About SCALE-it in a nutshell

Upscaling efficient alternatives for contentious inputs in organic farming – SCALE-it

Key figures

Start date: 1 May 2025
Duration: 48 months
Budget: 7,3 M € (co-funded by the EU and SERI)
Project Coordinator: FiBL EU
Scientific Coordination: FiBL CH
Total project partners: 36
65 Demo trials carried out by Local Ambassadors
16 countries: Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK

Project summary

The objective of SCALE-it is to increase the availability, accessibility and adoption of cost-effective alternatives to contentious inputs and thus reduce the dependency of organic farming on (a) critical plant protection products, (b) manure from conventional farms, (c) antibiotics and anthelmintics, and (d) synthetic and GMO derived vitamins.

SCALE-it follows a multi-actor approach involving partners from the whole organic value chain (farmers, farmers’ associations, advisors, veterinarians, researchers, industry, consumers). It builds on previous projects and takes forward most alternatives (products, tools, holistic methods) to TRL7-9.

Less advanced alternatives are developed further by (i) reviewing information and (ii) testing experimentally before including them in demonstration trials under organic conditions.

Local Ambassadors with an outstanding outreach capacity in the organic farming community lead over 65 trials across Europe, organising local dissemination events, and generating novel data for environmental and economic impact assessments.

SCALE-it supports companies to establish roadmaps for upscaling alternatives registration and IP protection. Farmers’ and consumers’ acceptance of alternatives is analysed. SCALE-it is well placed to moderate the development of implementable rules on the use of inputs in organic farming and provide support to policy development via national and international multi-actor activities. Targeted dissemination materials and training packages will be developed.

SCALE-it results will reduce the use of contentious inputs and increase the use of their alternatives in organic (and nonorganic) production by (a) increasing the availability and knowledge on best use of alternatives, (b) creating decision making and (c) advisory tools and (d) showcasing the alternatives. It supports the transition to sustainable farming systems in line with the F2F strategy, promoting fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food systems.

WP-4

PREPARATION

RTD Trials: Develop alternatives to TRL 7
Collect Alternatives with TRL > 7

PLANNING

Setup collaboration structure

MULTI-ACTOR

Carry out commodity specific planning workshops
Decide definitively on alternatives to be tested
Harmonize Demo trials setup within input/commodity
Setup common data recording structures

TRIALS

Support Ambassadors

ANALYSIS

Setup collaboration structure

COMPLETION

Carry out commodity-specific multi-actor final Workshops
Produce dissemination materials

WP-5

PREPARATION

PLANNING

MULTI-ACTOR

TRIALS

Carry out DEMO trials
Collect data on:
Efficacy
Resource efficiency,
Climate / env. impact

Host local
dissemination events

ANALYSIS

Support WPs 1-4, 6

COMPLETION

Carry out commodity-specific multi-actor final Workshops
Produce dissemination materials

WP-6

PREPARATION

Define info needed for impact assessement.
Environmental Socio-economic

PLANNING

MULTI-ACTOR

TRIALS

Support Ambassadors

ANALYSIS

Impact assessment

COMPLETION

Carry out commodity-specific multi-actor final Workshops
Produce dissemination materials

WP-7

PREPARATION

Define needs for exploitation of results/policy advocacy

PLANNING

MULTI-ACTOR

TRIALS

Support Ambassadors

ANALYSIS

Policy advocacy, exploitation of results

COMPLETION

Carry out commodity-specific multi-actor final Workshops
Produce dissemination materials

WP-8

PREPARATION

PLANNING

MULTI-ACTOR

TRIALS

Present DEMO trials and sites

Support Ambassadors

ANALYSIS

COMPLETION

Statement on the project relevance from the Scientific Management Team:

“The strength of SCALE-it is the active involvement of partners of the whole organic value chain – from biocontrol manufacturers and researchers to experienced advisors and organic farmers acting as Local Ambassadors to showcase far-developed alternatives in over 60 demonstration trials throughout Europe.”

Upscaling efficient alternatives for contentious inputs in organic farming – SCALE-it

Key figures

Project summary

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