Holistic evaluation of agroecological measures

The HEAL project, integrated into the European Agroecology Partnership, brings together six European countries (Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Germany, Ireland and Portugal) and aims, through a holistic approach developed in living labs and pilot farms, to generate agronomic, ecological and socio-economic evidence on the added value of crop rotations and intercropping in maize production systems. Within the framework of the project, experimental and demonstration fields will be established to assess the economic and ecological performance of these practices, in comparison with maize monoculture systems. The expected results will contribute to the valorization of these approaches, promoting them as viable alternatives, as well as to increasing farmers’ awareness and encouraging their adoption. In Portugal, the trials will take place in the Barcelos region, mainly at the experimental fields of the Barcelos Agricultural Cooperative. The project will include a strong co-creation and demonstration component involving farmers, promoting their active participation in identifying constraints and defining solutions adapted to the local context. Participatory workshops and field visits will be organized to foster dialogue among farmers, technicians and researchers, thereby facilitating the adoption of the agroecological practices under study.