Results and resources

This deliverable is the third “Compendium of Insightful New Know-How and Ready-for-Practice Solutions” (D1.5) in a series to be delivered annually from 2023 to 2029. The Compendium serves as a space for sharing experiences and examples of ready-to-use and practice oriented solutions that can inspire AKIS development and implementation across Europe.

The deliverable 1.2 presents an interim review of the Transformative AKIS Journeys (TAJs) being implemented under the modernAKIS project. modernAKIS is designed to support the capacity development of the governing bodies of Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS), as well as the key actors of change within agricultural systems, particularly those involved in the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plans 2023–2027. The overarching goal is to strengthen AKIS functioning on the ground across the EU, thereby contributing to a more modernized, resilient, sustainable, and competitive agricultural sector in Europe.

The deliverable 1.10 provides an AKIS Benchmarking Tool developed within the Horizon Europe project modernAKIS. The tool is designed to support Coordination Bodies and other key actors of change in understanding, diagnosing, and improving the performance of their Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS). It offers a structured yet flexible approach to assessing AKIS functioning, tracking progress over time, and facilitating strategic learning.

This report outlines the activities conducted to enhance AKIS actors’ involvement, particularly through the development and implementation of cross-country Communities of Practice (ccCoPs). These activities aim to strengthen the capacities of the AKIS actors needed for a better implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in their Strategic Plans (SP) by fostering knowledge exchange, innovation and multi-actor collaboration. This involves establishing interactive knowledge-sharing mechanisms through ccCoPs, enhancing the integration of advisors, researchers, trainers, knowledge transfer agents, professional associations, policymakers and other actors of change within AKIS.

This deliverable (D4.4) builds on the results of the activities carried out under T4.2. The objective of T4.2 is to support the capacity development of AKIS CBs and the key AKIS actors to be more effective in co-designing and implementing new interventions in different areas related to AKIS, thereby increase the added value of such interventions as well as stimulate the wider use of available knowledge and innovation.

The deliverable 1.4 is the second “Compendium of Insightful New Know-How and Ready-for-Practice Solutions” in a series to be delivered annually from 2023 to 2029. It is prepared under task 1.2, focusing on collecting and sharing practice-based knowledge that is accessible to policymakers and AKIS actors, enabling them to improve knowledge flows and develop effective AKIS in their countries. In practice, this Compendium covers 10 themes and includes 38 relating AKIS-in-Practices! with a widened geographical coverage of 13 member states.

This deliverable 1.16 presents the findings from a targeted literature review that identifies the key obstacles researchers face in engaging in co-creative approaches. The range of obstacles identified across individual, institutional, and socio-cultural levels, highlight the complexity and context-dependence of the obstacles that researchers face. Finally, building on the identified obstacles, we propose strategic pathways to incentivize researchers’ engagement in co-creative approaches. The proposed solutions are not meant to be exhaustive but are intended to serve as starting points for further refinement and adaptation in collaboration with key AKIS actors.

The deliverable 2.13 describes how the wider network and systematic exchange with relevant actors is conceptualized and how this was implemented in the first 18 project months. Moreover, it includes a report on widening the networking activities and efforts made to expand the network as well as an outline of the networking goals for the further project duration. The deliverable updates reflect on the implemented activities and the chosen networking approach and present necessary adaptations to the concept and planned activities realised.

The deliverable D1.1 defines the modernAKIS process of strengthening the AKIS, that will function as a discovery journey, namely a Transformative AKIS Journey (TAJ), moving AKIS actors away from the boundaries of what is already known to explore new horizons, challenge themselves, and experience new things that will make the journey an evolutionary learning experience. The TAJs are drawn on the sound combination of three participatory systemic approaches to behavioral change that will inspire an overall pathway of collective learning and system thinking development across EU: (1) transformative change; (2) multi-actor approach; (3) reflexive monitoring and evaluation in action.

