The SmartLand project (South Tyrol, Italy) aims to enhance water use efficiency in agriculture, in the context of climate-change, by building a network between farmers, research facilities and Internet of Things entrepreneurs. A network of 120 soil sensors has been installed on farms in the area measuring plant water availability. “It is not just about sustainable agricultural practices today; it is about how we imagine agriculture in future” - read on. |
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The water quality in the Mulkear river catchment in Ireland has been declining in recent years. An Operational Group has designed a programme to support and maintain farming activities, whilst bringing about catchment-scale improvements in water quality. “We wanted to implement a local, farmer-led collaborative partnership, to co-design an innovative suite of mitigation measures” Carol Quish explains. Find out more. |
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DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that the Irish National Rural Network has launched a new Video Blog (Vlog) series on their Youtube Channel featuring farmers participating in Ireland’s 23 Operational Group projects located throughout the country?
The most recent episode is all about the Mulkear EIP Operational Group, hear from farmers involved.
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EIP-AGRI SUPPORT FACILITY ACTIVITIES
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EIP-AGRI is looking for experts for three new EIP-AGRI Focus Groups. Farmers, foresters, advisers, scientists and others, if you have specific knowledge and experience on one of the topics below, then please apply by Tuesday 11 January 2022 23:59 hrs CET (Brussels time):
- Sustainable ways to reduce the use of pesticides in pome and stone fruit production
- Digital tools for sustainable nutrient management
- Water: Nature-Based Solutions for water management under climate change
Apply here.
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Over 150 people took part in this EIP-AGRI Seminar, organised online on 24 and 25 November. Participants shared stories and held discussions on sustainable forest management focussing on forest knowledge and social innovation. Watch recordings of all of the plenary sessions and download other materials from the event here.
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Last week, EIP-AGRI held an interactive online workshop about digital technologies and data-based solutions and how they can help farmers work more precisely, efficiently, and sustainably, helping increase farm performance. At the ‘Project Market’ 30 projects were presented and discussed. Other results can be found here. |
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Effective Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) help ensure that people across Europe are connected, and that innovative solutions are shared between everyone who uses and produces them. The EIP-AGRI website now has a dedicated page that puts AKIS in the spotlight. It will give you access to important information, results from EIP-AGRI activities, publications, valuable resources and more. |
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Sustainable farming for peatlands - 2 evening webinars
This evening (14 December) and next Tuesday (21 December), join interactive webinars organised by Interreg project Carbon Connects. This week the theme is ‘Restored peatlands for sustainable agriculture’ and next week ‘Innovative Business Models of Paludiculture’. The focus is sharing practical solutions - you will see testimonials from farmers. Interpretation is available. You can still register here (you will automatically receive the link).
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EIP-AGRI NETWORK ACTIVITIES
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In November, the European Commission presented the new EU Soil Strategy for 2030, which is linked to the European Green Deal and the EU Biodiversity Strategy, amongst other EU initiatives. This strategy has been fed by a number of public consultations. It sets out a framework and concrete measures for protecting, restoring and sustainably using soils. The longer-term vision is that “By 2050, all EU soil ecosystems are in healthy condition and are thus more resilient.” More information here. |
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Find out what the EIP-AGRI has been doing on the topic of soil health. This page gathers information on relevant Focus Groups, events, publications, videos as well as projects and inspirational ideas from the EIP-AGRI network. You can also take a look at the hashtag #EIPagriSoil on Twitter.
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In direct selling, some small-scale farmers can run into problems related to availability of products, or lack of time to promote them. Food Value (Netherlands) is an online platform where producers can not only sell their products together in one online shop, but they can also have their products delivered via one local logistics solution. The farmers are in control of their price, and savings are made on transport, packaging and reducing waste. Find out more (in Dutch).
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The Hub is a free, multi-lingual platform dedicated to sharing knowledge and insights to support growing and using legumes. Best practices are published (after peer review) related to legume issues from across value chains: from plant breeding, on-farm activities, through to processing and consumption. Search by crop type, by livestock, see the section on legumes for food… Browse the platform.
Image Faba Bean © Fred Stoddard, University of Helsinki
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Session #4 at the Farm to Fork Conference 2021 focussed on Sustainable Business Models. A panel of speakers from DG AGRI, European council of young farmers, farming cooperatives and others presented business models and discussed which of them can improve economic outcomes, achieve high sustainability and also meet societal expectations. They also talked about the challenges for farmers and other value chain actors in the transition to sustainable food systems. Watch this session again (from 10’44’’). |
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You can rewatch all of the recorded sessions and download all presentations from the Farm to Fork 2021 Conference here.
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Online surveys - Your input is needed!
- ERA-NET SusAn on joint research for sustainable animal production systems in Europe would like your opinion on the following question “Do the EU Green Deal and the related EU strategies “Farm to Fork” and “Biodiversity” change the perspectives of European animal production?” Please complete the online survey by 3 January 2022.
- DEMETER Horizon 2020 project is testing Internet of Things based data analysis to improve farming. The project has launched a survey to understand farmers' needs, interests, concerns and expectations regarding the adoption and use of Smart-Farming Technologies. The outcome of the survey will enable the creation of new, adapted solutions. Complete the survey.
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The European Landowners’ Organization (ELO) has launched its latest edition of the "Land and Soil Management Award” celebrating land use and soil management practices mitigating soil threats. The call is open to farmers, landowners, land managers, groups of farmers, on their own or in collaboration with research institutes, universities and/or private companies. A prize of 5000€ is given to the winner, and EU-level visibility is given to all runners-up. Apply by 15 January 2022. |
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EIT Food will fund collaborative activities to develop innovative technology solutions in the agrifood sector. Proposals must offer near-to-market, commercially viable innovative technology solutions aligned with EIT Food Focus Areas – which include circular food systems and sustainable agriculture. Deadline 14 January 2022. |
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The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) has just been announced as the successor of BBI JU. This partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) will build on the success of BBI JU to advance competitive circular bio-based industries in Europe. First calls expected in Summer 2022. More information. |
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SEND US INPUT FOR THE EIP-AGRI NEWSLETTER
If you have relevant information for the EIP-AGRI network based on innovation in agriculture - a video, a funding opportunity, an inspirational idea, a call for contributions, a survey, a report, then please do send it to us supportfacility@eip-agri.eu. Newsletters go out on the second Tuesday of every month, so please send the info to us at least 4 weeks before that date.
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