Agroecology on the rise

3.5 million SEK awarded to TAELabs to lead agroecology innovation

Agroecology focuses on natural processes, promoting biodiversity, improving soil health, and reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals. Photo by Canva,

In the first call within the European partnership AGROECOLOGY, Formas is funding six research- and innovation projects. One of the projects awarded 3.5 million SEK is “Territorial Agroecological Living Labs (TAELabs)”, led by Jamila Haider at the Stockholm Resilience Centre.

Agroecology has been identified as a priority area by the EU. The goal of the projects granted funding is to accelerate the transition of various agricultural systems. Formas expects the agroecological partnership to be extended over the next 7-10 years.

The TAELabs project will be implemented across five Living Labs situated in fringe territories in Spain, Italy, Sweden, Germany, and Denmark. Each Lab will study the local agri-food system, identify pressing challenges, and co-design strategies to scale agroecological practices. The overarching goal is to inspire new policy measures that help speed up the shift to agroecology, especially for conventional farmers, through both local efforts and broader research partnerships.

“Agroecology is a systemic approach that is growing as a way of thinking. This isn’t only relevant for small-scale farming, but larger scale landscape level initiatives and organizations are highlighting it as a way to work towards sustainability,” says Jamila Haider.

TAELabs are partnering with Ekodistrikt Sörmland as one of the Living Lab partners.

In total, 35 funders from 22 European countries are participating in the call, which has a total budget of just over 30 million euros.

Topics: Agriculture Food security Farming systems Agricultural ecosystems

Published: 2025-05-23

Related info

What is agroecology?

Agroecology is a sustainable approach to farming that applies ecological principles to agricultural systems. It focuses on working with natural processes, promoting biodiversity, improving soil health, and reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals.

Agroecology also considers the social, cultural, and economic aspects of farming, aiming to support local communities, food sovereignty, and fair livelihoods. It integrates traditional knowledge with modern science to create resilient food systems that benefit both people and the environment.