ASOCIATIA ECO RURALIS - IN SPRIJINUL FERMIERILOR ECOLOGICI SI TRADITIONALI

Eco Ruralis is a national grassroots association representing peasants, small-scale farmers and agroecological food producers across Romania. Established in 2009, the association brings together more than 20,000 members and works to promote agroecology, protect agricultural biodiversity, strengthen rural communities and advance socially just and environmentally sustainable agricultural systems.

Eco Ruralis combines grassroots mobilisation, practical knowledge, policy advocacy and participation in European research and innovation projects. Its work is grounded in the experience of small-scale farmers and seeks to ensure that their knowledge, needs and perspectives contribute meaningfully to scientific research, public policies and sustainable rural development.

Areas of expertise

The association's main areas of activity include:

• Agroecology and sustainable agriculture: Promoting diversified, low-input farming systems, ecological practices and farmer-led innovation that contribute to biodiversity conservation, soil health and climate resilience.

• Agricultural biodiversity and traditional seeds: Supporting the conservation, exchange and sustainable use of locally adapted crop varieties, traditional seeds and farmers' knowledge.

• Biodiversity and ecosystem protection: Addressing the impacts of intensive agricultural practices, harmful pesticides and land-use changes on pollinators, farmland biodiversity and ecosystem services.

• Access to land and rural regeneration: Supporting equitable access to agricultural land, generational renewal and opportunities for young and small-scale farmers.

• Participatory research and knowledge exchange: Facilitating collaboration between farmers, researchers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders through participatory approaches, peer-to-peer learning and co-creation.

• Agricultural and environmental policy: Contributing to national and European policy processes, particularly concerning the Common Agricultural Policy, biodiversity protection, agroecological transitions and farmers' rights.

European cooperation and research experience

Eco Ruralis has experience participating in European cooperation, research and innovation initiatives, including projects funded under Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+.

The association participated in AE4EU – Agroecology for Europe, contributing to European cooperation on agroecological research, networking, knowledge exchange and the development of enabling conditions for agroecological transitions.

Through RURALIZATION, Eco Ruralis contributed to European research and knowledge exchange concerning rural regeneration, access to land and innovative approaches supporting new generations of farmers.

Eco Ruralis is also a partner in PROSPER, a European research project contributing to the development of more sustainable, resilient and inclusive agricultural and rural systems through interdisciplinary collaboration, stakeholder engagement and knowledge exchange.

Furthermore, Eco Ruralis is a member of the European AGROECOLOGY Partnership's Living Labs network, representing Romania and contributing to a European community dedicated to advancing agroecological transitions through participatory research, co-creation, knowledge exchange and collaboration between farmers, researchers and other stakeholders.

Potential contribution to Horizon Europe projects

Eco Ruralis is interested in joining interdisciplinary, multi-actor Horizon Europe consortia addressing biodiversity conservation, nature restoration, sustainable agricultural landscapes and transformative changes in rural and food systems.

The association can contribute through:

• Mobilisation and engagement of small-scale farmers and rural communities in Romania.

• Participatory research, stakeholder consultations and co-creation processes.

• Farmer involvement in living labs, field-based research and demonstration activities.

• Knowledge exchange between scientific institutions, practitioners and policymakers.

• Agricultural biodiversity conservation and agroecological approaches to ecosystem restoration.

• Communication, dissemination, capacity building and community outreach.

• Policy analysis, stakeholder dialogue and development of evidence-informed recommendations.

• Bringing grassroots perspectives and Eastern European rural realities into European research and innovation.

Our ambition

Eco Ruralis aims to contribute to a European research and innovation landscape in which biodiversity protection, healthy ecosystems, resilient rural communities and sustainable agriculture reinforce one another.

We welcome collaboration with universities, research institutes, public authorities, NGOs, environmental organisations and other partners committed to developing inclusive, scientifically informed and practically applicable solutions for nature and rural communities.

Website: www.ecoruralis.ro