Intercropping for Sustainability

Increasing diversity within agricultural systems by intercropping offers a realistic and practical opportunity to enhance and stabilise crop yields and produce food, feed and fuel with fewer inputs. As environmental conditions become more variable, diversifying cropping systems can also reduce production risks. The Horizon 2020-funded projects DIVERSify and ReMIX, alongside other projects, are conducting research trials as well as working with farmers and other agricultural stakeholders across Europe and internationally to design, test and provide practical solutions for multi-species intercropping. It is timely to bring together the intercropping community to showcase the latest findings on intercropping research from the lab and the field and encourage debate on uptake and best practice. The Congress will cover topics that range from basic research to practical application of intercrops.

Potential sessions include:

• Species combinations, crop varieties and sowing arrangements that optimise agronomic efficiency
• New approaches to investigate the mechanisms that underpin the benefits of crop species mixtures
• Environmental benefits of intercropping (e.g. for soil, water, biodiversity) and delivery of ecosystem services
• Crop diversity for resilience under a changing climate Nutrient and weed/pest/disease management with intercropping
• Intercropping as part of a sustainable farming system, including agroforestry
• Timings of management operations and mechanical innovations
• Novel practical tools, including modelling and decision-aids, for scientists, agronomists, farmers and breeders for optimising multi-species cropping

The Congress aims to attract scientists and agricultural stakeholders from diverse farming systems and regions to obtain feedback on research findings and industry-relevant tools, discuss intercropping uptake and practical application, and guide future developments in intercropping research. The meeting will include scientific sessions, workshops and panel debates co-organised with agricultural stakeholders to discuss the practical adoption of intercropping, applying research findings, and new and emerging tools and kit.

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