(SCALE-it) upSCALing Efficient alternatives for contentious InpuTs in organic farming

SCALE-it is a €7.5m Horizon European Innovation Action project running from May 2025 until April 2029. It is coordinated by FiBL Europe and Coventry University’s Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience leads work economic feasibility and farmer/consumer acceptance of alternatives to contentious inputs in organic farming.

The project is working to increase the availability, accessibility and adoption of cost-effective alternatives to contentious inputs in organic farming. By reducing dependence on critical plant protection products, manure from conventional farms, antibiotics and anthelmintics, and synthetic and GMO derived vitamins, organic food systems can be truer to the founding principle of ecology.

SCALE-it brings together partners from the whole organic value chain (farmers, farmers' associations, advisors, veterinarians, researchers, industry, consumers) in a truly multi-actor approach. It builds on previous projects to take forward a range of alternative products, tools and holistic methods to Technology Readiness Level 7-9. Less advanced alternatives are developed further by reviewing information and experimental testing, before including them in demonstration trials under organic conditions.

Local Ambassadors with outstanding outreach capacity in the organic farming community lead over 65 trials across Europe, organising local dissemination events, and generating novel data to assess the environmental impacts of alternatives.
The Coventry team lead work on economic impact assessment, ensuring that the uptake of new products, tools and methods is feasible and empowers farmers to improve organic systems. Companies are supported to establish roadmaps for upscaling alternatives, registration and IP protection.

The acceptance of alternatives by farmers and consumers is critical to their success. The Coventry team leads work to assess citizen views of the solutions researched, fostering a two-way dialogue between science and society about their acceptability.
SCALE-it is well-placed to moderate the development of implementable rules on the use of inputs in organic farming and provide support to policy development via national and international multi-actor activities. Targeted dissemination materials and training packages will be developed.

The results generated by SCALE-it will enable a reduction in the use of controversial inputs and increase the use of their alternatives in organic (and also non-organic) production. This will be achieved by increasing the availability of information on the best use of alternatives, showcasing them and by creating decision-making and advisory tools. This project supports the transition to sustainable farming systems in line with the Farm-to-Fork (F2F) strategy, promoting fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food systems.