The eleventh Conversation on Agroecology on May 28th, 2025, focused on monitoring agroecological transitions from a theoretical and practical perspective.

Anne van Doorn’s talk (Wageningen Environmental Research, The Netherlands) was titled “Coping with complexity: how to monitor agroecology across scales, for different end-users and in different contexts?“. She highlighted the complexity of developing a monitoring framework that is adaptable across different contexts, spatial scales, and system boundaries. Anne outlined three types of monitoring: integration of agroecological principles, sustainability performance and impact, and the process of agroecological transition. The approach to operationalization of monitoring frameworks involves many steps e.g., defining clear system boundaries, identifying what matters to measure, and implementing indicators and data collection methods. Currently, the team is in the phase of identifying and prioritizing monitoring settings, aiming to start with five settings and develop action plans for each. This framework aims to manage the complexity of monitoring agroecology in Europe through a coherent and adaptable approach.

Alfred Grand (Grand Farm, Austria) provided a presentation on “Monitoring the Earthworm Effect from a Farmer’s Perspective”. He emphasized the importance of earthworms in soil health, water infiltration, and crop productivity. Alfred shared various practical examples, such as observing earthworm burrows and their impact on root growth and water infiltration. He highlighted how earthworms help in decomposing crop residues and improving soil structure, which in turn benefits plant growth. Alfred also discussed his experiments with seed coating using vermicompost to enhance seed germination and plant health. He stressed the significance of using nature-based solutions like compost and mulch to maintain soil fertility and crop production. Alfred's insights underscored the value of simple, observational methods for monitoring agroecological transitions and the need for collaboration between farmers and scientists to validate and expand these practices.