Research Projects

Research is largely conducted through projects that have funding for a finite period to engage various partners on a clearly defined programme of research work. A selection of projects related to rural development is listed below.

Click on the links for further information about each project.

	The project aims to make productive use of otherwise empty spaces such as roofs and patios by using them for the intensive cultivation of organic vegetables.
	Dairyman, an INTERREG IVB programme, is helping to strengthen rural communities in the regions of North West Europe (NWE) where dairy farming is a main economic activity and a vital form of land use.
	The main aim is to enhance the diversity and abundance of natural enemies of crop pests, a strategy which in turn reduces the need for chemical crop protection materials.
	Green Plant Protection (GPP) is an educational project funded through the EU Leonardo da Vinci Programme.
	The SOLINSA project (supported by FP7) aims to identify barriers to the development of Learning and Innovation Networks for sustainable agriculture (LINSA), particularly where agriculture knowledge systems (AKS) are insufficient to provide for needs.
	The Louis Bolk Institute is helping farmers and conservation organisations to develop practical ways of protecting nature alongside economically viable, sustainable agriculture.
	Development of a common generic methodology for evaluating the effectiveness of European agri-environmental schemes (AE-FOOTPRINT) - construction of a farm-level Agri-Environmental Footprint Index (AFI) that aggregates various quantifiable agri-environmental indicators
	EU Bioenergy Policies and their effects on rural areas and agriculture policies (AGRIENERGY) - analysis of socio-economic, environmental and societal issues of EU bioenergy policies and their effects on CAP and concept of sustainable rural development
	Common Agricultural Policy Regionalised Impact – The Rural Development Dimension (CAPRI-RD) – an operational Pan-European tool to analyse the regional impacts of all policy measures under CAP Pillar I and II
	Developing Europe's Rural Regions in the Era of Globalization (DERREG) – aims to develop understanding of rural development by examining globalization processes and local effects and experiences
	European Development Opportunities in Rural Areas (EDORA)– a research project under the ESPON programme that studies the changes in rural areas of Europe to develop a clear and consistent rationale for policies to enhance territorial cohesion
	Facilitating Alternative Agro-Food Network (FAAN) - research and recommendations relating to policy changes for the future strengthening of local food systems in the EU
	Mountain Sustainability: Transforming Research into Practice (Mountain.Trip) – the development of better relationships between users and researchers through the translation of research findings into more useful and accessible information for practitioners
	Rural Development Impact (RUDI) - enhancing understanding of the social, institutional and capacity–building effects of rural development policies at national and regional level
	Rural Future Networks (RUFUS) - providing policy makers and stakeholders with a better theoretical and practical understanding of how CAP measures interact with other forms of public intervention in rural development
	Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Conservation (SoCo) - to improve the understanding of soil conservation practices in agriculture and how farmers can be encouraged through appropriate policy measures to adopt these practices
	Small and medium Sized Towns (TOWN) – investigation of the role of small and medium-sized towns in promoting territorial cohesion in Europe