participatory research, practice community of farmers, co-creational solutions, nature restoration, soil health, effective biodiversity policy
Determine and assess benefits/impacts and trade-offs of agroecology, and identify best practices
At the University of Tartu we are looking for a consortium where we could contribute with the toolbox of social sciences. We are eager to investigate the social dimensions of agroecology and boost sharing of practical field-tested knowledge of agroecological practices among farmers. We can share the knowledge and experience of and contribute to building an agroecological practice community that aims to increase knowledge, knowledge transfer and capacity of farmers, policy makers, ecologists and agricultural advisors. Such interface helps collaboratively evaluate socio-economic and environmental performance of agroecological practices, their upscaling potential and find relevant tools.
Several research groups at the Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences of the University of Tartu actively collaborate with farmers to advise them on the implementation of agroecological practices and to study the ecological outcomes of their implementation. The research groups at the institute aim to improve collaboration between policymakers, scientists and farmers to find ecologically effective solutions with acceptable socio-economic impact to farmers and agricultural stakeholders. The aim is to promote the upscaling of effective agroecological practices in an inclusive way (knowledge networks, practice communities, participatory research with farmers). Preferred collaboration areas are soil health, regenerative agriculture, nature-based solutions.
According to QS World University Rankings by Subject (2024), the University of Tartu is one of the top 300 universities in the world in the fields of Biological Sciences and Agriculture and Forestry, ranked 251 – 300.