Translating the multiactor approach to research into practice using a workshop approach focusing on species mixtures

Practicing research according to the participatory EIP-Agri (The agricultural European Innovation Partnership) multiactor approach was tested during a participatory 3 day workshop organized with 63 project participants from the EU H2020 funded project “Redesigning European cropping systems based on species MIXtures” (ReMIX). Workshop participants were divided into smaller multidisciplinary groups and given the opportunity to interact with representatives from eight actor positions in the value chain of the agri-food cooperative Terrena. The objective was to share first-hand experience of participatory research. It was concluded that the workshop format was an effective means of rapidly producing a common picture of the most pertinent issues that the ReMIX project should address. Simultaneously, clear expressions of frustrated criticism was recorded during the workshop program serving as a i) motivation for group members to become more aware of the scientific concerns and practices of their colleagues, and ii) learning to endorse more qualitative approaches seems like a leap of faith for many. Saying that, evidence from the workshop underline interest and willingness to work with the actor networks identified to overcome traditional barriers between academia and applied practice to co-produce shared visions of species mixture benefits in European food systems using agroecology principles.