ENRD Newsletter - June 2016

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	Connecting RDP support to smart supply chains
	A recent ENRD Seminar on ‘Smart and Competitive Rural Areas’ identified opportunities under the Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) to add value throughout the food and drink supply chain. In particular, the event aimed at identifying and prioritising specific RDP actions to support farms and rural businesses in accessing emerging markets. The main focus of the discussion was on cooperation and investments which increase the competitiveness of sustainable rural products and services. The Seminar was attended by around 70 rural development stakeholders in Brussels on 26 May 2016. It forms part of the wider ENRD thematic work on ‘Smart and Competitive Rural Areas’, including Thematic Group meetings, a dedicated edition of the EAFRD Projects Brochure and issue 22 of the EU Rural Review due for publication in summer 2016.

Find your LEADER cooperation partners

Share your ideas and find partners for LEADER cooperation initiatives on the partner search page of the ENRD website.

Local Action Groups (LAGs) interested in undertaking a joint action with another LEADER group or a similar group within an urban or fisheries area – whether in another region, Member State or third country - are encouraged to fill in a cooperation offer template and send it to contact@enrd.eu. Each cooperation offer includes a description of the project idea and the partner making the offer.

The offers will be posted individually pending the development of an interactive partner search tool for the website. See also cooperation project initiatives by Finnish LAGs looking to collaborate with partners from across Europe.

Promoting the transition to a Green Economy

Join the ENRD Seminar ‘Changing our Mindsets - Seizing opportunities in the Green Economy’ on 1 July 2016 in Brussels and explore practical ways of promoting the Green Economy through the Rural Development Programmes (RDPs).

The event will look at RDP tools enabling inspirational projects in fields such as: climate change and the low-carbon economy; efficient resource use; and cooperation and community-led strategies. Register to participate here before 27 June.

Guidance on Simplified Cost Options

The ENRD Contact Point has prepared new practical guidance on the use of Simplified Cost Options (SCOs) in LEADER/CLLD.

The ENRD guidance is divided into five parts and addresses issues such as: planning SCOs in Rural Development Programmes (RDPs); using lump sums under preparatory support (sub-measure 19.1); and applying flat rates to running and animation costs (sub-measure 19.4).

The material complements the European Commission’s Guidance on SCOs under the European Structural and Investment Funds.

Rural networking in Western Balkan countries and Turkey

A new project implemented by a consortium of rural networks in Western Balkan countries and Turkey is working to enable civil society to actively participate in and influence the sustainable development of rural communities.

The project will support networking, capacity building and advocacy particularly on cross-cutting issues such as social entrepreneurship, marginalised groups, rural innovation and environmental protection.

Manual on social inclusion in rural areas

A new capacity-building manual for NGOs on ‘Promoting the Integration of Migrants and Refugees in Rural Areas’ has recently been published by the Euracademy Association.

The manual overviews existing European policies on integration of migrants and looks at examples of successful social inclusion approaches in different EU Member States. It further provides practical guidance for NGOs to develop and implement effective strategies for the integration of migrants in rural areas.

The manual is available in English and Greek.

Sustainable Food Systems

Two recent publications examine the current status and dynamics of food systems and put forward recommendations for improving their environmental sustainability and resource efficiency.

A report by iPES FOOD makes the case for a “paradigm shift from industrial agriculture to diversified agroecological systems” and sets out the necessary steps to achieve this shift. Another report produced by the UN Environment Programme assesses natural resource use and environmental impacts and identifies opportunities for “Resource-Smart Food Systems”.

Implementing 'Measure 16 Cooperation'

A recent ENRD event explored the range of opportunities offered by the ‘Cooperation Measure’ (M16) and first experiences and challenges in implementation.

The event looked specifically at the legal conditions for cooperation among beneficiaries and state aid issues. It further explored the potential contribution of the Cooperation Measure in fields such as: sustainability and climate change; competitiveness; food supply chain; local development and social inclusion.

For more information, see the article ‘Achieving more with the Cooperation Measure’ in EU Rural Review 21.

Financial Instruments for rural development

The latest in the series of fi-compass seminars on Financial Instruments (FIs) for agriculture and rural businesses took place in Madrid (31 May) and Rome (13 June).

The seminars aim to improve understanding of how FIs can support the objectives of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) in the 2014-2020 period. See the events’ respective web pages for audio-visual resources and presentations on the opportunities provided by FIs and practical experiences with designing and implementing FIs.

Impact of Finnish RDP 2007-2013

The Finnish Network Support Unit has made available the results of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) for Mainland Finland 2007-2013 showing positive outcomes in a variety of areas

The RDP made a significant impact on rural employment with 75 000 jobs in rural areas created or preserved. Other positive outcomes include increased investment opportunities for new businesses and start-up aid for young farmers, strengthened commitment to environmental measures and improvement of rural broadband connectivity.

Smart specialisation in agri-food

The European Commission has launched a new Smart Specialisation Platform on Agri-Food. Smart specialisation aims to focus research activities on a limited number of promising priorities with high transformative potential for a territory, building on specific regional expertise.

