crop diversity; hemp; agroecology; marginal soils; on-farm experimentation; Living Labs; short value chains; farmer engagement; seed establishment; bio-based inputs; resilience
Enhancing the genetic diversity and variability of crops and livestock for the agroecological transition
KannaLab is interested in joining a consortium under Topic 1 as a practice-based Living Lab partner. We contribute real-life implementation contexts in marginal rural regions of Eastern Slovakia, focusing on on-farm experimentation, farmer engagement, and the practical use of diverse crops within agroecological systems.
We are particularly interested in collaborations that:
– work with underutilised or multifunctional crops (e.g. hemp) in agroecological contexts,
– test crop performance, establishment and resilience under marginal soil and low-input conditions,
– link crop diversity with farmer viability through short, locally embedded value chains,
Our role is to ground research on crop diversity and variability in real farming conditions, supporting feasibility, learning-by-doing, and farmer uptake.
KannaLab is a Slovakia-based research and innovation initiative working in marginal rural regions of Eastern Slovakia. We operate as a practice-oriented Living Lab, providing real-world farming contexts for agroecological experimentation, learning-by-doing, and stakeholder engagement.
KannaLab does not act as an academic research coordinator; instead, our role is to enable on-farm experimentation, co-creation with farmers and local stakeholders (e.g. LEADER-type actors), and the translation of research on crop diversity and variability into practical, adoptable farming solutions.
Our current work focuses mainly on hemp as a multifunctional agroecological crop. We explore its cultivation under marginal conditions, including establishment, resilience, and performance in low-input systems, as well as its role in diversified cropping systems. Through collaboration with Textilné centrum (Slovakia remember), we also develop short farm-to-fibre value chains that connect crop diversity with local processing and downstream uses.
In parallel, we are exploring practical bio-based inputs, such as enzyme and microbial solutions for seed coating, aimed at supporting crop establishment and robustness under challenging conditions. These activities are at pilot stage and are embedded in real farming constraints rather than controlled laboratory research.
