Call: Networking European farms to boost thematic knowledge exchanges and close the innovation gap

1. Excellent Science
2. Industrial Leadership
3. Societal Challenges

Agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, together with the bio-based industries, are integral parts of the European economy and society. Relying on the use of limited natural resources, these sectors produce and process biological resources to satisfy the demand of consumers and a wide range of industries for food, feed, bio-energy and bio-based products. While they enhance Europe’s self-reliance and provide jobs and business opportunities essential for rural, coastal and marine areas, these sectors are also facing significant challenges which require solutions based on research and innovation. A transition is needed towards an optimal and renewable use of biological resources and towards sustainable primary production and processing systems. These systems will need to produce more food, fibre and other bio-based products with minimised inputs, environmental impact and greenhouse gas emissions, and with enhanced ecosystem services, zero waste and adequate societal value.

The call will support a 'rural renaissance' by raising the natural, social, cultural and economic potential of rural areas and fostering policy coherence. It will aim to boost economic development, environmental services and entrepreneurial innovation, in particular in SMEs, in

rural and coastal areas. This will be achieved by building on diversification and modernisation strategies and capitalising on local assets, including human, natural and cultural capital. The call is structured around three main areas:

• new approaches towards policies and governance: activities will be aimed at improving policies and governance at various geographic scales to foster sustainable growth in rural areas. They will cover aspects such as territorial linkages and coherent policy approaches for the management and use of natural resources and for the provision of ecosystem services and public goods;
• new value chains and business models: to foster sustainable growth in rural areas, new services, products and value chains will be developed that take advantage of technological and non-technological innovations and the scope for greater cross-sectoral synergies will be explored; and
• innovation and skills development: activities directed at knowledge and innovation systems, education and training, advisory services and entrepreneurial skills will enhance rural communities' capacity to mobilise new knowledge and technologies for the development of their activities. In addition, activities will aim to foster the delivery of policies imp acting innovation and will contribute to the implementation of the European Innovation Partnership 'Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability'.

All together, these three areas include the following topics:

• Consolidated policy framework and governance models for synergies in rural-urban linkages
• Coastal-rural interactions: Enhancing synergies between land and sea-based activities
• Towards 2030 - policies and decision tools for an integrated management of natural resources
• Water farms – improving farming and its impact on the supply of drinking water
• Novel public policies, business models and mechanisms for the sustainable supply of and payment for forest ecosystem services
• Crop diversification systems for the delivery of food, feed, industrial products and ecosystems services - from farm benefits to value-chain organisation
• Resource-efficient and profitable industrial crops on marginal land
• Demonstration of integrated logistics centres for food and non-food applications
• Business models for modern rural economies
• Thematic Networks compiling knowledge ready for practice
• On-farm demonstrations: deepening farmer-to-farmer learning mechanisms
• Networking European farms to boost thematic knowledge exchanges and close the innovation gap
• Building a future science and education system fit to deliver to practice
• Advisors' roles in the functioning of AKIS and advisory policies boosting innovation in sustainable agriculture
• The benefits of working with others – fostering social capital in the farming sector
• Optimising interactive innovation project approaches and the delivery of EU policies to speed up innovation in rural areas

In particular, action in this area will contribute to the objectives of European Structural and Investment funds, including Rural Development under the Common Agricultural Policy, the Innovation Union, recent developments on rural-urban partnerships and energy and climate policies.

Demonstration and pilot farms have a major role to play in peer-to-peer learning in the broader farming community and for the effective transfer of knowledge on practical farming approaches. They are also a perfect instrument for disseminating possible innovative approaches resulting from scientific work. In addition, demonstration on “real” farms allows actors to meet, network and exchange knowledge beyond the classical knowledge transfer activities. Connecting existing open-farm initiatives at local level with a view to better coordination is expected to generate 'EU added value'.

Projects should set up network activities between geo-referenced demonstration farms dealing with specific themes across Europe with a view to exploiting their potential to improve delivery of practice-oriented knowledge and enhance interactive activities. Projects should cover a wide range of themes to be chosen according to where most added value for the EU is to be expected, and should contribute to a more sustainable and resilient agriculture and forestry. Projects should organise knowledge exchange activities and provide for connection with, and structured output from, exemplary demonstration farms that appeals to the average farmer and can be shared across Europe, e.g. farm visits, visual material (photos, video etc), easy-to-read texts, etc. The project activities should ensure synergy and complementarity with the EIP-AGRI, by thematically showcasing and cross-fertilising innovative practices/methods. Proposals should fall under the concept of the 'multi-actor approach'.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of up to 7 million € would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude the submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts. 

Funding rate: 100% 

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