The platform aims to provide and enable exchange of information and professional advice on the design and implementation of regional smart specialisation strategies on agri-food topics. Expected sub-themes to be addressed include: agriculture and ICT; water; low-impact farming; and food and health.

The initiative was launched during the Smart Regions conference (1-2 June 2016) and is part of a broader Smart Specialisation Platform.


		22-23 June 2016 Data Revolution: Emerging New Business Models in the Agri-food Sector Sofia, Bulgaria This EIP-AGRI seminar will enable an exchange of ideas for and experiences with data-driven business models in the agricultural sector, covering the whole food supply chain.

		23-26 June 2016 Forum Synergies Civic Dialogue workshop Knyszyń, Poland The event will explore experiences of successful stakeholder engagement on specific topics such as LEADER/CLLD, Natura 2000 or other Member State/region-specific areas.

		23 June 2016 Night of Agro-ecology Various locations, France This one-night event consists of thematic debates throughout France aiming to engage citizens into constructive dialogue with farmers on the topic agro-ecology.

		23 June 2016 Seminar on Social Agriculture and Forestry GAL des Plaines de l'Escaut territory, Belgium This regional seminar jointly organised by the Wallonian Network Support Unit and Local Action Group ‘GAL des Plaines de l’Escaut’ will discuss projects targeting marginalised groups in rural areas for social and professional inclusion.

		28-30 June 2016 Workshop on the Future of LEADER Tuusula, Finland The Finnish Network Support Unit is organising a three-day event on the future of LEADER beyond 2030. Discussions will focus on the future of LEADER activities, tasks and policies.

		29 June 2016 National Seminar of the 2014-2020 French Rural Network Versailles, France The event aims to encourage national dialogue to support the implementation of Rural Development policy in France. In addition, it will seek to identify thematic priorities for the 2014-2020 French Rural Network and its animation.

		1 July 2016 ENRD Seminar on Promoting the Transition to a Green Economy Brussels, Belgium The date of the ENRD Seminar has changed from 24 June to 1 July 2016 due to a general strike called in Belgium on 24 June. Please save the new date. Event and registration details will follow in the next few weeks.

		2 July 2016 Rural Development Day Monteprandone, Italy This initiative of the EAFRD-funded 'Rural Links' pilot project consists of a series of events aiming to encourage networking among rural actors and inform potential EAFRD beneficiaries of the various funding opportunities available under Italy's regional Rural Development Programmes (RDPs).

		4-5 July 2016 Methods for Assessing Impacts of RDPs 2007-2013 Palermo, Italy This good practice workshop organised by the ENRD Evaluation Helpdesk will provide a forum for discussion and exchange of evaluation practices used by ex post evaluators.

		7 July 2016 Conference on Measure 16 'Cooperation' Vienna, Austria The event will explore funding opportunities available under Measure 16 and provide a platform for exchange on networking, finding project partners, and deisgning and implementing cooperation projects.

		7-8 July 2016 Environmental Entrepreneurship: a New Path towards a Better Environment Aix-en-Provence, France The conference will explore the key role of the environmental entrepreneur in the implementation of the circular economy.

		12-15 July 2016 12th European IFSA Symposium Shropshire, UK The symposium will discuss social and technological transformation of farming systems, focusing on topics such as innovation, knowledge and learning processes; methodology and frameworks of farming systems’ transformation; and sustainable agri-food systems.

		14 July 2016 Robots in Farming: Good or Bad? Shropshire, UK The workshop will discuss the social and environmental risks of the new technologies of robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) in major farming systems as part of the 12th International Farming Systems Association Symposium.

		16-23 July 2016 Social Economy and Sustainable Rural Development Karditsa, Greece The 15th ‘EurAcademy’ will explore the contribution of social enterprises and cooperatives to rural areas. It will focus on ways to enhance their formation and trading success through best practice examples collected from across Europe.

		24 July 2016 First Estonian Open-Farm Day Multiple locations, Estonia The event will give the possibility to taste real farm food and buy local produce. Each farm has its own programme, displaying the farm’s particularities.

		24-26 August 2016 LEADER Transnational Cooperation Fair Janeda, Estonia The event, organised by the Estonian Network Support Unit, aims to promote LEADER Cooperation. It will gather European and national-level LEADER/CLLD stakeholders, including Local Action Groups (LAGs), Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs), National Rural Networks and Managing Authorities.

		5-6 September 2016 Cork 2.0: European Conference on Rural Development Cork, Ireland The conference will bring together rural development stakeholders from across Europe to discuss current and future challenges of farming and rural areas, as well as potential policy responses. The event takes place exactly 20 years after the ground-breaking European Conference where the Cork Declaration on Rural Development was signed.

		27-29 September 2016 LINC Conference 2016 Dabas, Hungary The 2016 edition of the LEADER-Inspired Network Community (LINC) conference will bring together various rural development stakeholders involved in LEADER design and implementation and provide a platform for exchange of ideas and practical experiences.

		29 September 2016 Bright Farm by Precision Livestock Farming Brussels, Belgium This conference will present the results and experiences of the four-year EU-PFL project which developed tools to assist livestock producers through automated, continuous monitoring of the animals.

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