Final Conference
The Final Conference of the REGINA project, titled “Regenerative Agriculture: An Innovative Approach Towards Mitigation of Climate Change Through Multi-Tier Learning,” was held on October 3, 2024, at Széchenyi István University in Győr, Hungary. The conference aimed to showcase the project’s achievements, share knowledge on regenerative agriculture, and discuss its implications for climate change mitigation. The primary goals were to disseminate the project’s findings, foster collaboration among stakeholders, and promote sustainable agricultural practices. The conference was relevant to the broader REGINA project as it provided a platform to present the project’s outcomes and engage with a diverse audience, including academics, practitioners, and students.
Objectives of the Conference:
- Present the results and achievements of the REGINA project
- Facilitate knowledge exchange on regenerative agriculture
- Promote sustainable agricultural practices
- Foster collaboration among stakeholders
- Discuss the future directions and implications of regenerative agriculture
Click here for the complete Agenda and Programme of the event.
Click here, if you want to check the Conference Proceedings (2024) of the event.
The conference included a series of sessions, each focusing on different aspects of regenerative agriculture. The event began with registration and welcome speeches, followed by a plenary session, panel presentations and discussions.
Introduction & Welcome
In terms of the conference welcome, Palkovics László Amand (Department of Plant Sciences, SIU) opened the event, emphasizing the importance of regenerative agriculture and highlighting the need of collaboration and knowledge sharing in promoting sustainable practices. Honvári Patrícia (project manager, SIU) provided an overview of the REGINA project, highlighting its aims, achievements and the significance of the conference in disseminating the projects” results.
Honvári Patrícia: REGINA Project introduction: aims and results in a nutshell
Plenary Session
The Plenary Session included two keynote speeches. The first keynote was given by Abdul M. Mouazen (Department of Environment, Ghent University, Belgium) focusing on the precision management of farming input resources. The presentation discussed the use of proximal and remote sensing tools for mapping spatial variability in arable crop production, and highlighted the benefits of variable rate applications, which increase crop yield and profitability while reducing environmental impact. The key points included that traditional methods of soil and crop analysis are limited by sample size and cost, and proximal and remote sensing technologies offer a more efficient alternative. Furthermore, it is possible to optimize variable rate applications through data fusion. Results from over 10 years of experiments show significant benefits in yield and environmental impact.
The second keynote speaker was Wojtek Kniec (Institute of Sociology, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland), who raised the social aspects of regenerative agriculture. The presentation explored the social dimensions of RA, including changes in consumer attitudes and the role of the farmers, and emphasized a shift towards viewing farmers as ‘stewards of the environment’. The key points of the presentation highlighted that regenerative agriculture is both a social idea and a business strategy, and it inevitably involves a paradigm shift in how farming is perceived by society. The approach promotes a sustainable relationship between humans and nature, while farmers are increasingly seen as “future keepers” and “real friends of nature”.
Panel 1: Theory & Concept of Regenerative Agriculture
The Plenary Session was followed by three Panels, each focusing on a different aspect of regenerative agriculture. Panel 1 included presentations on the theory and concept of RA, offering a deeper understanding of the practices and core elements. Rok Mihelic (Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana) presented on soil regeneration following conservation agriculture principles. The presentation concluded that conservation agriculture principles can significantly improve soil health, and practices such as minimal soil disturbance and crop rotation are essential. Uszkai Andrea (HUN REN CERS) introduced the topic of knowledge transfer organisations and networks for promoting sustainable agriculture in Hungary. The presentation highlighted that effective knowledge transfer is crucial for the adoption of sustainable practices, while networks and organisations play a key role in disseminating information. Michele Pisante (Department of Biosciences and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, University of Teramo) focused in his online presentation on conservation agriculture practices, which are gaining traction in Italy. As emphasized, these practices are able to contribute to soil health and sustainability. Giovanni Sordi (Terre Regionali Toscane) presented a practical example of the Tenuta di Alberese farm that integrates historical and traditional methods with modern sustainability practices.
Rok Mihelic: Soil regeneration following conservation agriculture principles
Michele Pisante: Conservation Agriculture in Italy
Panel 2: Education in Regenerative Agriculture
Panel 2 was focusing on the educational aspects and presented the REGINA project results. Demetris Mylonas (Euracademy Association) presented the transnational survey results on regenerative agriculture, also highlighting the varying level of adoption and challenges faced. Beke Dóra (SIU) discussed the educational methodologies developed by the REGINA project, emphasizing the importance of multi-tier learning approaches. Antonio Pescatore (UNIFI) shared experiences from pilot testing the learning methodology and learning modules content at the University of Florence, highlighting the positive feedback and areas for improvement. Tamara Urbancic (SGLZS) discussed the implementation and outcomes of pilot testing at SGLZS Postojna, emphasizing the practical application for secondary education and the developed learning material. Karnis Andrea and Ravasz László (Veres Péter Secondary School) shared insights from pilot testing at their institution, highlighting the engagement and learning outcomes of students.
Demetris Mylonas: Transnational survey results on Regenerative Agriculture
Beke Dóra: Learning Methodology of REGINA
Marco Napoli: Learning content for university education, experiences of a pilot testing
Tamara Urbancic: Experiences of the pilot testing and learning materials on SGLZS Postojna
Panel 3: Practical side of Regenerative Agriculture
Panel 3 introduced the practical side of regenerative agriculture, through farmers’ presentations and sharing their experiences. Hajzser Máté (Rábapordányi Agricultural Ltd.) detailed the journey of the company towards sustainable farming practices, discussing the challenges and successes encountered. Ioanna Michail (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) presented case studies of regenerative practices in Greek olive orchards, highlighting the environmental and economic benefits. Katie Kearns discussed the practical challenges faced by Irish farmers in adopting regenerative practices, and shared insights from the REGINA project’s findings on the Irish context.
Hajzser Máté: Rábapordányi Agricultural Ltd.’s path towards sustainability
Ioanna Michail: Regenerative farming practices. An example of Greek olive orchards
Throughout the conference, there were multiple opportunities for participants to engage in group discussions and Q&A sessions. The plenary and each panel session concluded with a dedicated time for discussion and questions. These interactive segments allowed attendees to ask questions directly to the speakers and panelists, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas and insights. The discussions covered various aspects of regenerative agriculture, including practical challenges, innovative solutions, and future directions. These discussions were moderated by the session chairs, ensuring a structured and productive dialogue.
The conference also included several networking breaks, such as the coffee break and the late lunch session. These breaks provided informal settings for participants to connect, share experiences, and explore potential collaborations. The networking sessions were crucial for building relationships and fostering a sense of community among the attendees.
