Summary

This EIP (European Innovation Partnership) Operational Group focused on the concept of a comprehensive model of agri-food production management ‘from farm to fork’, using innovative cultivation technologies and process management tools for introducing plants to cultivation according to new cultivation technology. 

Breakthrough technologies based on agroforestry systems were developed and tested. This enabled a significant improvement in the condition of soil and water, increasing biodiversity and adapting to climate change, while increasing the profitability of agricultural and food production. The introduction of wild-growing herb species, including endangered ones, has resulted in the development of health-promoting products in the form of teas and spices.

Results

Six new cultivation technologies for agroforestry systems were developed and tested on the farm. For the first time in the world, five wild-growing species were introduced to cultivation: cloudberry, forest speedway, turnip, vegetable thistle and lungwort. This contributed to the preservation of biodiversity, including the protection of endangered species in their natural habitats.

According to research, the profitability of agricultural production using the ‘avenue agroforest system’ is at least 60 %higher than by monoculture.

A programme application for managing production ‘From farm to fork, innovative solutions for the agri-food sector’ has been developed in cooperation with AgriSolutions, an IT developer. The FarmCloud platform - www.farmcloud.eu is available to farmers free of charge.

The model is distributed in Poland and abroad. It was presented, among others at the 4th World Congress of Agro-forestry in Montpellier, France in 2019 and at a February 2020 conference in Poland, organised by the European Commission. This model of sustainable production ‘from farm to fork’ with its new technologies has been implemented in 20 farms in Poland and can also be transferred to farms in the EU.