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“Our joint work starts here!” highlights ENRD networking event |
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National Rural Networks, the ENRD Contact Point and DG AGRI launched their joint work towards common network objectives at the first networking meeting of the 2014-2020 period in Brussels, 5-6 November.
Participants called for coordination and co-operation of activities between the ENRD CP and National Rural Networks as well as between the three relevant European support services: the ENRD CP; the EIP-AGRI Service Point; and the Evaluation Helpdesk.
ENRD CP Team Leader, Paul Soto, concluded that “Our objective for the new period is to move networking up a gear, really making sure that every activity contributes to the shared network objectives of improving RDP implementation, increasing the involvement of rural stakeholders; and communicating about RDPs.”
For more information on the planned structure and activities of the ENRD over the new period please see the documents available in this folder.
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EU funding available for CAP communication measures |
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The European Commission has published its annual Call for Proposals for information measures relating to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Applications will be accepted until 5 January 2015 for information activities carried out between May 2015 and April 2016.
The Commission is offering to co-finance information measures aimed at the general public - with particular attention to rural actors and young people in urban areas. It is particularly looking for communication activities focused on helping to increase public understanding as well as practical implementation of the CAP and the European agricultural model post-2013.
Please read the full text of the call, which is open to legal entities established in an EU state (including public authorities, NGOs, research centres, educational establishments and private companies…).
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| Spanish event sees mixed picture on regional RDPs |
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Participants from the Spanish LEADER network have highlighted important differences in approach to the important issues of participation and the use of multi-funds in the new RDPs of the Autonomous Communities of Spain.
A LEADER network meeting held in Madrid, 29 October, heard some participants praising the level of participation given to bottom-up Local Action Groups (LAGs) in the development of some of the Spanish Autonomous Communities’ regional RDPs, whilst others complained of little access to the process.
The event highlighted that four regions are using multi-funding in the new programming period - Asturias; Aragon; Catalonia; and the Balearics – but that others do not seem to be taking up the challenge. The full report and videos of the event are available in Spanish.
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| New guide to H2020 agriculture research funding |
Find out all you need to know about the opportunities for European funding under Horizon 2020 (H2020) for research linked to agriculture, food and forestry by reading a new guide published by the European Innovation Partnership on Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI). .
The new guide ‘Funding opportunities under Horizon 2020 - Calls 2015' highlights the opportunities for demand-driven innovation projects in agriculture, food and forestry through thematic networks or multi-actor research projects. It presents the 12 research topics under the 2015 H2020 call linked to agriculture, food and forestry and directs readers to dedicated research partner search tools.
See also the Horizon 2020 Info Day on “Societal Challenge 2 - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the Bioeconomy”. The event is being organised by DG Research in Brussels, 21 November 2014.
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| New EU Climate Package points to mitigation potential of agriculture |
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The new Framework (agreed on 23 October 2014) has endorsed a binding EU target of reducing domestic greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030.
Although there is not a specific reductions target for agriculture, the new package specifically calls on the European Commission to “examine the best means of encouraging the sustainable intensification of food production, while optimising the sector's contribution to greenhouse gas mitigation and sequestration, including through afforestation”.
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| ELO Awards - two end-of-November deadlines |
Two awards run by the European Landowners’ Organization (ELO) and its partners to recognise quality land management practices and tools are accepting applications until 30 November 2014.
The Land and Soil Management Award aims to reward and highlight practices which contribute to achieving the EU's soil protection goals (including those of the CAP). The Anders Wall Award is for individuals who have made a special contribution to the rural environment, heritage or economy in the EU.
More details on the prizes and conditions of entry can be found on the ELO’s Awards page.
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| The reformed CAP provides “Mountains of Opportunities” |
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The IX European Mountain Convention has explored how the reformed CAP can contribute to improving the competitiveness of mountain supply chains and territories, notably through territorial marketing and valorisation of mountain products.
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| Lithuanian LEADER event stresses community development |
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A Lithuanian event celebrating 10 years’ of LEADER has highlighted the importance of community development as a key driver of rural development.
The event was an opportunity to reflect on the successes and learning of the past 10 years of LEADER with an eye to the future. Participants reflected on the fact that a majority of projects have focused on infrastructure elements and exchanged views on the need to build on and strengthen work to put community development at the heart of rural development in the new period.
