Purpose
To enable discussions among policy makers, advisory services managers and other stakeholders on the effectiveness of advisory services in providing innovation support to farmers through the proposed measures proposed in CAP 2013-2020.
Purpose
To enable discussions among policy makers, advisory services managers and other stakeholders on the effectiveness of advisory services in providing innovation support to farmers through the proposed measures proposed in CAP 2013-2020.
Foreword
There is renewed focus on the provision of effective supports for innovation in agriculture, driven by increased global demand for food which is produced in a resource efficient and sustainable manner. Agriculture in the developed world has economic, social and ecological dimensions that are independent of market forces, and these dimensions are supported by national and regional policies. Within the EU, it is recognised that supporting agriculture through market measures, supply side measures and direct payments all contribute to the viability of production systems and the sustainability of the industry. There is a recognition that European agriculture is losing competitiveness and that there is a widening gap in the adoption of new research knowledge, systems innovation and improvements in best and general practice. The ongoing reform of the CAP in Europe shifts economic supports from a production-based systems approach to a public goods approach. This will require improved production efficiency, especially on many economically marginal farms, in the absence of a major market adjustment. This, combined with increased global demand for food and energy, brings the role of agricultural research and that of advisory services centre stage.
In order to improve innovation support systems for farmers and improve the adoption of new and relevant technologies on farms, the EU has proposed the expansion of the role of the Farm Advisory System (FAS) and the establishment of a European Innovation Partnership (EIP) for ‘Agriculture Productivity and Sustainability’.
The purpose of this workshop is to create an opportunity for some “slow thinking” on how farm advisory services and agricultural consultants could contribute to innovation within the framework of ‘Operational Groups’ and the EIP networks. The first two sessions will provide an opportunity for analysis and discussion of current activities and future challenges by providing some context and background information and a global perspective.
Session 3 will explain the latest position on the EIP proposal. Session 4 will allow time for the teasing out of ideas concerning areas and activities that could have greatest impact in terms of increased knowledge uptake and use on farms and the degree to which these aims could benefit from international networks. How such networks might improve on existing systems will be a primary focus of discussions. The outputs and conclusions from these deliberations will be assembled in session 5, and will assist in identifying key areas of common interest where collaboration and joint efforts can achieve the most effective results.
The tours on the final day will allow participants to travel outside Dublin and see some relevant advisory and applied research activities, which will be of interest to advisers and managers of advisory services.
DAY 1: Wed. 12th June – P.M. (12:30 – 18:00)
From 12:30 Registration of participants and buffet lunch
Opening session: Welcome (14:00 – 14:30)
- Introduction by: Prof. Gerry Boyle, Director, Teagasc
- Ms. Inge Van Oost, European Commission, DG Agriculture Rural Development
- University College Dublin
Session 1: Current Farm Advisory/Extension Services (14:30 – 16:00)
Chair: Prof. Gerry Boyle, Director, Teagasc
Max. 15-20 minute presentations proceeding wider discussion:
- Update on CAP 2014-2020: Support for Farm Advisory Services and Innovation
Mr. Mike Mackenzie, European Commission, DG Agriculture Rural Development - Update on CAP 2014-2020: New scope for the Farm Advisory System
Mr. Emmanuel Petel, European Commission, DG Agriculture Rural Development - Evolution of Irish Advisory/Extension Services to Meet Changing Needs
Dr. Tom Kelly, Teagasc; Mr. Michael Brady, ACA and Mr. Peter Bolger, ASA
(joint paper by Teagasc, Agricultural Consultants’ Association & Agricultural Science Association) - Lessons from Case Studies in Knowledge Transfer and Innovation
Mr. Sylvain Lhermitte, French Agricultural Chamber/ENRD
Discussion
Tea/Coffee Break (16:00 – 16:30)
Session 2: Future Farm Advisory/Extension Requirements (16:30 – 18:00)
Chair: Mr. Hans-Joerg Lutzeyer (EU Commission, DG Research)
Max. 15-20 minute presentations proceeding wider discussion:
- Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS)
Dr. Pascal Bergeret, Dr. Krijn Poppe and Dr. Kevin Heanue - Global Challenges for Knowledge Transfer
Mr. Brian Bedard, World Bank - Knowledge Mobilisation for Sustainable and Competitive Agriculture
Dr. Gordon Purvis & Prof. Liam Downey, University College Dublin & Dr. Bob Lawlor, NUI Maynooth
Discussion
DAY 2: Thurs. 13th June – A.M. (8:45 for 9.00 start)
Session 3: Delivering Innovative Agricultural Systems
Chair: Al Grogan, DAFM Ireland
30 minute presentation followed by discussion:
- Opportunities provided by the European Innovation Partnership “Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability” and its Operational Groups
Ms. Inge Van Oost, European Commission, DG Agriculture Rural Development
Discussion forum
Tea/Coffee break (10:15 – 10:30)
Session 4: Break-Out Groups to Consider the Future Directions of Farm Advisory Services
Chair: Gordon Purvis (University College Dublin)
Organisation of the Break-Out Groups & Logistics
10.45 – 12:45 Break-out groups to consider potential areas for high impact ‘opperational groups’ where collaborative innovation support could be provided within six key thematic areas. Each group will allocate time to sectors/topics (dairy, beef etc.) within these thematic areas, to identify the strengths and weaknesses of knowledge support and suggest ‘Operational Groups’ that could add something new to the improvement of agricultural productivity and sustainability by reducing the knowledge gap between research and practice. The groups are asked to focus on how these collaborations and partnerships of actors would achieve more through targeted Operational Groups.
Crop Production – Improved innovation support for producers and growers through improved networks and how to incorporate and apply the benefits of new systems, practices and technologies in production systems.
Suggested topics, Cereals, Root crops, Proteins, Energy crops, Forestry, Horticulture
- Chair: Mr. David Cooper, Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, (DEFRA) UK
