Cultivating Wisdom: Agroecology Innovation from Experts in the Field

Collaboration and innovation are key to sustainable growth. That’s why AAB, Organic Research Centre (ORC) and Agroecology Research Collaboration (ARC), which includes the Landworkers Alliance (LWA) are thrilled to organise this event dedicated to the benefits of on-farm participatory research. This event is designed to be of interest to farmers seeking to know what research can offer, researchers aiming to connect with farmers or social scientists and economists who wish to better understand to wider societal and financial consequences of the adoption of agroecological practices.

 Over the past two years the ARC has explored the potential impacts of on-farm research in a unique UKRI-funded project entitled ‘Experts in Your Field’. This event explores the specific impact of this project as well as drawing together those farmers, land managers, environmentalists and academics who are excited and/or curious by the potential of on-farm research. This event flips the format of most AAB-events by encouraging farmers to share/present the realities of on-farm research so that researchers can be better informed and both can work together to improve vital on-farm research

 Why Attend?

• Discover how participatory research can directly improve farming practices.
• Learn from farmers as to how and why they have implemented on-farm research projects.
• Engage in discussion to  gain new skills and fresh insights.
• Understand the invaluable insights and data that on-farm research can provide.
• Build meaningful cross-sector partnerships that facilitate future collaborative projects.
• Share your findings and receive feedback from the wider community.
• Understand the financial implications of adopting agroecological methods

 The Value of On-Farm Participatory Research

On-farm participatory research is a collaborative approach that brings farmers and researchers together to conduct practical, field-based studies. This method not only ensures that research is relevant and immediately applicable but also empowers farmers with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about their farms. This event includes plenary, breakout and poster sessions with an absolute premium on providing opportunities for discussion and networking. It is hosted at the Birch Community Centre in Manchester and catered by a Manchester Urban Diggers (MUD) based locally at Platt Fields Market Garden.

This will be a unique event to which we encourage academics, agronomists, social scientists, economists and on-farm workers to attend and share ideas.