #OrganicFuture