What BIO-CROP aims to achieve

BIO-CROP accelerates the adoption of agroecological practices in the Baltic and Nordic regions through five specific objectives:

1. Design regionally adapted MRCS

Develop Multilayer Relay Cropping Systems integrating cereals, legumes, oilseed rape, allelopathic species, cover crops and on-farm biosolutions — tailored to enhance nutrient cycling and soil health under Baltic–Nordic conditions.

2. Integrate allelopathy and bio-based inputs

Incorporate allelopathic mechanisms and on-farm bio-based inputs (compost teas, plant extracts, fermented bio-stimulants) for natural weed, pest and disease suppression.

3. Evaluate trade-offs and synergies

Establish robust frameworks to evaluate trade-offs and synergies among productivity, sustainability and economic performance, using harmonised indicators, life-cycle assessment and participatory feedback.

4. Co-create through Living Labs

Facilitate the co-creation, testing and adaptation of MRCS in Living Labs across participating countries, ensuring practices are farmer-tested, scalable and inclusive.

5. Strengthen capacities for transition

Strengthen capacities for the agroecological transition through knowledge transfer and collaboration among farmers, advisors, researchers and policymakers — supported by multilingual training, digital tools and peer-to-peer learning.

Funding

The project is funded by the European Union and national funding bodies.

In Lithuania, the project activities are funded by the Research Council of Lithuania.

Project No. LMT – S-Agroecology 26-1.

BIO-CROP — AGROECOLOGY Partnership, Call 2 (Horizon Europe co-funded European partnership).

Project duration: 2 March 2026 – February 2029 (36 months).