Collective knowledge space and needed farmer engagements (ReMIX Practice Abstract)

Summary

Outcome
11 Multi-actor Platforms (MAPs) were built across Europe to share knowledge on species mixture strategies through a co-design process.
Practical recommendations
- Re-introduction of crop diversity strategies within codes of good agricultural practice is the starting point. To succeed in this, knowledge exchange barriers between research and practice, and along the value chains, need to be broken, increasing awareness and dialogue on valid species mixture use whilst securing implementation of locally relevant, practical and innovative solutions.
- Farmers are regarded as the key actors in designing viable and appealing species mixture systems and their input is crucial. The MAP approach creates a positive arena that can empower the farmers to create local solutions, increasing the success of crop mixture use in practice and building up a wider network of agricultural actors in order to develop viable economic/business models.
Practical testing/ Farmers' experiences
Several events and visits hosted by satellite farms and at the central hub site have been used to stimulate discussion about species mixtures which might work well in a given situation for a particular end purpose (co-design).