tpo_dossier_action-plan-for-innovation-and-learning_201406

31THE EU FRAMEWORK FOR RESEARCH,INNOVATION AND LEARNING IN THEAGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECTOR3.1.INTRODUCTIONOver the years that the EU has invested in agriculturalresearch, the amount devoted specifically to organicsystems has slowly but progressively increased. Itwas not until the 1990s that the first EU projects onorganic farming were funded. Before that, privateresearch institutes were the primary drivers, with thefirst universities including organic agriculture in theircurricula in the 1980s.The 3rd Framework Programme for Research andDevelopment (1990-1994) funded the first EU projectson organic farming. Seven projects received a totalbudget of almost €3.7 million. In the 7th FrameworkProgramme (2007-2013) the budget for organic researchincreased to €38 million. However, this accounted onlyfor a mere 2.3% of the total €1.66 billion budget foragriculture (excluding ERA-Net funding). In other words,organic research still pales into insignificance, it is noteven in proportion to the 5.6% of EU agricultural landfarmed organically.and farming system. However, the organic sector doesemphatically need a dedicated research programmegiven its specific standards and challenges.Whilst organic and agroecological farmers strive tocombine high environmental standards with high overallproduction, productivity and quality have in somecases been inadequate. Organic farmers can achievehigher productivity by more efficient use of naturalresources, improved nutrient recycling techniques, andagroecological methods for supporting health of soils,crops and livestock. Conventional research programmesgenerally do not address these farming techniques.Moreover, the agricultural supply industries havelittle interest in organic and agroecological farming, asthey mostly cannot profit from these low external inputsystems. Their substantial research and developmentexpenditure is directed elsewhere and is seldom relevantto organic systems. Organic farmers are therefore muchmore “on their own”; this self-reliance is one reason whythey tend to be so innovative.3.2.Nevertheless, the EU is an increasingly importantinvestor in organic research, and hence in thedevelopment of the sector. Therefore, an understandingof the different EU instruments for research & innovationpolicy and how to influence them is essential.THE NEED FOR ORGANIC ANDAGROECOLOGICAL RESEARCHAND INNOVATIONIt need hardly be said that research and innovationare crucial for the development of the organic andagroecological food & farming sector. Of course, manyscientific findings are generally valid for the whole foodThe organic food processing industry also has specificresearch requirements. Consumers expect organic foodto be minimally processed: the “natural quality” of theproducts should be maintained. However, there are fewprocessing techniques that are specifically developedfor organic foods. Organic consumers also expect higherstandards of environmental performance, such as waterand energy efficiency, and less pollution and waste.Organic systems do deliver these, but further researchand innovation could improve results significantly.Finally, organic and agroecological values give riseto specific questions in socio-economic research, suchas the role of (organic/agroecological) farming in theempowerment of rural areas, and the promotion ofhealthy and sustainable diets.