- Date: 18 September 2025
- Time: 14:00–16:00 (Brussels time, UTC+2)
- Format: Online Webinar (with simultaneous interpretation in English, French, and Portuguese)
- Join the webinar here
Why Farmer-Led Research Matters
Agroecological transformation is key to building sustainable, resilient food systems worldwide. Farmers are not just beneficiaries of research; they are innovators, knowledge holders, and change agents. The Farmers Organisations Leading Research & Innovation (FO-RI) program, funded by the European Union (EU) and the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), puts farmers and their organizations at the center of research and innovation.
Since 2022, FO-RI has supported 13 action-research projects across 17 countries, strengthening the capacities of farmer organizations (FOs) to lead participatory research approaches. This work connects local knowledge with scientific expertise and fosters partnerships that drive agroecological transitions in production, processing, and marketing
Launching a Webinar Series
To deepen this work, AgriCord, the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU), and partners; including the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO, Canada) and Innovative Farmers (UK); are launching a new webinar series.
The first session, "Putting Farmers in the Lead: Unpacking Farmer-Led Research for Agroecological Transformation," will explore the foundations of farmer-led and farmer-centric research and discuss related key concepts.
Objectives of the Webinar
- Explore the breadth of farmer-led research approaches and their significance.
- Clarify related concepts such as action research, living labs, citizen science, and participatory technology development.
- Foster dialogue on the role of FOs in co-creating knowledge with researchers and policymakers.
- Strengthen collaboration networks across farmers, researchers, and practitioners.
Be part of the conversation and help shape the future of farmer-led research for agroecological transformation.