The event saw a celebratory awards dinner at which prizes were given to the best LAG and the best LEADER projects of the past 10 years in Lithuania in categories including community development, youth projects and entrepreneurship.
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| EU promotes European agricultural products |
The European Commission has approved 27 information programmes promoting a variety of EU agricultural products to EU and non-EU countries. The programmes have a total budget of EUR 77.4 million over three years..
Outgoing EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Cioloş said: "I am pleased to confirm our support for these new promotion programmes… I hope they will boost consumption and sales at this difficult time.”
The programmes were approved on 30 October 2014 following the adoption by the European Council of a related Regulation on 13 October 2014. The main objective of the Regulation is to enhance the competitiveness of the EU agricultural sector by increasing awareness of the merits of EU agricultural products and of the high standards applicable to production methods in the EU.
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| Tales of European Forests |
DG AGRI has published a new brochure Tales of our Forest bringing together cultural references to forests from across Europe alongside children’s drawings from its 2013 Forest Drawing Competition.
The brochure aims to raise awareness of the importance of forests for Europe, particularly in the context of the EU Forest Strategy approved in 2013. Paper copies can also be ordered in all 24 EU languages for free.
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| New Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development: Phil Hogan |
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17 - 18 November 2014
3rd Organic Processing Conference
Paris, France
The conference will focus on best practices in organic processing from sector leaders and discuss the regulation review with representatives from the EU institutions and processing associations.
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18 - 19 November 2014
EIP-AGRI Seminar ‘Launching Operational Groups and EIP Networking in Rural Development Programmes’
Brussels, Belgium
The seminar organised by DG AGRI is dedicated to practical approaches for launching effective EIP-AGRI Operational Groups (OGs), including calls for OG projects and organisation of EIP networking.
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9 - 21 November 2014
Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2)
Rome, italy
Organised by FAO, ICN2 is an inclusive inter-governmental meeting on today’s major nutrition challenges and priorities for enhanced international cooperation on nutrition.
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20 - 21 November 2014
The future of the LDS 2014-2020
Madrid, Spain
The event will focus on the preparation of the new Local Development Strategies for the 2014-2020 programming period in terms of content, public participation, financing and co-operation.
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21 November 2014
Info day: Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 2 calls for proposals 2015
Brussels, Belgium
Get first-hand information on the upcoming call for proposals under Horizon 2020 in the field of food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry. Register here by 17 November. |
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26 - 27 November 2014
DG AGRI workshop: ‘How to make protein crops profitable in the EU?'
Budapest, Hungary
This invitation-only workshop will gather a range of public and private stakeholders with the aim of building on the work and ideas gathered from the EC’s Focus Group on Protein Crops.
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27 - 28 November 2014
General Assembly and Kick-off event for the new French NRN
Clermont Ferrand, France
The Assembly will focus on the programming, operational principles, membership charter and action plans of the new French NRN. The kick-off event will identify its thematic priorities for 2014-2020.
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27 - 28 November 2014
Farm Business Innovation 2014
London, UK
The Farm Business Innovation Show will provide ideas, advice, suppliers and resources to make your farm business more profitable. Get your free tickets here.
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27 - 28 November 2014
Family Farming and Sustainable Rural Development Seminar
Porto Novo, Santo Antao Island, Cape Verde
The event is organised by the Portuguese LAG Monte and their project partners in Cape Verde as part of activities to support small farmers on the island of Santo Antao.
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1 December 2014
L'agroforesterie au service du projet agro-écologique sur les territoires
Paris, France
A national day of agroforestry organised by the French Ministry of Agriculture.
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8 December 2014
Facing climate change: adapting our land management
Brussels, Belgium
The annual Biodiversity Conference, organised by the European Landowners’ Organisation, will focus on private commitment for biodiversity, land use and environmental concerns. It will be followed by the European Bee Award Ceremony at the European Parliament.
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15 December 2014
Consumers and Food Baskets
London, UK
The conference will focus on consumers and the wider food chain with the aims of better understanding food price determination at the retail level and gauging consumer preferences for different food attributes.
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22 - 23 January 2015
Workshop on biosecurity in the EU
Brussels, Belgium
The workshop, organised by DG AGRI, aims to contribute to innovation for ‘on-farm biosecurity’ in the production of poultry, ruminants and pigs by identifying key elements of ‘routine’ biosecurity measures and best practices.
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