The 13 Co-Innovation Case Studies (CICS) will facilitate broad learning processes focusing on the technical as well as the social aspects of the innovation, emphasizing a shared purpose realizing intercropping systems.
The stakeholders involved are grouped according to the objectives they express and will work with researchers in a participatory approach to co-innovate in the development of processing technologies, production methods and product valorisation.
Demonstration and testing activities will be carried out both in farmers’ fields and with regard to easy-to-handle food processing technologies. The results will be concrete and validated operational solutions that can be adopted directly or adapted by the actors to fit their specific situation.
A network of experiments
The two-year field experiment will be based on a network of 15 sites covering a wide gradient of soil and climatic conditions. On the basis of a common protocol, the data collected will be analysed jointly using a statistical methodology adapted to meta-analyses in order to answer 4 key questions
Assess the performance and yield stability of associated crops compared to pure crops and identify the determining conditions
To assess the efficiency of abiotic resource use and the factors determining grain nutrient composition
Evaluate the pest control efficiency of intercropping to elucidate pest-induced yield differences in the case of reduced or no chemical pesticides
Identify the extent of ecosystem services provided by intercropping and the impact on soil health, N20 emissions and water quality (nitrate leaching and pesticide use avoidance)
Countries involved in IntercropVALUES with the location of the 13 case studies and the 15 meta-experimentation sites
Case studies
4 Hypotheses test
4 Hypotheses test + G*G*E*M interactions test
4 Hypotheses + N20 emissions test
4 Hypotheses + G*G*E*M interactions and N20 emissions test
Updates
from the experimentation sites
Field trips to Zhangye (PR China) to visit one of the intercropping experiments: maize and soybean
During June and July 2023, Professor Long Li and Dr. Rui-Peng Yu organized two field trips to visit the maize/soybean intercropping experiment in Zhangye, Gansu Province, PR China, which is included as one of the meta-experiments in WP 2 in IntercropVALUES Project....
Strategic intercrops can improve soil health and deliver multiple ecosystem services
Presentation of the 13 Co-innovation
Case Studies (CICS)
CICS 01 DENMARK
New business opportunities along local food value chains – including educational aspects
CICS 02 SWEDEN
Increased market demand for locally produces, value addition, unlocking from local to national
CICS 03 UK
New and high value product development requiring technical quality adjustments
CICS 04 FRANCE (SW)
Develop mixtures of species for food innovations adapted to original low productivity contexts
CICS 05 GERMANY
New product development including technology and adjustments/redefining regulations
CICS 06 GREECE
New sustainable products for local markets including new machineries and adaptation
CICS 07 LA REUNION
New proven crop management strategies using service plants between the sugarcane rows
CICS 08 SPAIN
Specific labelling to agri-food industry. Collective IPM actions and strategies
CICS 09 SERBIA
Added final product value with prototypes and operational solutions
CICS 10 FRANCE (w)
Local/regional values chains, up to national to bring out other groups in FNCUMA network
CICS 11 ITALY
Environmental service clarifications including technical equipment optimization and investment
CICS 12 MOZAMBIQUE
“Global south” model building with the transition from subsistence to commercial family farming
CICS 13 SWITZERLAND
Each value chain actor needs to experience benefit from intercropping strategies
