Innovation in agriculturein the European Union

Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development

European Commission

What Is Meant By Innovation?

• « Ideas applied in practice »

• Various categories:– New product or service– Product with a new quality– New method of production– Opening of new market– New form of cooperation or organisation

EU Political Context

• Europe 2020 Strategy: Smart, sustainable, inclusive growth (March 2010)

• Innovation Union flagship initiative (2010) (October 2010)

Food

BiodiversityHabitats Economic

Viability

Climate ChangeResource-management

Challenges and Opportunities

RuralEconomy

EnergyBiomass

Supply ChainIntegration

Societal Challenges• Prospect:

– Increasing food demand (FAO: plus 70% by 2050)– Slow-down of growth technological development– Increasing land use competition (bio-mass, bio-energy, nature

conservation) and pressures on resources and environment• Response:

– Increasing agricultural production and productivity in a sustainable manner (resource efficiency and “public goods”)

– Acting across the whole supply chain (recycling, reduction of post-harvest loss, and new products)

• Requirements:- Major investment into research and innovation

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Closing The Innovation GAP

Research

Farming Practice

InnovationFe

edba

ck

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Needs

• Challenge-driven solutions based on:

− facilitating communication among stakeholders and creating workable links between science and practice

– pursuing innovation in cross-sectoral approaches and approaches integrating the supply chain

– interlinking existing innovation-related measures in view of achieving synergies

– providing EU value added through networking and enhancing complementarity

Means Of Fostering InnovationFarm Advisory System:

– Scope post 2013: Inter alia, requirements and actions related to climate change, biodiversity, protection of water, animal and plant diseases as well as innovation

Rural Development Programmes:− Cooperation, including pilot and demonstration projects− Business development− Knowledge transfer and advisory services− Investment in physical assets

EIP Network:− Network facilities ensuring flow of information among all partners− Information about opportunities provided by EU policies− Exchange on best practice and research (databases, focus groups, etc.) − Systematic feedback on practice needs

European Union Research Policy (Horizon 2020)− Applied research enhancing the knowledge base− Clustering, multi-stakeholder projects, and innovation brokers− Joint Programming Initiatives, ERA-NET, and Technology Platforms− Interface function of Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR)

European Innovation Partnership for Agriculture

• Context:

• Flagship Initiative “Innovation Union”• Integrating sciences and practice• Multiple actors across the whole supply chain• Launching subject to endorsement by European Parliament

and Council

European Innovation Partnership for Agriculture• Objectives

– A competitive agricultural sector, contributing to global food security

– Increasing productivity while ensuring sustainable resource management and environmental preservation

– Adapting to climate change and contributing to mitigation by reducing emissions of greenhouse gas

– Transferring innovative knowledge and products faster from science to practice

– Ensuring systematic feedback on needs from practice to science

“Achieving more from less”

European Innovation Partnership for Agriculture

• Means:

• Rural Development measures (cooperation, knowledge transfer, investment, pilot projects and clustering)

• “Operational Groups” (farmers, advisors, enterprises, scientists)• Network facilities• Instruments of research policy (Research Framework

Programme, European Technology Platforms, ERA-NET, Joint Programming Initiatives, etc.)

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European Innovation Partnership for Agriculture

• Possible themes:

– Technical solutions to increasing productivity and sustainable resource management

– Eco-system services, soil functionality, farm-based water management, and genetic resources (“public goods” aspects)

– Innovative technology for the bio-based economy

– Sustainable supply chain integration - innovation in products, services, and management systems

– Food quality, food safety, and healthy lifestyles (consumer information and consumer choice)

Thank you for your attention!