Project partners

The Thünen Institute of Biodiversity coordinates research on biodiversity and ecosystem services of agricultural landscapes in a broad range of inter- and transdisciplinary working groups and projects, including living lab activities. In SUNRISE the Thünen team leads WP1, contributes mainly to WP3 and WP5, implements the rapid ecosystem function assessment to monitor biocontrol-related innovations across different SUNRISE AELLs and coordinates the new AELL Weserbergland (Germany).  

The Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) is the Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants in Germany and an independent higher federal authority in the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity. The JKI with its Institute for Crop and Soil Science will establish on-station field trials to assess biodiversity, ecosystem function and crop yield in crop diversification measures. These measures will be selected based on the co-design process and if deemed suitable will be transferred to AELLs to generate agroecological innovations.

The Agricultural University of Iceland (AUI) is establishing an Agroecological Living-Lab (AELL) in collaboration with Sveppasmiðja ehf., a local mushroom farm in West Iceland. The AELL is called “Mycolab Vesturland” and focusses on closing waste loop cycles on farm site, involving also local industry, and on developing a novel aquaponic-mushroom farming system. AUI is also leading WP 5 “Guidelines and policies to foster the agroecological transition”.

The University of Pisa will be represented in this project by the Centre for Agri-Environmental Research “Enrico Avanzi” (CiRAA) which is the largest agricultural experimental centre in Italy and one of the largest in Europe (more than 500 ha of agricultural land). CiRAA has followed a way of working based on research, development and transfer of innovation, which is indispensable for identifying sustainable models of the territory and its social characteristics. In fact, CiRAA mainly conducts on-farm research and regularly organizes demonstration activities to involve local stakeholders in new developments and products. Plot-scale experiments are usually included in the layout of larger scale (field) experiments, several of which have been designed as long-term experiments.  The role of UNIPI in SUNRISE is to co-lead with SSSA the regional AELL “ALL TUSCANY”, host an on-station lighthouse for agroecological practices (cover crops, regenerative organic agriculture, intercropping, agroforestry) in arable crops/field vegetables/mixed farms and co-conduct on-farm testing of agroecological practices in arable farms, mixed farms, vineyards and olive tree plantations. UNIPI will act as hub for the Italian living lab, e.g. by hosting LL meetings and co-organising workshops and demo events. Moreover, UNIPI will lead task 3.1 on co-creative adaptation and testing of agroecological innovations in the Living Labs and also task 6.4, aimed to set the long-lasting strategy

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is a leading institution for research and education in sustainable agriculture. Within SLU, the Department of Crop Production Ecology focuses on advancing resilient and diversified cropping systems. As leader of Work Package 2, we coordinate key tasks aimed at expanding the Agroecology Living Labs (AELLs) across Europe and increase stakeholder engagement. We also support tasks to ensure effective knowledge sharing with farmers, advisors, academia, and policy-makers, and oversee the integration of gender and youth aspects. Together, these efforts support the wider adoption and scaling of agroecology, ensuring that the practices, partnerships, and learning processes established through SUNRISE generate lasting legacy effects across regions.

The Institute of Landscape Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (ILE SAS) is an interdisciplinary research institution focused on both basic and applied landscape-ecological research, as well as on the implementation of environmental projects, plans, and expert assessments.

ILE SAS is involved in all work packages (WPs) of the SUNRISE project and serves as the lead partner for Task 2.2: Engaging Diverse Stakeholders within WP2.