Strategic options for agroecological transitions

D4.5 deliverable - Working Package 4. Agroecological transitions are essential for creating more sustainable, adaptable and resilient food systems. However, such transitions are notoriously difficult to foster. In this deliverable we present the work conducted within the Living Labs (LLs) of the NATAE project to identify strategic options for agroecological transitions in their local contexts. It is expected that these more targeted and nuanced options for agroecological transitions can facilitate the transition processes sought. To achieve this, each LL conducted a series of activities to identify the most suitable agroecological practices (AEPs) at farm and LL level for different farm types within their LLs. The process for the identification of strategic options for agroecological transitions, began with a territorial diagnosis (TD) of the LLs, which provided the contextual background to what AEPs are currently practiced and the socio-ecological factors that have moulded and continue to mould the agricultural systems of the LLs. This was complemented by two workshops with farmers and the LL Representative Board involving the core actors of the local food systems in the identification of the most pressing challenges and potential solutions of relevance. The development of the farm typologies per LL further enabled the LLs to take a more nuanced approach to understanding which AEPs at both farm and LL levels are suitable for which farm type, in effect creating a (strategic) toolbox of AEPs per farm type. The results of these steps are presented in detail per LL. In the discussion and conclusion, we assess the learnings from these methodological steps as well as the commonalities and differences among the LLs, drawing implications and conclusions from this work.