On 28 April 2026, representatives of the Grand Est Region visited the farm of Benoît Watrin in Meuse to learn more about the SIMONE project and its French Living Lab. The meeting was organised as a way to bring SIMONE’s work directly into the regional policy arena. The visit created a valuable dialogue between public decision‑makers and the realities of on‑farm experimentation, showing how Living Labs can support evidence‑based agricultural policy.
On‑farm insights: what policymakers saw in practice
The exchange focused on the first lessons emerging from the French Living Lab’s On‑Farm Experiments (OFEs). Discussions highlighted:
- Tailored trajectories co‑designed with farmers, whether in conventional or organic systems
- The central role of the farmer–advisor duo in decision‑making
- The value of multi‑performance assessment using the Systerre tool, based on shared indicators and usable autonomously by farmers
Benoît Watrin’s testimony illustrated how Living Labs create collective spaces for innovation, grounded in real farm conditions and directly relevant for future agricultural policies.
A shared and long‑term vision
The Grand Est representatives also gained a broader view of SIMONE as a cross‑border initiative that mobilizes the entire value chain, from farmers to supply chains and territorial stakeholders. They were introduced to the early concept of a future tool designed to support the development of innovative farming systems.
Cross‑border cooperation, a core element of the Interreg programme, was another key topic: SIMONE brings together regions with different agricultural contexts, enabling them to exchange knowledge, compare experiences, and produce transferable insights.
The visit confirmed the importance of engaging policymakers directly in the Living Lab process. By connecting local experimentation with regional decision‑making, SIMONE strengthens the conditions for a durable agroecological transition.