Case Studies / H2020 DIVERsify
H2020 DIVERsify
Exploring the social and scientific viability of intercropping across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Taskscape provided knowledge exchange consultancy and content for DIVERsify, a €4.9m EU Horizon 2020 project exploring the benefits and challenges of intercropping (growing multiple crops together) as an agroecological method to enhance sustainability.
Brief
DIVERsify was an EU Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation project examining intercropping as an agroecological approach with potential to combat climate change, improve soil health, boost natural pest control, and diversify producers’ incomes. The project needed to communicate both the research and practical stakes of intercropping, drawing on pilot-site studies from the project and the local knowledge of communities with long-held or emerging mixed cropping practices. The project wanted intercropping placed in context, with both its potential benefits and significant challenges journalistically explored.
Activity
- Provided consultancy on project narratives and communication strategy
- Filmed or interviewed across the project’s areas in Europe, Africa and the Middle East with scientists, farmers and local communities
- Produced an episodic web-documentary series designed to maximise reach through Meta’s shift to video and initial rollout of Facebook Watch as a YouTube competitor
- Adapted material into additional short social videos for the Scottish Government to highlight Scottish institutions’ roles in international research, with the James Hutton Institute
Outcomes
- The web-documentary series gained thousands of views on Facebook and helped shape and consolidate the project’s communication of key findings and recommendations to target audiences
- Additionally helped highlight areas for the project’s successful application for second stage funding
