On 30 September 2025, the AGRO4AGRI consortium hosted a pivotal webinar titled From Lab to Land: A Focus on Safer, Sustainable Solutions for Crop Protection and Nutrition, bringing together over 100 registrants and 55 active participants from across Europe’s research, policy, and agrifood sectors. The event served as a dynamic platform to showcase EU-funded innovation in sustainable crop protection and nutrition, while fostering cross-project dialogue and stakeholder engagement.

The webinar featured five Horizon Europe projects – AGRO4AGRI, BioBIVE, CITRUSBUSTERS, PHAntastic, and VINNY – each tackling the urgent need to reduce agrochemical dependency through safe, sustainable, and scalable solutions. These projects are united by a shared mission: to deliver eco-friendly agricultural technologies that align with the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy.

A Collaborative Showcase of Innovation

The session opened with flash presentations from project coordinators, highlighting breakthrough approaches such as RNAi-based biopesticides, biodegradable delivery systems, and nanoformulated fertilisers. These technologies aim to cut pesticide and nutrient use, reduce plastic pollution, and improve soil health – all while maintaining crop productivity.

AGRO4AGRI, for example, is developing species-specific nematicides and advanced fertiliser carriers using nanoclays, mesoporous silica, biochar, and nanocellulose. These innovations are being validated in real-world trials to ensure Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) compliance and commercial viability.

Stakeholder Voices: Insights from Mentimeter

A key feature of the webinar was the interactive Mentimeter session, which captured stakeholder perspectives on three critical questions:

1. How close are we to real-world uptake of safer, greener agricultural solutions?

Participants acknowledged that uptake is progressing, but unevenly across regions and product types. Major barriers include the high cost of sustainable alternatives, limited farmer adoption, and outdated regulatory frameworks. However, there is growing momentum driven by policy incentives, consumer demand, and early success stories. Stakeholders emphasized the need for targeted subsidies, clearer legislation, and demonstration pilots to accelerate adoption.

2. How can data, diagnostics, and precision tools reshape farming – and what’s getting in the way?

Smart farming tools were widely recognized for their potential to enhance efficiency and sustainability. Yet, challenges persist: fragmented data systems, poor digital infrastructure, high costs and lack of training, especially among smallholders. Stakeholders called for interoperable platforms, investment in rural connectivity, and farmer-led innovation models to unlock the full potential of digital agriculture.

3. What does the future of sustainable farming look like – and how do we get there?

The vision for the future is clear: a regenerative, tech-enabled, and nature-based agricultural system. Achieving this will require policy reform, cultural shifts, and inclusive innovation pathways. Stakeholders highlighted the importance of education, multi-actor collaboration, and financial support mechanisms to drive a just transition.

Strengthening the AGRO4AGRI Ecosystem

The webinar not only amplified the visibility of AGRO4AGRI but also catalyzed new synergies among sister projects. Coordinators expressed interest in joint participation at future conferences and collaborative stakeholder consultations. Registrants who indicated interest in further engagement will be added to the AGRO4AGRI stakeholder database and invited to contribute to upcoming activities.

The consortium will continue to support field trials (WP6), impact assessments (WP7), and dissemination efforts (WP8) through targeted stakeholder engagement. This includes one-on-one consultations, KPI monitoring, and adaptive strategies to ensure relevance and impact.

Access the Webinar Resources

Watch the recording: AGRO4AGRI – YouTube

Download the slides and proceedings: https://zenodo.org/communities/agro4agri

Conclusion

The From Lab to Land webinar underscored the transformative potential of EU-funded research in sustainable agriculture. By bridging scientific innovation with stakeholder insights, AGRO4AGRI and its sister projects are laying the groundwork for a resilient, low impact agrifood system. As the consortium moves forward, continued collaboration and inclusive engagement will be key to turning lab-based breakthroughs into real-world solutions.