KT&I Gateway

Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI)

Institution overall role: agricultural and rural development policy. Its role is to promote the sustainable development of Europe's agriculture and food sector and to ensure the well-being of its rural areas. Rural development is one of the policy areas, with the other 15 areas related in various ways to wider rural development. Combined, these 16 areas make up the entire policy portfolio of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Role in research, knowledge transfer & innovation: Through its policy areas, DG AGRI supports and promotes knowledge development and transfer and innovation that improve the sustainable development of Europe’s agri-food sector and the well-being of its rural areas. For example, measures promoting knowledge and improving human potential are included within the EAFRD – the EU-level funding instrument for rural development in the Member States. DG AGRI also advises on strategic priorities for research, knowledge development and innovation in agriculture and rural development.

Priorities/objectives of research, knowledge transfer & innovation: Improving knowledge and innovation is a priority, achieved through research, other knowledge development and exchange, training, communications, etc. It is expected that within Horizon 2020 (the framework programme for research in 2014-2020) research, innovation and knowledge transfer will be oriented more to EU strategic priorities, including within rural development.

Institutional networking linkages: Unit L1 of DG AGRI is responsible for research innovation and knowledge transfer in rural development, and this includes a coordinating role between all the other directorates.

Research & innovation links: EU-AgriNet is an internet portal link (part of the DG Research and Innovation website) dedicated to EU-funded research in agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural development. The site has information on research themes, a research projects database, on-going and future calls, related policies, future research and practical information (calendar, contacts, publications). The portal covers past, on-going and future activities under the several Research and Development Framework Programmes (FP4, FP5, FP6 & FP7). DG AGRI is responsible for managing ENRD.

Homepage: https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/index_en.htm

Contact details:
European Commission,
DG Agriculture and Rural Development
Unit L1
130, Rue de la Loi
B – 1049 Brussels
Belgium
Fax: +32 (0)2-295.01.30.