Living Lab for the agroecological weed management in cherry crop in Extremadura region

Our Living Lab (LL) was born out of the GOOD_Agroecology for weeds project (H2020). It is based in the north of the Extremadura region (southwestern Spain). Our activity is closely related to fruit production (mainly cherry crop) in mountain systems. The LL board is coordinated by CICYTEX (Center for Scientific and Technological Research in Extremadura) and it is composed by local organic and conventional farmers, advisors, local enterprises and cooperatives (Cooperativa Agroecológica de Montaña, Agrupación de Cooperativas del Valle del Jerte, Cooperativa del Campo de Navaconcejo, Grupo Alba), researchers, representatives from the Regional Government related to Organic Farming, CAP subsidies, Plant Health Service and Farmers Information Service and a local organization that conduct projects related to agroecological food consumption and farmers training (Asociación Paisaje, Ecología y Género).

The LL is focused on improving the weed management practices and soil health parameters in organic and conventional fruit mountain systems. The main challenges faced by cherry growers are the proper management of the spontaneous cover in the interrows and the reduction of herbicide use in the tree line, taking into account that most farms have difficulties in mechanisation due to their small size and orography. In the Cherry LL, agroecological management alternatives are being proposed that combine the sowing of permanent cover crops with mechanical weed control practices, mulching and herbicide applications reduced to 50% (only in conventional farms, in their transition pathway to a total elimination of herbicides).