Agroforestry - a land use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or pastureland - has varied benefits, including increased biodiversity and reduced erosion. The combination of agriculture and forestry in the Mediterranean is deeply rooted in a culture of tradition and niche production but fails nowadays to structure its knowledge to achieve an integrated system of good practices for the sustainability of production, the protection of the biodiversity of distinct ecosystems, the transfer of innovation and the increase in profitability for the territories/actors involved. Therefore, LIVINGAGRO will tackle these issues using an Open Innovation approach, based on the setting-up of two Living Laboratories making possible the co-creation of the economic and social values and the interactions between supply and demand, eliminating geographical and cultural barriers. A specific focus will be on olive multifunctional system (Living Laboratory 1) and grazed woodlands (Living Laboratory 2). Olive cultivation is representative of many Mediterranean rural areas, and traditionally olive orchards were and are often still managed as agroforestry systems, in combination with cereals, fodder legumes and/or pasture. Grazed woodlands are major agroforestry systems in the Mediterranean that highly contribute to sustaining Mediterranean local economies supplying both vegetal and animal products. The identification and implementation of innovative value chains in agroforestry will create new opportunities for local communities in terms of sustainable farming practices and products diversification. In addition, food production stability will be improved over time, providing agricultural products of high quality while coping with limited resources and environmental constraints and generating increased farmers' income. Finally, the project will lead to different innovations with high business potential in the fields of agricultural machinery, food products, omics techniques, optimised uses of agricultural, forestry and breeding by-products and residues.

Who will benefit? Farmers and their organisations, extension services, consultancy firms, research centers, universities, local authorities, public or private companies, SMEs, industry, policymakers, users of the developed innovations.

Expected achievements: 2 cross-border living laboratories established for innovation and technological transfer in agroforestry, 4 research agreements between universities/research centers and the private sector, 8 enterprises cooperating with research institutions in innovation activities, 6 training courses on business creation, 10 new products/services developed in the agroforestry sector, 30 science to business brokerage events, 20 technology transfer and intellectual property brokering services provided.

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