The “Compendium of insightful new know-how and ready-for-practice solutions” is the first of a series that will be delivered over the project, on a yearly basis. It represents a lab leading to share and co-develop with partners and other key AKIS actors ready-to-be-put-in-use knowledge and practical insights (e.g. administrative procedures) that will hopefully support the (re)design and implementation of the strategies strengthening the AKIS in Member States. This Compendium covers 5 themes (CAP Networks, standard costs, AKIS Coordination bodies, Back-office and training of advisory services) and includes 22 relating AKIS-in-Practices.

The report “comparative analysis of AKIS in EU” consolidates insights from AKIS inventory reports of the PRO AKIS project, the i2connect project and the information from chapter 8 of the new CAP strategic plans in EU MS. In particular, the report identified key AKIS features which could serve as a basis for cross-comparisons among different AKISs and for identifying good practices. These features are: i. The composition and diversity of actors and knowledge infrastructures, their roles and functions; ii. The configuration of AKIS supporting policies, regulations and funds allocated to AKIS interventions; iii. The types of coordination mechanisms that facilitate collaboration, decision-making, and resource allocation; iv. The degree of interactions among the diverse actors to facilitate knowledge sharing, innovation, and partnership. The report offers an in-depth analysis of these AKIS features across the EU MS.

The modernAKIS network is designed to foster peer-to-peer and best practice exchange on AKIS topics, and to provide room for decision-making on the priority topics to shape the modernAKIS project activities. Comprising three layers — AKIS Coordination Bodies, key AKIS actors, and the wider network — it aims to co-design and apply the transformative AKIS journeys. The network members will be supported by a digital platform for knowledge exchange and community building. Networking activities will include, amongst others, bi-yearly AKIS Coordination Bodies General Assemblies, a modernAKIS newsletter, yearly national AKIS events as well as AKIS conferences and open calls for thematic contributions. Operating through ‘Communities of Practice’ (CoPs), the network enhances understanding, strengthens key actors, and facilitates knowledge uptake and innovation. CoPs focus on learning, connecting actors, fostering innovation, and improving links at two levels: national CoPs to help multi-actor interaction and dialogue, support the AKIS Coordination Bodies and trust building among the local key actors of change and cross-country CoPs for learning between countries, organised around topical areas pertinent to the CAP Strategic Plans of the Member States.

Building a network with 1.000 key AKIS actors is one of the specific project objectives. The “Report on networking activities of AKIS” provides information on the implementation and operation of the modernAKIS network after the first 12 project months. D2.2 outlines the progress of the modernAKIS network set-up, reports on AKIS Coordination Bodies General Assemblies and networking activities. Moreover, it defines how networking is understood in modernAKIS and how it connects to capacity building.

This deliverable describes how the wider network and systematic exchange with relevant actors is conceptualized and how this was implemented in the first 18 project months. Moreover, it includes a report on widening the networking activities and efforts made to expand the network as well as an outline of the networking goals for the further project duration.

This deliverable describes the modernAKIS project website, a central platform for communication. It falls under WP5, focusing on wider dissemination and engagement. The target audience includes AKIS Coordination Bodies, Networks, Research/Education sectors, Farmers/Advisors, and the General public. The document outlines the website’s structure, KPIs, and its interaction with the modernAKIS network. The website acts as the primary access point for public materials, including deliverables, reports, newsletters, dissemination materials, presentations, promotional videos, and the modernAKIS knowledge platform.

The main purpose of this deliverable is to provide an active link for the AKIS knowledge exchange platform and provide a short overview of the digital infrastructure that is being delivered and is accessible at https://www.akisconnect.eu. Additionally, it describes the scope of the platform and its context in modernAKIS project, and it offers a brief description of the platform and its connection to EU-funded ATTRACTIS project. Finally, it presents some examples of pages that are included in the current delivery, whether as mockup screenshots or pages with actual dynamic data, already available before the initial launch on March 1st, and it briefly lists the next steps that will be followed after its initial release, and how users’ feedback will be integrated into the process.

The “Quality Assurance Plan” describes the execution of project activities from a quality management perspective, defining all internal standards, processes, and procedures, and their execution including continuous monitoring, correction, and improvement when necessary.