CHOICE Shares Sustainable Farming Practices at the 1st Crop-MATCHING European Thematic Network Exchange
On 29 October 2026, CHOICE participated in the 1st Crop-MATCHING European Thematic Network Exchange, held in Lisbon, Portugal, in a hybrid format. Representing CHOICE, Beatriz Rodríguez from BIOAZUL joined the event to share experiences and good practices from the project’s Spanish pilot, contributing to European knowledge exchange on sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture.
The event, organised within the framework of the Horizon Europe-funded Crop-MATCHING project, provided a platform for researchers, agricultural stakeholders, farmers and other professionals to exchange knowledge on sustainable farming practices and explore how successful approaches can be adapted and transferred across different European agricultural contexts.
Sharing experiences from the CHOICE Spanish pilot
CHOICE’s participation highlighted the work carried out through its Spanish pilot in Andalusia, which focuses on promoting more sustainable practices in olive cultivation and livestock farming.
Led by Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de Andalucía (CAAND), with the involvement of BIOAZUL and other CHOICE partners, the pilot combines scientific knowledge, behavioural insights and stakeholder engagement to encourage climate-conscious agricultural decisions.
The Spanish pilot explores practices that can help reduce the environmental footprint of agricultural activities while supporting biodiversity, soil health and farm resilience. The presentation focused on two of them, which align with the Crop-MATCHING philosophy and have been validated through the work carried out with CHOICE stakeholders:
- Ground cover in olive groves
- Pasture improvement
Beyond identifying sustainable solutions, CHOICE also addresses an essential question:
“What motivates farmers to adopt more sustainable practices, and what barriers prevent them from doing so?”
Through participatory activities, tailored communication campaigns and accessible scientific information, the project seeks to connect research findings with the practical needs of farmers and agricultural communities.
Connecting European initiatives for more sustainable agriculture
The Crop-MATCHING exchange offered an opportunity to bring CHOICE’s experiences into a wider European discussion on sustainable agricultural practices.
CHOICE
Combines scientific knowledge, behavioural insights and stakeholder engagement to encourage climate-conscious agricultural decisions.
Crop-MATCHING
Identifies, assesses and shares effective cropping practices that support small-scale farmers and strengthen the resilience of European agricultural systems.
Both projects recognise the importance of making scientific knowledge accessible, encouraging collaboration between researchers and practitioners, and ensuring that sustainable solutions respond to real-world agricultural challenges.
CHOICE’s participation through BIOAZUL reflects the value of knowledge sharing between European research initiatives, helping to connect local experiences with broader efforts towards more sustainable, resilient and climate-conscious food systems.
By bringing lessons from Andalusia to a European audience, CHOICE continues to promote an inclusive approach to climate action, where farmers and stakeholders are active participants in shaping the future of sustainable agriculture.
Discover the CHOICE Spanish pilot
Learn more about the CHOICE Spanish pilot and discover how innovative practices and targeted campaigns are helping olive growers and livestock farmers in Andalusia transition towards more sustainable, resilient and climate-conscious agriculture.
