November 6, 2023

modernAKIS network event | November 29th | 10h00 – 12h00 CET

Join us for an exciting event that brings together seasoned experts from all over Europe who share their experiences on how to improve the flow of knowledge between researches, advisors and practitioners. The event features three engaging showcases of real-life successful examples. Learn from and exchange with peers as they share their practical insights and strategies for success!

Connect with your peers in the networking session or in the parallel session for a Community of Practice for advisors. Whether you are a seasoned pro or just starting in your field, this event offers a platform to gain new insights, enhance your knowledge, and build valuable relationships.

Don’t miss the chance to be part of an enriching experience that combines informative presentations, interactive discussions, and the opportunity to connect with your peers in a dynamic and engaging environment. Join us and take your knowledge and network to the next level!

Click here to register and here to see the programme!

November 2, 2023

moderAKIS #2 AKIS Coordination Bodies General Assembly

modernAKIS is organising the first face-to-face AKIS CB General Assembly (GA).

The meeting will take place in Zagreb starting November 7th and will count with at least one AKIS actor per member state. With this networking event the project aims to foster peer-to-peer exchange among AKIS CBs.

This forum for key AKIS decision makers supporting peer-to-peer learning and exchange of experiences on AKIS approaches. The project partners built a methodology to involve key AKIS actors in Transformational AKIS Journeys and created a summary of good practices on how to involve advisers in the AKIS. In the future, the project will develop learning modules on AKIS basics and systems thinking (3 modules in all EU-languages), set up a Community of Practice in each Member State to support the AKIS coordination body.

The event’s agenda is available here.

Stay tuned to learn more!

October 30, 2023

moderAKIS in a nutshell!

EU CAP NETWORK has spotlighted modernAKIS in a recent news item!

Discover how our Horizon Europe project is shaping the future of Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS), connecting farmers, foresters, and rural communities for a greener tomorrow.

Read more about it here!

October 30, 2023

modernAKIS on the COLTIVIAMO INNOVAZIONE podcast

The latest podcast, “Coltiviamo innovazione“, in which Simona Cristiano participated, is now available on Spotify and Spreaker!

In the very first episode, we delved deep into the world of AKIS and its profound impact on the field. It was an insightful conversation with Simona Cristiano, where was discussed the significance and influence of AKIS.

Check out the episode here!

October 23, 2023

II meeting of the National CoP of ModernAKIS

On Monday, October 9 from 10.00 to 14.00 at the headquarters of the General Directorate of Rural Development, Innovation and Agri-food the II meeting of the ModernAKIS national CoP took place in Madrid.

The agenda was:

1. Opening of the national CoP. Presentation of the attendees. Maite Ambrós Mendioroz. Deputy director of innovation and digitalization. MAPA.

2. Digitalization initiatives. Maite Ambrós. Deputy director of innovation and digitalization.

3. What are ccCoPs? Themes. Rebeca Diez. Project manager of FEUGA.

4. Roadmap and possible interactions with other projects or initiatives. Juan Pedro Romero. Head of Training and Technology. MAPA.

5. What do you propose for the national CoP? Juan Pedro Romero. Head of Training and Technology. MAPA.

Subsequently, attendees were divided into 2 breakout groups and actively participated in proposing solutions on advice, innovation, digitalization, training and knowledge transfer.

It was agreed that volunteers would be found to participate in the ccCoPs and that members of the national CoP would be kept informed of ModernAKIS developments.

Watch below some photos of the meeting:

August 22, 2023

Belgium AKIS | Updates on the different AKIS

AKIS Overview

Belgium is a relatively small country, characterised by a complex political organisation in which the regions have a lot of responsibility. Because of this decentralisation, Belgium can be perceived to have two separate AKIS, one in Flanders and one in Wallonia. Both AKIS are constituted by a large variety of actors, each having their own area of expertise. Both regions chose to implement a public policy characterised by a delegation of services, in which the Flemish and Walloon goverments support both AKIS’ with institutional support and competitive calls.

