Living-Labs for Mitigating Climate Change in Agriculture
Limited Capacity - Attendace to be Confirmed
This conference is organised by CONCAT Living Lab, EcoReady, PRIMED, REFOREST, and the Interreg Euro-MED Innovative Sustainable Economy Mission, with the support of Generalitat de Catalunya, IRTA, Naked Innovations, FCAC, Xarxa Agritech, BETA TC (UVIC-UCC), Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA) and BioHubCat.
Context and Purpose
The EU’s goal of climate neutrality by 2050 places agriculture and food systems at the center of the transition. While these sectors are vital for food security, they also contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, making climate action in agriculture essential. At the same time, rising temperatures, water scarcity, and extreme weather—especially in the Mediterranean—are already threatening productivity and rural livelihoods. Tackling these challenges requires innovative and collaborative approaches. Living Labs, which bring together researchers, policymakers, businesses, and citizens, provide a dynamic framework to co-develop, test, and scale climate-resilient solutions.
This 2 day conference brings together entities and organisations from across the EU and the Mediterranean working with systemic and living lab approaches in Europe to:
Maximise the contribution of the agri-food sector to climate mitigation.
Reinforce the role of Living Labs as drivers of impactful change.
Strengthen collaboration to accelerate the adoption of innovative solutions.
Lay the groundwork for a network of transformative Living Labs.
Expected Participants
Established European Living Labs for agriculture, R&D and technology institutions focused on climate resilience and mitigation, Researchers, policymakers, entrepreneurs and other actors working with systemic and living lab approaches on climate resilience and mitigation in agro-food.
Working groups and dynamics
Participants will engage in four specialised Working Groups (WGs), each focusing on a key aspect of climate resilience in agriculture and food systems. These groups will facilitate in-depth discussions, knowledge exchange, and co-develop solutions.
WG1: Regenerative Agriculture & Climate-Resilient Landscapes
Advancing regenerative farming practices to restore soil health, enhance biodiversity, and improve climate resilience. Focus areas include carbon sequestration, climate-adaptive land management, and policy incentives that promote sustainable agriculture.
WG2: Water Security & Adaptive Strategies
Sustainable water management solutions in face of intensifying water scarcity and extreme weather. Focus areas include climate-smart irrigation, water retention, drought adaptation strategies, and governance frameworks for equitable water use.
WG3: Nature-Based Solutions & Ecosystem Restoration
How nature-based solutions (NbS) can drive climate adaptation and ecosystem restoration. Focus areas include biodiversity-driven land use, agroforestry, carbon farming, and NbS for flood and coastal resilience to strengthen climate mitigation efforts.
WG4: Climate-Smart Food Systems, Circular Bioeconomy & Market Transitions
Low-emission supply chains, circular bioeconomy approaches, and just market transitions. Focus areas include sustainable models, biowaste valorisation, emissions reduction strategies, and building resilient, climate-smart, and sustainable food networks.
Each Working Group will play a crucial role in shaping actionable strategies and fostering cross-sector collaboration.
Maximise the contribution of the agri-food sector to climate mitigation through systemic approaches.
Strengthen connections among stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of innovative
solutions.
Highlight and reinforce the role of Living Labs as drivers of localised, impactful change.
Lay the groundwork for a Mediterranean network of transformative Living Labs to tackle shared climate challenges
Agenda
Day 1: Identifying Challenges & Defining Solutions
09:30 – 10:00 | Welcome & Opening Remarks
Introduction to the conference objectives, structure, and expected outcomes.
10:00 – 10:30 | Ice Breaker & Networking Breakfast
10:30 – 12:30 | Workshop: Climate Challenges & Desired Future
Analyse shared climate challenges and co-develop a vision for a resilient agriculture and food systems.
10:30 – 11:00 | Assessment of regional climate challenges and their impacts.
11:00 – 11:30 | Co-creation of a shared vision for sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture.
11:30 – 12:00 | Identification of key facilitators and barriers (technologies, policies, market).
12:00 – 12:30 | Presentation of main findings (one speaker per group).
12:30 – 14:00 | Lunch Break
14:00 – 16:00 | Workshop: Defining Solutions Through Shared Agendas
Align stakeholders and develop actionable strategies against climate change.
14:00 – 15:00 | Stakeholder engagement and collaborative problem-solving.
15:00 – 15:30 | Designing multi-actor value chains to address climate challenges.
15:30 – 16:00 | Policy implications and evidence-based policy support.
16:00 – 16:30 | Coffee Break
16:30 – 17:30 | Regional Contingency Planning Session
Develop adaptive strategies to strengthen resilience at the regional level.
Day 2: Showcasing Solutions & Planning Next Steps
09:30 – 11:30 | Marketplace of Technologies and Solutions
Explore innovative solutions from tech centers, R&D projects, and Living Labs. Includes pitching sessions and interactive demonstrations.
11:30 – 12:30 | Session: Reinforcing the Sustainability of Living Labs
Objective: Explore sustainable business models, funding mechanisms, and operational strategies to enhance the long-term viability of Living Labs.
12:30 – 14:00 | Lunch Break
14:00 – 16:00 | Workshop: From Local Action to Scalable Impact
Develop strategies for implementation, collaboration, and scaling climate solutions.
14:00 – 14:30 | Piloting impactful solutions & scaling value chains
14:30 – 15:00 | Facilitating collaboration for effective implementation
15:00 – 15:30 | Connecting local solutions to global climate & policy agendas
15:30 – 16:00 | Presentations & discussion
16:00 – 16:30 | Coffee Break
16:30 – 17:30 | Plenary Discussion & Closing Session
Define actionable steps for building a Mediterranean network of transformative Living Labs, ensuring continuity and impact beyond the event.
Please download our event brochure for general event information, accommodation and travel recommendations, and accomodation discounts:
Please contact teya@nakedinnovations.eu for more information on accomodation.