The Association of Balkan Eco-Innovation (ABE) recently participated in the General Assembly of the ENFASYS project, held in Athens, Greece, and hosted by project partner GAIA ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΕΙΝ. The two-day meeting brought together project partners to reflect on progress, exchange knowledge, and strengthen collaboration around just and sustainable transitions in Europe’s farming systems.
Understanding systems, behaviour, and real-world change
The first day of the General Assembly focused on systems thinking and behavioural change in agriculture. Following a welcome session led by ILVO (Instituut voor Landbouw, Visserij- en Voedingsonderzoek), partners explored how individual behaviour, institutional structures, and policy frameworks interact across different scales of farming systems. Discussions highlighted that meaningful agricultural transitions require a deep understanding of both people and systems, as well as the contexts in which farmers operate.
The programme continued with sessions examining different theories of change and their relevance in real-life conditions. These exchanges helped identify key drivers and barriers shaping agricultural transitions across Europe. Later in the day, attention turned to transformative business models, with discussions on how farmers and food system actors can overcome existing lock-ins and move towards more sustainable and resilient practices.
Policies, skills, and communication for sustainable transitions
The second day centred on the policy, capacity, and communication dimensions of agricultural transitions. A policy-focused session led by Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin explored how policy mixes can be co-designed to better support farmers, addressing both synergies and tensions within existing policy frameworks.
Capacity building was another key focus, with MBS School of Business and ILVO presenting the development of the ENFASYS MOOC and Summer School. These initiatives aim to strengthen future skills among researchers, advisors, and students, supporting long-term transformation of farming systems.
ABE led a dedicated session on outreach, communication, and impact, highlighting the importance of clear messaging, stakeholder engagement, and accessible knowledge transfer. Through its role in communication and community engagement, ABE contributes to ensuring that ENFASYS results reach practitioners, decision-makers, and wider audiences, enabling real-world application beyond project reports and academic outputs.
From knowledge to practice
ABE representatives Davide Guariento and Maja Budimir took part in the General Assembly, engaging in discussions on agricultural policy, systemic change, and the practical challenges faced by farmers. The meeting reaffirmed the value of collaboration across disciplines and sectors, as well as the central role of communication in accelerating sustainable agricultural transitions.
In addition to plenary sessions and workshops, the consortium also recorded new ENFASYS podcast episodes, which will further support knowledge sharing and outreach in the coming period.
