At the end of January, an important step for the project was taken. VEGEPOLYS VALLEY (French cluster on plant) delivered its first deliverable: the first round of Good Practices & Research Innovations collected throughout the consortium. . During several months at the end of 2024, local COP workshops were held to collect good practices (strategy, approach and/or activity that has been “tried and tested” and shown to be effective) and research innovations (grey literature review presenting promising innovative solutions) on innovative integrated fertiliser management. The collection was divided into 3 sub-networks (Fertilisation Innovation Network) with the aim of collecting knowledge on soil quality (collection led by INTIA and HS-F), precision farming (AUA and ILVO) and bio-based fertilisers (WUR and AC3A). In the end, 52 sheets were produced and translated into 11 languages. A second round of collection will take place in the last trimester of 2026 to reach the target of 104 GP & Ris in total. The sheets contain information on how and why the practice was implemented, agronomic aspects, logistics and regulatory information, as well as a contact and additional links to learn more about the practice. All the information will be made publicly available through the STRATUS online platform and presented to farmers across Europe through the training of advisors and the organisation of cross visits and demonstrations.
VEGEPOLYS VALLEY presented these first results its 2025 technical day “what innovative practices to meet the challenges of soil management?” organised at its headquarters in Angers, France, to 50 participants (researchers, cooperatives, chambers of agriculture, retailers, and technology providers) who are closely following the next stages of the STRATUS project. A short presentation will also be given during the STRATUS dissemination event on the 26th of February.