Cropping system modelling (WP5)
Lead: Belgium (BE) with contributions of all project partners, including JRC as potential stakeholder at EU level.
Objectives: (1) Existing data along with produced data from WP 1 and 3 will be used to advance and validate the widely recognised soil-crop model STICS (https://www6.paca.inrae.fr/stics_eng/) to further simulate the multi-performance of IWG in response to various soil and climatic conditions across the EU. (2) Sustainability and resilience of the tested perennial grain cropping systems will be evaluated across space and time, in light of multicriteria performance (including agronomic considerations, biodiversity (WP 2 - 4), ecosystem services provided and future-proof potentials), as support of, and in interaction with, the co-creation process (WP6).
Tasks (T): Apply cropping system models to identify the most promising strategies of perennial crop integration, which guarantee economic reliability, foster biodiversity and enhance ecological services.
(T1) Generate results at the agroecosystem level to further understand and analyse its response to contrasted agro-ecological environments, by providing indicators and criteria related to the agronomic production potential (food/grain and feed/forage production) and other ecosystem services (e.g. water- and nutrient use efficiency, N cycling, C storage, CO2 and N2O emissions).
(T2) Evaluate the sustainability potential of tested (WP1 and 3) and innovative (WP6) perennial-based cropping systems through simulations across FRU and extrapolate results over space and time at EU level. Access to EU soil and historical climatic record databases will be granted by JRC.
(T3) Analyse resilience against climate change of the assayed perennial-based cropping system through modelling and generation of future climatic conditions using stochastic daily weather generators coupled to Global Climate Models (GCM) predictions.
(T4) Modelling results will support the design of nature-based innovative cropping systems (WP6) using multi-criteria and multi-performance approaches in a feedback loop process aligned with the co-creation process modelling activities.
Synergies between tasks: By linking experimentation (WP1 and 3) with process-based system approach modelling, WP5 will improve the understanding and detect the impacts of the complex interactions involved in nature-based perennial cropping systems. Here, cropping system models offer a comprehensive approach of the agroecosystem functioning, including the feedbacks loops at play, and dynamically simulate agricultural and environmental outputs and ecosystem services. Biodiversity components will be indirectly included through the a priori knowledge mobilised for the design of innovative cropping systems in WP6 (crop species and cultivar diversity within rotations, impacts of undisturbed soils on soil biological parameters, etc.), which also relies on knowledge gained in WP 2 and 4. It is furthermore explicitly considered through the crop sequences (including cover crops and intercropping), the soil and plant management regimes and the model parameters associated to microbiome activity controlling SOC dynamics and GHG emissions.
Work package 6 (WP6): Data integration and co-creation
Lead: Belgium (BE) and France (FR) with contributions of all project partners.
Objectives: (1) Conduct the interaction and co-creation process with stakeholders to identify knowledge gaps, determine limitations and requirements for the adoption of perennial crops, and define knowledge pathways to guide the design of innovative cropping system, following the concept of the interactive innovation model promoted by the EC. (2) Set up a data management plan (DMP) and consolidate the related databases, using rigorous statistical methods for robust data analysis (§ III.E) (3) Provide a holistic understanding of biotic and abiotic impacts and interactions at play in the studied perennial grain cropping systems (WP 1 - 5), and based on this, further develop the design of innovative and multi-performing nature-based cropping systems using perennial crops.
Tasks (T): To produce a general framework with practical guidelines to direct further co-creation process of innovative nature-based cropping systems.
(T1) Conduct, in the initial phase of the project, the first stakeholder workshops in those countries providing the FRU to identify requirements, limitations, expectations and perspectives for perennial crop implementation into agroecosystems. This twinning of farmers and researchers will facilitate field contact, knowledge dissemination, and evaluation of realistic perspectives towards the adoption of perennial grain crops. This reflection of advantages and constraints of the adoption of perennial grain crops by farmers will be supported by round-table discussions organised around the three FRU in SE, BE and FR.
(T2) Perform integration of data retrieved from WP 1 - 5, applying data handling methods and FAIR data principles, including development and maintenance of a project-adjusted DMP.
(T3) Conduct a second round of workshops (Year 2) to present preliminary results of T2 to stakeholders to target the design of theoretical and innovative perennial cropping systems using a priori knowledge through a co-creation process with stakeholders. Outputs will direct future research, including the in silico evaluation conducted with improved crop models (WP5).
(T4) Present results of T3 to stakeholders during a third round of workshops (Year 3), and to describe the potential of different options based on multi-criteria evaluation, including ecosystem services provided. Decision rules and improved cropping systems will be jointly identified by scientists and stakeholders.
(T5) Perform iterations of T3 and T4 to ensure solid feedbacks between practical relevance and science. Finally, design and evaluate optimized nature-based perennial cropping systems in light of a multi-criteria approach, including agronomic considerations and ecosystem services provided.
Synergies between tasks: WP6 is interlinked with all other WP in exchanging the relevant data for designing and evaluating innovative nature-based perennial cropping systems and in facilitating the interaction with stakeholders in a sequential co-creation process that will be deployed consistently during the whole project.
Work package 7 (WP7): Communication and dissemination
Lead: DE with support of all partners.
Objective: WP7 will warrant an adequate engagement of stakeholders, including specifically a strengthening of the science-policy interface, to disseminate project outputs in an adjusted manner to different recipients.
Tasks (T): A step-wise dissemination approach will be used to promote our “perennial grain vision” at the EU and global level. It considers adjusted identification, engagement, and sensitisation of diverse stakeholders.
(T1) Develop and lead the dissemination process of NAPERDIV outputs at national/international level. Dissemination strategies are shared among the consortium to keep a similar level of information distribution.
(T2) Linked to WP6, stakeholders are regularly informed about project progress to sensitize their knowledge and awareness about the ecological and socio-economic relevance of perennial grain cropping.
(T3) Disseminate project results via diverse communication channels to various stakeholder groups.
Synergies between tasks: In conjunction with all other WP (specifically WP6), WP7 will synthesise, in an adjusted manner, gained knowledge and experience from the experimental work and co-creation process. This will be disseminated using diverse communication channels. This will not only be accomplished through NAPERDIV alone, but also catalysing the knowledge outreach through the BiodivERsA secretariat.