Almost a year after the completion of our large and organizationally demanding project under Measure 16.1.2, the establishment of operational groups, our colleague Lucija represented Agrobiotest, the project leader, at the EIP AGRI conference in Estoril, Portugal, from May 6 to 8, 2024.
The European Innovation Partnership “Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability” (EIP-AGRI) was launched in 2012. Since then, member states have been investing in innovations through operational group projects funded by rural development programs. This has resulted in many solutions and knowledge for agriculture and rural areas. From 2014 to 2022, 3,200 operational group projects were planned, and by December 2023, over 3,400 had been registered.
To support new operational group projects and knowledge exchange, the EU CAP Network organized the conference “EIP-AGRI Operational Groups: Innovations in Practice” in collaboration with the Portuguese CAP network. The conference took place from May 6 to 8, 2024, in Estoril, Portugal, with 600 participants and an awards ceremony for innovations. The goals were to highlight achievements and encourage further development of operational groups.
Farmers, experts, scientists, and representatives from the agricultural sector from across Europe gathered at the conference to exchange experiences and knowledge about innovations in agriculture. Lucija participated in numerous workshops and panel discussions covering topics such as digitalization in agriculture and new technologies. Particularly interesting were presentations on successful examples of operational groups from other countries that implemented innovative solutions to improve efficiency and sustainability in agricultural production.
Our operational group stood out for its unique methodology and concrete results achieved during the two-year project. One of the key emphases of the conference was the importance of collaboration between farmers, scientists, and other representatives of the agricultural sector. This connection allows for the practical application of scientific research in the field, directly improving agricultural practices and production efficiency. Our experience shows that the synergy between these two groups is vital for achieving sustainable and innovative solutions in agriculture.
During the conference, Lucija established valuable contacts with representatives from other projects and institutions, opening opportunities for future collaborations and knowledge exchange. She also participated in discussions on future EU guidelines related to innovations in agriculture, which will be extremely useful for the further planning of our activities.
Conclusion
Participation in the EIP-AGRI conference provided an invaluable opportunity to gain new knowledge, network, and exchange experiences. We are proud of the results achieved by our project and the recognition received from the European community. We will continue to work on further developing and implementing innovative solutions in agriculture, strengthening our position as a leading player in this sector.