The Flemish AKIS can be considered as a very integrated system. At the core of it are the experimental stations and the farmers’ organisations who are strongly linked with the farming community. In this context Innovatiesteunpunt (department of farmers’ organisation Boerenbond) deserves a special mention as this organisation maintains a close connection to most AKIS actors as they take on the role of knowledge broker in the Flemish AKIS network. In terms of research, the experimental stations and institutions for higher education are more closely connected to the farming community than the universities. The weakest issue seems to be the advisory system which is not integrated enough in the Flemish AKIS. There seems to be a weak link between the (private) advisory services and agricultural research. Furthermore, there was no obligation for advisors to engage in training activities in order to get selected as an advisor for KRATOS, the advisory system funded by the Flemish government. This has changed under the new CAP Strategic Plan. Of course, this does not apply to all advisors, e.g. there are agricultural advisors who are linked to the experimental stations and are therefore more informed about the latest developments in agricultural research or advisors who are more familiar with research out of their own interest.

In Wallonia, the pilot centres, the Collège des producteurs and a large range of other organisations and institutions form the backbone of the AKIS. Wallonia has a lot of resources in terms of knowledge exchange and support services for farmers but because of the plurality of these service providers it is hard to find an overview of the specific expertise of each actor. Because of the lack of coherence and resonance between the different Walloon AKIS organisations, the Walloon AKIS can be considered as strong but rather fragmented. Advisory services in Wallonia also appear to operate on a regional scale and seem to spend slightly more time on teaching and training activities and participating in training programs then their Flemish counterparts. The Walloon government also supports agriculture through an array of support measures, however, they seem less focused on innovation than is the case in Flanders.

AKIS Coordination Bodies

In the Region of Flanders, the AKIS coordination body is part of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (the ministry of agriculture). She is also the Managing Authority.

CAP Strategic Plan Priorities Belgium

Belgium has 2 CAP Strategic Plans, one for the Region of Flanders and one for the Walloon Region. The two Plans represent a total EU budget of over €2.8 billion, with €1.3 billion for Flanders and €1.5 billion for Wallonia. Out of the total EU budget of these two regions, more than €900 million will be dedicated to environmental and climate objectives and eco-schemes and €100 million to young farmers.

In the Flemish Plan, income support and security are a key priority. In addition to direct payments, farmers will receive higher support for their first 30 hectares of land. Investments to make farms more sustainable and more resilient to market shocks are also encouraged with more than 35% of Flemish farmers to receive funding. To help address the environmental challenges related to its highly intensive agricultural model, Flanders allocates €185 million, more than half of its rural development budget, to environmental and climate-related objectives, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing soil and water quality and strengthening of biodiversity. The Flemish Plan aims to increase the area under organic farming to more than 30 000 hectares. Thanks to specific support, it will also help 1 665 young farmers to set up. Finally, CAP funding will help create more than 1 700 jobs in rural areas.

Related to AKIS, the main interventions in the Flemish CAP plan are listed below:

The Walloon Plan will set aside higher funding for direct payments with a redistribution payment for small and medium-sized farms. Farmers growing protein crops will receive coupled support with a budget of €17 million to encourage the protein autonomy of farms in the region. To achieve its environmental objectives, Wallonia dedicates 26% of its direct payments budget to eco-schemes, and 56% of its rural development budget to interventions protecting the environment, climate and biodiversity. The agricultural area of the region under organic farming is expected to reach 18% thanks to CAP support. Rural development will focus on generational renewal, gender equality and social inclusion. The Walloon Plan will deploy funding to help 620 young farmers to set up and will organise events and a dedicated working group to increase the participation of women in agriculture.

Read the full report here.

July 21, 2023

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July 19, 2023

Portugal AKIS | Updates on the different AKIS

AKIS Overview

In Portugal, since 2015 AKIS has been strengthened, as a result of GO’s projects, for which the involvement of 4 less typologies of stakeholders in each project is required. With this type of partnership, the links between the different stakeholders have been strengthened, which translates into a strengthening of the links between AKIS stakeholders.

According to article 69 of DL 5/2023, the coordination of AKIS at national level will be ensured by the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DGADR), an entity of the Ministry of Agriculture (MAA), which is the coordinator of the National Rural Network and responsible for the Agricultural and Forestry Counselling System.

An AKIS Follow-up and Monitoring Group (GAMA) will be created, coordinated by DGADR, which will bring together representatives of public and private entities.

This Monitoring and Follow-up Group will be responsible for the approval and revision of the AKIS Action Plan and its monitoring plan.

