Alexander Menegat

My research lies at the intersection of cropping system design, weed ecology, and participatory agricultural research. My work focuses on how agricultural practices influence the functional composition and diversity of arable plant communities. I collaborate with farmers, extension agents and researchers to co-design and evaluate innovative, sustainable crop production systems through short-term on-farm trials and long-term experiments. This collaborative process ensures that ecological insights are translated into viable farming practices. My current research focuses on the long-term evaluation of agroecosystem functioning across cropping system diversification gradients, monitoring weeds and assessing seedbanks, modelling plant population dynamics, and developing decision support systems for crop and weed management. I also explore the broader environmental, social and economic dimensions of agroecosystem management. I welcome collaborations in the areas of cropping system diversification, weed functional ecology, participatory research, and agroecological transitions.

I am leading the following research projects:

1. Farmer driven development of economically and environmentally sustainable weed control strategies against herbicide resistant blackgrass (Stiftelsen Lantbruksforskning).
2. IMPULSE - Fostering organic cultivation of grain legumes; a multi-scale feasibility study for soybean and lupin production in Sweden (FORMAS).
3. PADILSO - Participatory design of innovative crop management strategies for lupine and soybean production in organic farming (Ekhaga Foundation).
4. Preparing for the future: sustainable cropping systems without glyphosate (SLF).
5. Facilitating reduced and no-tillage organic grain legume production systems (EkoForsk).
6. Sustainable control of grass weeds in intensive cereal cropping systems (long-term trial financed by the NJ faculty, SLU).
7. EcoServ: Long-term evaluation of agroecosystem functioning along a cropping system diversification gradient (long-term trial financed by the NJ faculty). 

I coordinate the Master course "Sustainable Plant Production" within the Plant Biology for Sustainable Production programme, covering topics from crop ecology and weed management to the design of resource-efficient farming systems. I supervise MSc and PhD students working on weed ecology, cropping system diversification, and participatory agricultural research. If you are interested in pursuing a degree project or doctoral studies in these areas, please get in touch.

• Associate Editor for Agronomy for Sustainable Development
• Subject Editor for Weed Research
• Coordinator of the Weed Vegetation and Biodiversity working group of the European Weed Research Society (EWRS)
• Head of the local organising committee of the 21st European Weed Research Society Symposium 2027

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0735-3293