TRANSFORM

Adapting Crop Rotations for Climate-Resilient Agriculture.

  • PROGRAMME : Horizon Europe
  • TYPE D'ACTION : HORIZON Innovation Actions - "Demonstration of climate resilience solutions in support of the implementation of the Adaptation to climate change mission"
  • REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP: AC3A
  • LEAD PARTNER: INRAE - France
  • DATES : 1/07/2024 – 1/07/2029
  • TOTAL BUDGET: 10 M€
Project website
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rotation des cultures

Context

Agriculture is facing major challenges due to climate change. Increasing variability in temperatures and rainfall is leading to reduced yields of current crops, undermining the viability of farming systems.

Crop rotations play a crucial role in the functioning of farms. They influence yields, soil health, economic profitability, and environmental impact. The TRANSFORM project explores their potential as a nature-based solution to help agriculture adapt sustainably to future climate conditions.

Project objectives

TRANSFORM aims to support European farmers in adapting to climate change by developing innovative and resilient crop rotations. The goal is to co-design, together with farmers and regional stakeholders, new crop sequences that:

  • maintain or improve yields,
  • enhance economic and environmental sustainability,
  • and support ecosystem services such as biodiversity and carbon storage.

These rotations should be effective for farmers — and beneficial for society as a whole.

Research and Innovation

The project brings together leading scientists and regional actors to co-design solutions based on both data and local realities. TRANSFORM is developing an evaluation toolbox to help farmers assess the performance of their crop rotations under future climate conditions, taking into account:

  • agricultural productivity,
  • economic outcomes,
  • environmental and social impacts.

Tools developed

Among the innovative tools developed by TRANSFORM:

  • Future Rotations Explorer: an interactive tool that allows farmers and regions to quickly explore agricultural practices adapted to their future climate context.
  • Multi-criteria performance indicators to measure agronomic, economic and environmental impacts.
  • Automated monitoring tools to track changes in rotations, biodiversity and ecosystem services.
  • Immersive visualisations to make future agricultural scenarios accessible and understandable.

Territorial implementation

TRANSFORM is being implemented in eight pilot regions across five European countries, covering the entire Atlantic biogeographic region. These demonstration regions include: the Basque Country (Spain), Denmark, Gers (France), North Brabant and Zeeland (Netherlands), and the Thames River Basin District (United Kingdom). The project aims to innovate, validate and demonstrate new crop rotations to facilitate replication in other regions.

Strategic roadmaps are being co-developed with local stakeholders (farmers, NGOs, local authorities, value chain actors, etc.) to guide agricultural adaptation at the regional level, taking into account specific local conditions.

The project follows a highly collaborative approach, combining cutting-edge scientific knowledge with concrete needs expressed on the ground.

Project partners

TRANSFORM brings together 18 partners from 7 countries: research institutes, farms, universities, chambers of agriculture and public institutions. The project is coordinated by INRAE (France).

With a total budget of €10 million, it is funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe programme and by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

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Join the TRANSFORM community

TRANSFORM is funded by the Horizon Europe programme.

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