AGROSUS successfully held its Mid-Term Event under the umbrella of the Digital Agroecology Cluster (DAC) Conference in Brussels on 17–18 November. The event brought together cluster members PATH2DEA, REFOREST, Farmtopia, GOOD, D4AgEcol, Agroserv and Agroecology Partnership alongside farmers, researchers, policymakers and advisors, to explore how digital technologies can accelerate Europe’s transition towards a more sustainable agriculture. Through its participation, AGROSUS deepened collaboration with sister initiatives and positioned its work within a broader multi-actor dialogue on the digital transition of sustainable farming.
As part of its Mid-term Event, AGROSUS hosted two key sessions that shaped the DAC Conference. They were both coordinated by Esther Valiño and Tamara Rodríguez from FEUGA, part of the AGROSUS communication and dissemination team.
Interactive Networking Session
The first day featured an Interactive Networking Session designed to encourage participants to explore one another’s backgrounds, interests and perspectives before informal networking began.
Following introductory remarks, attendees were grouped according to their professional profiles: those working directly with farmers or advisors, those using open-access datasets, AI or satellite data, and those engaged in policymaking. Each group then discussed three key questions: defining agroecology in one sentence, reflecting on how it influences their work, and identifying key gaps for future projects.
Discussions revealed diverse perspectives. Across groups, agroecology was broadly understood as a holistic, systemic approach with strong social and environmental dimensions. Participants highlighted fairness, community well-being and inclusivity as essential values. Education, data-driven evidence and knowledge exchange were identified as strategic priorities. Although digital tools were recognised as increasingly relevant, participants pointed difficulties in their usability, interoperability and alignment with on-farm realities.
Some distinctions also emerged. Farmers and advisors prioritised practical implementation and community needs, while policy and data-oriented groups emphasised standards, governance and interoperability. The AI and dataset group uniquely pointed out the environmental footprint of digital tools, reinforcing the need to assess sustainability within agroecological innovation.
The session stimulated meaningful exchanges that showcased the value of the project’s multi-actor approach and provided clear direction for future collaboration. Throughout the day, several digital tools including the AGROSUS Weed Database were also available for public interaction.
Co-creation Workshop – Sustaining the future of agroecological tools
On the second day, AGROSUS led a co-creation workshop focused on the future of digital agroecological tools. After short presentations showcasing the different tools being developed across the different projects, participants worked collaboratively around four key themes: integration, usability, adoption barriers and target users, with the aim of identifying opportunities and challenges across these fields.
Participants agreed on the importance of building trust in data management, particularly among farmers, who require clarity on how information is stored and used. They also highlighted the need for greater interoperability, calling for integrated and accessible systems with multilingual support and optimisation for mobile devices. Long-term sustainability emerged as a central concern, with proposals for open-source, low-cost maintenance models ensuring continuity beyond project funding cycles. Finally, stakeholders suggested involving advisors throughout tool development to ensure solutions remain practical and effective for farmers.
The insights gathered will foster continued collaboration within the cluster and contribute to a more connected and resilient digital ecosystem for agroecology.
AGROSUS at the DAC Conference
Beyond its own sessions, AGROSUS actively engaged throughout the DAC programme. Project coordinator Adela Sánchez represented AGROSUS in strategic exchanges with other projects. Additionally, Oliver Weiss, (AGROSUS advisor specialized in organic and agroecological agriculture) contributed to the panel “Barriers, Opportunities, and Policy Needs”, where he addressed policy support and innovation pathways for agroecology. On the second day, Luis Emmi (CSIC) joined the session “Digital Tools, Evaluation, and Practical Applications”, sharing insights on software modules, robotics and drones for sustainable farming.
The event marked a key milestone for AGROSUS, strengthening partnerships and reinforcing its commitment to shape the future of agroecological digital innovation in Europe.