This plan, to be built in a participatory manner, according to a bottom-up approach, will focus on the articulation between instruments and policies and will define lines of action and activities to be developed, which include the following areas:

– Establish synergies and complementarity between support instruments and programmes

– Support and empower the development of innovation projects in partnership, at national and international level;

– Promote cooperation networks between project teams, multi-sectoral, at national and European level;

– Promote training and skills of trainers, technicians and producers.

– Develop and strengthen networks between all actors through the development of joint activities, fostering knowledge flows.

AKIS Coordination Bodies

According to article 69 of DL 5/2023, the coordination of AKIS at national level will be ensured by the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DGADR), an entity of the Ministry of Agriculture (MAA), which is also the coordinator of the National Rural Network and responsible for the Agricultural and Forestry Counselling System.

Coordination Objectives:

– Coordinate and develop the national AKIS System, with a view to integrating all entities and strengthening the transfer of innovation among all AKIS actors;

– Promote the development of AKIS, with a view to increasing the transfer of knowledge/innovation to practice, contributing to the increase of productivity, competitiveness and innovation, in the various sectors, agricultural and forestry;

– Promote and dynamise Sectoral Working Groups and other structures integrated in AKIS;

– Contribute to the definition of national policies related to AKIS;

– Promote dynamics that facilitate the participation of system actors in national and international networks, partnerships and projects that contribute to the development of their activity and to the strengthening of knowledge sharing and dissemination.

Priorities:

– Productive activity supported by the principle of “active management” of the territory – innovation, digitalization

– Soil as the main asset of farmers and forestry producers and associated with the use of other natural resources – Biodiversity – environmental sustainability

– Economic, social and environmental sustainability to ensure the resilience and vitality of rural areas – rural development

– Knowledge-based development of the sector

July 17, 2023

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July 17, 2023

Greece AKIS | Updates on the different AKIS

AKIS Overview

Based on a complete diagnosis of the existing situation, a structured AKIS will bedesigned and put into place with specific goals and well-allocated roles to stakeholders. The basic aim will be to transfer knowledge and innovation in order to reduce the gap between knowledge, science, experience, research outputs and practical applications.

According to the Strategic Pan of Greece, the integral elements of AKIS in Greece will be a National Committee with an executive role, which will provide goals and directions on the contect of Farm Advisory and Training Programs. The Committee will work closely with the Coordination Body and the Greek CAP Network for designing its plan of action but also with regards to facilitating networking among bodies implementing farm advisory and training and producing research and innovation.

Key actors with a role in this Committee include

• Greek Managing Authority of the CAP Strategic Plan (Coordination Body)
• Ministry of Rural Development and Food
• Universities relating to the farming sector
• Hellenic Agricultural Organization – DIMITRA
• Greek CAP Network
• The Geotechnical Chamber of Greece

Secondary stakeholders have also been identified

• Farmers’ collective Organizations
• Actors in the agri-food value chain
• Young Farmers Groups
• Consumers
• Other Minsitries (Education and Regligious Affairs; Development and Investments; Digital Governance)
• Regional Governments
• General Secretariat of Research and Innovation (GSRI)

Significant roles will be played by

• Farm Advisory Services
• The EU and national Rural Networks
• EIP-AGRI
• Interventions on “Knowledge and information exchange” and “Cooperation”

AKIS Coordination Bodies

In Greece the AKIS Coordination Body is the Greek Managing Authority of the CAP Strategic Plan, which will work together with other relevant actors and structures of AKIS in Greece in the following domains

• Implementation of priorities relevant to training of Farm Advisors
• Utilization of platforms – such as a Digital Repository of Farm Knowledge – and feedback with information and knowledge from the implementation of interventions
• Networking among several partners in AKIS across Greece and EU
• Ensuring synergies and avoidance of “time gaps” in the implementation of Actions relating to Cooperation, Training and Advisory
• Facilitation of the evaluation of applications and publication of open Calls for potential implementation bodies

CAP Strategic Plan Priorities

The CAP strategic plan is meant to support the primary sector of Greece in order to cover the concerns of consumers and producers regarding healthy food as well as to protect the environment (including the reduction of environmental and climate footprints)

The following are particularly highlighted

• Ensure fair incomes for farmers by reducing the imbalances in the allocation of direct payments
• Improve the competitiveness of the agri-food sector through the increase of the added value that will be derived by the combined increase in incomes
• Reduce production costs through the use of new technologies
• Reinforce cooperation among farmers and create robust collective schemes that will generate economies of scale
• Attract young farmers and create new jobs in rural areas