On June 17, 2024, the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia (KIS) hosted the official kick-off meeting of its Living Lab initiative for the LiveSeeding project. This event gathered 18 participants, including representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of the Republic of Slovenia, alongside researchers, farmers associations, and other stakeholders from the value chain.
The primary goal of the event was to introduce and establish the KIS Living Lab, a dedicated platform focusing on the cultivation of organic and local varieties of buckwheat, wheat, potatoes, and beans. This initiative aims to integrate various stakeholders, including researchers, breeders, farmers, seed companies, educational institutions, policy makers, and agrifood sector businesses, as well as engage the broader community in promoting sustainability and social inclusivity.
The agenda for the kick-off meeting started with a warm welcome from prof. Andrej Simoncic, the director of KIS. The morning session featured presentations from Matteo Petitti from Rete Semi Rurali about the LiveSeeding project, illustrating successful examples of Living Labs from across Europe. Darko Fercej from E-Zavod elaborated on experience with Living Labs in Slovenia through the UPSURGE project, highlighting local achievements and challenges.
Dr. Peter Dolnicar from KIS discussed lessons learned from farmer participation trials and breeding within the context of the ECOBREED project. The focal point of the meeting was the introduction of the KIS Living Lab by Dr. Vladimir Meglic, outlining the importance of Living Labs for the LiveSeeding project. A lively discussion followed, with participants expressing a strong interest in enhancing knowledge exchange, promoting sustainable farming techniques, and supporting local biodiversity through organic seed production.
Overall, the KIS Living Lab kick-off meeting laid a solid foundation for future collaboration and innovation in sustainable agriculture. It highlighted the critical role of partnerships across sectors in addressing agricultural challenges and promoting ecological resilience.
