EIP COVER CROPS
Inter-row Cover Crops for Healthy Plants and Sustainable Soil Use
Basic information
Project
Intervention
Duration
Lead partner
Partners
Co-financing amount
Inter-row Cover Crops for Healthy Plants and Sustainable Soil Use
IRP31 – Support for European Innovation Partnership (EIP) projects
24 April 2025 – 24 April 2028
ŽIPO Lenart d.o.o.
10 project partners
www.skp.si
www.program-podezelja.si
About the project
The project Inter-row Cover Crops for Healthy Plants and Sustainable Soil Use develops sustainable farming practices based on inter-row cover crops to improve plant health, soil fertility and the long-term resilience of farming systems.
It addresses key challenges in modern agriculture, including soil degradation, declining soil organic matter, climate change and dependence on external inputs. By combining practical on-farm trials, systematic monitoring and modern technologies, the project enables the direct transfer of knowledge into practice and contributes to more sustainable and economically viable farms.
Main project objectives
The project focuses on:
• improving plant health and resilience to climate change
• increasing soil fertility and soil organic matter
• enhancing soil biological activity
• reducing dependence on chemical products and other external inputs
• using water, nutrients and solar energy more efficiently
• promoting sustainable soil management
• strengthening food security and local self-sufficiency
Project activities
Project partners conduct practical trials of different inter-row cover crop systems and monitor their effects on plants, soil and production. Particular attention is given to soil fertility, plant health and production economics.
Activities include monitoring cover crop mixtures, analysing soil and plant conditions, applying modern evaluation methods, exchanging knowledge among farmers and experts, organising demonstrations and training, and preparing professional materials for practical use.
Results are transferred into practice through on-farm demonstrations, professional training and advisory materials. The project connects farmers, advisers and researchers to identify solutions that improve soil health, resource-use efficiency and the long-term resilience of farms.
The project will contribute to:
• greater soil fertility and biological activity
• improved plant health
• greater resilience of agricultural production to drought and other weather extremes
• reduced need for chemical products
• more efficient use of natural resources
• improved economic performance of agricultural production
• wider adoption of inter-row cover crops in Slovenian farming practice
SZOK’s role
The Slovenian Association for Conservation Agriculture (SZOK) contributes to knowledge transfer, connects partners and farmers, organises demonstration activities and disseminates project results among agricultural professionals and the farming community. Particular emphasis is placed on promoting practices that improve soil health over the long term and support the sustainable use of natural resources.
Project partners
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ŽIPO Lenart d.o.o. (lead partner)
• Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia – Ptuj Institute
• Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia – Maribor Institute
• Interkorn
• Slovenian Association for Conservation Agriculture (SZOK)
• Štefan Cigüt Farm
• Urban Kramberger Farm
• Irena Horvat Farm
• Mišel Pleteršek Farm
• Nejc Gorjup Farm
More information
🌐 Common Agricultural Policy 2023–2027
🌐 Rural Development Programme and EIP projects
