Rural entrepreneurship in relation to innovation
Perspectives from The Young Friends of the Countryside (YFCS)
BrusselsJune 2013
Definition
Young Friends of the Countryside is a European membership association for future and young private landowners and rural business people aged between 18 and 35 years
old
Widely known by its acronym, YFCS is recognized by the European Union as an International Non Profit Organisation
Objectives
European Rural Business Opportunities
Estates & Historical Houses
Management
European Environmental
Policies
Estates & Historical Houses
inheritance
Channel ideas at EU level
through ELO
Leverage on members’ innovative
countryside experiences
YFCS – Connection with ELOELO General Assembly
ELO Consultative Committee
Policy GroupStaff
Board
Staff
Board
Members
Board
Members
Board
YFCS members are frequently informed on 16 carefully selected areas of focus – particularly in relation to rural entrepreneurship and its various opportunities
Natura 2000 Agriculture Forestry Climate Change
Biomass & Biofuels Green Tech Renewables Fisheries & Water
Soil & Pesticides Sustainable Hunting Historic Houses Transmission
Entrepreneurship Asset management EU lobbying EU policymaking
YFCS – Information
Global Challenges
Opportunities and threats leading to research and innovation – water
• Water is a crucial production factor for food
production and environmental services
• The land manager, being aware of the crucial
importance of water in rural
enterpreneurship, implements research
ideas and develops innovative solutions, i.e.
• Rainwater harvesting, water reuse
• Biotechnology
• Crop rotations that make best use of
available water
• Adjustments of sowing dates
Food Security• Rising food prices increase the incentives for deforestation,
which again is a major cause of global warming.
• Climate effect of deforestation and conversion of pasture into crop land: 18 per cent.
• This is more than the climate effect of global manufacturing and more than the climate effect of global transportation.
World food security likely to become a significant political issue (civil unrest, migration). (Professor Harald von Witzke, 2013)
Agricultural innovation and food security
• Increasing price of food generates new employment and income opportunities for farmers, and for upstream and downstream industries.
• Research shows that agricultural research is among the socially most profitable investments in industrial countries and developing nations alike.
• Foster innovation and productivity growth: Agricultural research policy will have to be a key component in the new international agricultural policy agenda.
• Increase public agricultural research investment.• Encourage private agricultural research
investmenmt.