Contexte

The GOOD project, "Agroecology for Weeds," addresses challenges in weed management across diverse European agricultural systems. It responds to the demand for reducing herbicide use by adopting a multi-disciplinary, stakeholder-engaged framework. Integrating social sciences, digital technologies, and natural sciences, GOOD co-creates, tests, validates, and demonstrates agroecological weed management (AWM) practices for conventional, organic, and mixed farming systems. A core aspect is the establishment of 16 Living Labs (LLs) in nine countries and an Agroecological Weed Management Network (AWMN). These platforms bring together farmers, advisors, researchers, policymakers, and industry actors to test AWM strategies in real-world settings. Strategies include among others cover crops, drones for weed mapping, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculants, promoting soil health, ecological balance, and crop competitiveness against weeds. GOOD also explores socio-economic and policy dimensions by analyzing behavioral drivers, market acceptance, and environmental impacts of AWM practices. This informs a sustainability assessment framework, business models, and policy recommendations for broader adoption of agroecological practices. Through dissemination, training, and stakeholder engagement, GOOD fosters a shift toward sustainable practices that benefit people and nature. Scalable and transferable outcomes ensure long-term impact across European agri-food systems. To build trust and enhance adoption, the project demonstrates tangible benefits and offers the AWM Toolbox, a digital Decision Support System for weed management.

Objectives

Weeds negatively affect the sustainability of EU farming systems with weed management relying to a large extent on herbicides. The reduction of herbicide use and risk has become major policy targets of Farm to Fork strategy, aiming to promote agroecology and the transition to sustainable and resilient farming systems. GOOD is a 4-year project adopting multidisciplinary approach, aspired to create and evaluate Agroecological Weed Management (AWM) systems, and demonstrate that AWM adoption enhances sustainability and resilience of cropping systems. The main ambition is to foster the agroecological transition for weed management across Europe. Living-Labs (LL) will be co-created with stakeholders and established in 6 EU pedoclimatic conditions in both annual and perennial crops to promote AWM practices in conventional, organic and mixed farming systems. The use and combination of cover crops along with several cultural practices, the use of beneficial microorganisms and digital tools will be assessed towards the agroecological manipulation and management of weeds and the increase of crop productivity and farmers’ income. The main outcomes include: (1) the creation of an Agroecological Weed Management Network (AWMN), (2) the development and combination of innovative and socioeconomically validated sustainable agroecological practices that will generate social, economic and environmental benefits through the reduction or elimination of chemical inputs and optimized use of natural resources linked to the post EU 2030 targets, (3) the digitalization of weed management, (4) the enhancement of the agricultural systems resilience without jeopardizing productivity and profitability. Successful outcomes will be promoted through dissemination and demonstration activities, and a web-Platform for the training of farmers on AWM systems, a repository on current weed management methods and herbicide use, and an AWM Toolbox to assist farmers' decision-making for AWM.

Activities

GOOD has made progress in upscaling agroecological weed management (AWM), pushing the boundaries of current practices and offering sustainable solutions that address the critical needs of modern agriculture and set up innovative pathways toward reducing reliance on chemical herbicides and fostering resilient agricultural systems. In the first experimental year, field trials established in 9 countries in conventional, organic, and mixed farming systems tested over 30 cover crop species, integrating practices such as mechanical weeding, intercropping, mulching, and reduced herbicide use in annual and perennial crops. One of the project’s results is the practical use of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculants. These fungi were successfully adapted for seed coating, offering a natural solution to enhance weed suppression by improving the competitive ability of cover crops while boosting soil health. This breakthrough is expected to reduce the need for herbicides and improve crop resilience in diverse farming systems. The project also harnesses the power of digital technologies to transform AWM practices. By using drone-based weed mapping, GOOD introduced new precision capabilities for identifying and managing weeds. A Decision Support System (DSS) is developed to help farmers optimize their weed management strategies based on local conditions by recommending cover crops sowing and combinations of AWM strategies. A key element of GOOD’s success has been the establishment of 16 Living Labs, which created a unique multi-actor framework. This allowed various stakeholder groups to collaborate, co-create, and evaluate AWM strategies in real-world settings. The participatory approach ensured that solutions were practical, context-specific, and widely accepted by stakeholders. Furthermore, comprehensive baseline assessments of soil health and biodiversity, combined with ongoing Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), will provide robust frameworks for measuring the environmental, economic, and social impacts of these agroecological strategies. These metrics will demonstrate the long-term benefits of transitioning to sustainable weed management practices. The results from the project have significant potential impacts. Environmentally, the reduction in herbicide use and the promotion of biodiversity lead to healthier ecosystems and improved soil function. Economically, the adoption of AWM strategies offers cost-effective solutions by reducing input costs and increasing yield resilience, which improves market competitiveness. Socially, the participatory approach empowers farmers and stakeholders, fostering trust and encouraging the widespread adoption of agroecological practices. To further accelerate the uptake of these innovations, several key needs must be addressed. Continued research and field trials are essential to refine and validate AWM strategies under varying conditions. Additionally, creating financial incentives and market access mechanisms, particularly for smallholder farmers, will encourage wider adoption. Protection and commercialization (while keeping them affordable) of the digital tools and AMF inoculation technologies are crucial for further adoption. Finally, supportive policy frameworks at the national level and international collaborations will help overcome adoption barriers and facilitate the spread of Living Lab model and AWM solutions.