SafeHabitus is a four-year Horizon Europe research project coordinated by TEAGASC, bringing together a 20-partner consortium across 12 countries.
Why SafeHabitus Matters
Farming remains one of Europe’s most hazardous professions, with accident rates estimated to be 18% higher than in other sectors – and actual figures likely underestimated due to underreporting. SafeHabitus was created to confront this reality by strengthening Farm Health and Safety Knowledge and Innovation Systems (FHS KIS) and supporting the EU’s shift toward social sustainability in agriculture.
TEAGASC engaging with MEP Maria Walsh in Brussels to promote the health, safety and well-being of farmers
David Merideth, Project Leader and Senior Research Officer at TEAGASC explains that “While farmers face complex and high-risk working conditions, actionable solutions emerge and are adopted only when we engage with them as full partners. The SafeHabitus approach is underpinned by working directly with farmers, farm workers, and key stakeholders to shift mindsets, share solutions, and build a culture of care and well-being across European Agriculture. SafeHabitus is about scaling grassroots innovations and turning stakeholder insights into tools that support people on the ground”.
The SafeHabitus Approach
At the heart of the project are 11 national Communities of Practice (CoPs) – collaborative networks of farmers, advisors, researchers, trade unions, and policymakers. These CoPs co-create locally tailored safety solutions that respect regional contexts and cultural norms.
SafeHabitus Health and Safety demonstration in Andalusia, Spain in October 2024
Safer Farming Through Shared Experience
SafeHabitus unites farmers, farm workers, policymakers, and industry to co-design evidence-based health and safety tools, using innovative methods to prevent farm accidents, anticipate emerging risks from climate change, technological innovation, and labour market shifts, and advance the EU’s vision for safer sustainable food systems.
Policy Engagement and Broader Impact
SafeHabitus aims to raise Occupational Health, Safety, and well-being awareness among policy makers, farmers’ organizations, and health authorities and explores the role of corporate social responsibility and grassroots innovation in improving farm safety. Insights into farmers’ perceptions of their work feed into analyses of long-term food security and rural resilience, which will help shape policy frameworks and governance structures at EU and national levels.
Towards a Safer, More Inclusive Future
As SafeHabitus moves into its next phase, and we edge towards the new EU funding cycle, efforts will focus on scaling its impact and embedding long-term change. Strengthening collaboration between farmers, researchers, and policymakers remains central to ensuring that insights from the SafeHabitus’ Communities of Practice evolve into practical tools, better governance, and more inclusive rural development policies. By championing a culture of safety, sustainability, and well-being, SafeHabitus seeks not only to reduce risks and improve well-being on farms, but also to secure farming’s future as a resilient, inclusive, and respected profession in Europe’s changing agricultural landscape.
For more information about SafeHabitus: www.safehabitus.eu/about/the-project/
SafeHabitus is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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