Cross-Promotion Project Information

Supporting small farms and foresters across Europe

The EU-funded Crop-MATCHING project introduces, adopts and applies a novel agro-ecological concept that ‘matches’ farming systems by mimicking nature to support long-lasting and effective solutions. This approach enables small-scale farms to effectively implement environmentally friendly practices, thereby further supporting rural communities, agro-biodiversity, and both environmental and economic objectives.

With this in mind, Crop-MATCHING is developing a holistic approach to identify underutilised knowledge and best sustainable practices, aimed at creating impartial, tailored expertise to assist small farmers and foresters in overcoming the challenges they face.

Recognition

CarboNostrum was recognised with an Honorable Mention at the Erasmus+ Awards 2025, awarded by the Portuguese Nacional Agency Erasmus+ Education and Training, in the VET Partnerships category.

Project Name​

A thematic network to boost small-scale sustainable farming through sustainable cropping practices.

Acronym

Crop-MATCHING

Programme

Horizon Europe

Duration

Start date: 1 October 2025
End date: 30 September 2029

Project Coordinator

Prof. Konstadinos Mattas
Aristotle
University of Thessaloniki | Greece

Website

https://www.cropmatching.com/

Project Reference

Grant Agreement No. 101182980

Partnerships

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Coordinator)

Greece

University of Parma

Italy

EGE University

Turkey 

Newcastle University

UK

Agricultural University – Plovdiv

Bulgaria

Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania

Greece

Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research

Norway

CENCIRA Agrofood Research and Innovation Centre

Romania

Szpirt & Company

Denmark

BIOAZUL S.L.

Spain

The Polish Farm Advisory and Training Centre not-for-profit Sp. z o. o.

Poland

Food4Sustainability CoLAB

Portugal

PRISM Impresa Sociale S.r.l.

Italy

UNION OF CYPRIOT FARMES

Cyprus

Noosware B.V.

Netherlands

European Organisation for Certification

Greece

Main Objectives

  • Curate Evidence-Based Practices
    Select and validate sustainable cropping practices from trusted sources including EIP-AGRI, FAO TECA, and Organic Farm Knowledge repositories.

  • Develop Training Materials
    Create short-format training modules (10-35 minutes) with practical checklists, certification, and multilingual support for busy farmers.

  • Build Regional Communities
    Establish and coordinate Regional Working Groups across 13 countries for peer exchange, local events, and advisory support.

  • Enable Knowledge Transfer
    Bridge the gap between research-proven practices and on-farm adoption through accessible, localized, and actionable content.

  • Monitor and Measure Impact
    Track adoption rates, environmental outcomes, and farmer satisfaction to continuously improve the platform and content.

  • Support Policy Alignment
    Align content and outcomes with EU CAP, AKIS, and Green Deal objectives to support policy implementation at the farm level.

Key Topics

  • Sustainable agriculture

  • Knowledge transfer

  • Farmer training

  • AKIS (Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems)

  • Climate resilience

  • Biodiversity

  • Soil health

  • Digital agriculture

  • Innovation uptake

  • CAP & Green Deal implementation

Target Groups

Main Target Groups

  • Smallholder Farmers

  • Farm Advisors

  • Researchers

  • Policy Makers

Indirect Target Groups

  • General public

Results & Resources

Curated Practices

Short Training Modules

Regional Communities

Multilingual Resources

Online Presence

Website
Facebook
Instagram
Linkedin
YouTube
X / Twitter

Project Positioning

Methodological Approach

Crop-MATCHING applies a systematic methodology that combines knowledge mapping, analysis, digital innovation, and stakeholder co-creation. This ensures that best crop matching practices are transformed into practical, farmer-oriented solutions with long-term impact.

Innovation

Crop-MATCHING combines fragmented knowledge on sustainable crop matching practices into an AI-supported, interactive platform that provides tailored recommendations for small-scale farmers. By integrating scientific evidence with local farming conditions, it transforms knowledge into practical, scalable solutions.

Expected Impact

CROP-MATCHING will strengthen the sustainability, resilience, and competitiveness of Europe's small-scale farming systems by promoting the adoption of sustainable crop matching practices. Through knowledge exchange, digital tools, and stakeholder collaboration, the project will support evidence-based decision-making, enhance biodiversity, and contribute to more effective agricultural policies.

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