In recent years, sustainable agriculture has gained prominence in environmental and food security policies worldwide. VALERECO’s mission focuses on maximizing the ecosystem services provided by legume crops through the establishment of nine innovative Living Labs (LLs) across six EU countries, each dedicated to enhancing legume-based cropping systems. These Living Labs promote agricultural diversification and sustainable legume cultivation, creating collaborative environments where farmers, advisors, researchers, consumers, and policymakers unite to co-create, test, and validate sustainable farming practices. Located in Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Serbia, and the Netherlands, the LLs explore economically viable, environmentally friendly legume systems with an emphasis on integrating legumes into traditional and diversified farming systems.

The Living Labs strive to encourage both the production and consumption of legumes by introducing strategies that integrate these crops more deeply into agriculture and diets. Each LL will conduct on-station trials to assess a wide variety of legume crops, including staple pulses such as soybeans, peas, and chickpeas; forage legumes like vetch, clover, and lucerne; and less common varieties such as sulla, lupins, faba beans, and lentils. These trials span diverse farming systems and environmental conditions to examine the adaptability and performance of legumes.

An essential goal of the Living Labs is to underscore the ecosystem services offered by legume crops. For example, legumes naturally enrich soil with nitrogen, reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers. They also support biodiversity by providing habitats for beneficial organisms and aiding in weed suppression, which fosters greater farm resilience. Additionally, legumes can enhance soil quality and stability, increase water retention, and prevent erosion. Their organic matter also contributes to carbon sequestration, supporting climate change mitigation. Through VALERECO, the Living Labs aim to identify, quantify, and demonstrate how legume integration supports healthier ecosystems and fosters sustainable food production.

The establishment of each LL follows a framework involving multiple stakeholders. A board of local farmers, advisors, researchers, and consumers guides each LL, fostering ongoing knowledge exchange and collaborative decision-making. Annual LL meetings will enable stakeholders to share insights, discuss trial outcomes, and refine strategies to promote legume adoption based on trial results and feedback.

The LLs will also analyze the economic viability of legume-based systems through cost-benefit analyses and Life Cycle Assessments (LCA). These evaluations will offer farmers insights into the economic advantages and trade-offs associated with legumes. The LCA will assess the environmental impact of these crops throughout their lifecycle. Together, these assessments will provide valuable data to support legume adoption, highlighting the environmental and economic benefits of legume systems.

As part of the VALERECO initiative, the LLs will also contribute to developing a Decision Support System (DSS) and a Digital Legume Innovation Hub (DLIH). The DSS will provide farmers with essential guidance on incorporating legumes into their cropping systems to boost productivity and environmental health. The DLIH will serve as a digital platform to facilitate collaboration between farmers, researchers, and policymakers, offering a centralized resource for sharing research, innovations, and best practices in legume farming. By integrating these digital tools, VALERECO aims to make legume-based systems more accessible, driving a more sustainable agricultural sector across Europe.

Ultimately, VALERECO’s Living Labs are more than research hubs; they foster a collaborative space for people with shared goals to adopt advanced farming practices and support the agroecological transition of farming systems. By spotlighting the unique advantages of legumes and engaging those directly involved in their cultivation, LLs are leading the change toward a farming future that balances productivity, profitability, and environmental awareness.