Are agronomic and technological solutions alone sufficient to ensure a sustainable future for agriculture? Or is it equally important to bring together knowledge from different scientific disciplines, farmers’ practical experience, and innovative approaches to collaboration?
These questions were particularly relevant at the international scientific conference AgroEco 2026, held on 15–16 October 2026 at the Agriculture Academy of Vytautas Magnus University. The conference was attended by Dr. Rita Lankauskienė, Principal Researcher at the Institute of Economics and Rural Development of the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences (LCSS IERD) and Head of its Living Lab, LIRA lab.
During the conference, Dr. Lankauskienė delivered an invited presentation entitled “Living Labs in Theory and Practice: The Experience of LIRA lab”, introducing the Living Labs methodology developed and applied at the Institute, along with practical insights gained through its implementation. The presentation highlighted how social science methodologies, stakeholder engagement, and co-creation can complement agronomic research by facilitating the development and testing of innovative solutions in real-life settings.
Dr. Lankauskienė also participated in the panel discussion “From Challenges to Solutions: How Can We Build More Resilient Crop Production Systems?”, organised in the context of the international BIO-CROP project. Together with agronomy researchers and representatives of the agricultural sector, she explored opportunities for developing more sustainable, resilient, and economically viable crop production systems. Particular attention was given to the importance of interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration through the application of the Living Labs methodology.
Participation in the conference provided an opportunity to introduce LIRA lab's activities to the wider agronomic research community, establish new professional connections, and explore potential avenues for joint research and collaborative project initiatives.
This experience once again demonstrates that the future of sustainable agriculture is shaped at the intersection of scientific disciplines. Living Labs can serve as an important bridge between agronomy, social sciences, and practice, helping to translate scientific knowledge into practical solutions developed through collaboration.
About LIRA lab: https://www.ekvi.lt/en/lira-lab
Contact: rita.lankauskiene@lcss.lt
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