tpo_dossier_action-plan-for-innovation-and-learning_201406

33Societal Challenge 2The first work programme of Societal Challenge 2 waspublished in December 2013 for projects in 2014 and 2015.It features two types of projects that contribute to the EIP-AGRI: multi-actor projects and thematic networks.Multi-actor projects must involve stakeholdersthroughout the project (e.g. including farmers, advisors,consumers, NGOs and society at large) and need to betargeted to the needs and problems of end-users, being alsocomplementary with existing research.Thematic networks map the state-of-the-art of existingscientific knowledge & best practices for the theme inquestion. The aim is to develop accessible end-user materialthat will facilitate exchange of knowledge, and also generatea better targeted research agenda. They should also involveall concerned stakeholders (researchers, farmers, advisors,enterprises, education actors, NGOs, administration,regulatory bodies…).Organic OpportunitiesGiven its history of strong collaboration across disciplinesand between researchers and producers, the multi-actorapproach taken in Horizon 2020 offers great opportunity forthe organic sector. Indeed, there is a good record of organicand agroecological oriented projects receiving funding inprevious research rounds when they are well constructedand well targeted. Among many examples are SOLIBAM andCantogether, both described in chapter 2.Several multi-actor projects called for in December 2013make specific reference to organic agriculture, e.g. thecalls on “soil quality and function”, “genetic resources andagricultural diversity”, and “sustainable food chains throughpublic policies”. More are expected in 2015.Organic researchers, farmers and businesses need toorganise themselves in order to take part in multi-actorprojects or thematic networks. Consortia applying forHorizon 2020 projects should be composed of at least threepartners from at least three countries.3.5.RURAL DEVELOPMENTREGULATION ANDEIP-AGRISupport for innovation is a key priority in the RuralDevelopment regulation for 2014-2020. Innovation isincluded in the list of priorities, as well as in the list ofcross-cutting objectives to which all priorities for RuralDevelopment must contribute. As a result the new RuralDevelopment regulation makes addressing innovationalmost fundamental, and the main driver is the EuropeanInnovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity andSustainability (EIP-AGRI).The Rural Development regulation specifies that theEIP-AGRI shall promote an “agricultural sector workingtowards agroecological production systems”. It linksup with two other priorities of the Rural Developmentregulation, namely “restoring and preserving ecosystems”and “promoting resource efficiency and supporting theshift towards a low carbon economy”. The regulation listsorganic farming and the establishment of agroforestrysystems as measures contributing to these two priorities.What is significant about the EIP-AGRI is that it tries tomarry productivity and sustainability: “It contributes toensuring a steady supply of food, feed and biomaterials,developing its work in harmony with the essential naturalresources on which farming depends.” 3Strategic Implementation PlanThe EIP-AGRI is guided by the Strategic ImplementationPlan 4 , adopted in July 2013 by its High-Level SteeringBoard. Co-chaired by Commissioners Cioloș (Agriculture& Rural Development) and Geoghegan-Quinn (Research& Innovation), this board is composed of a wide range ofstakeholders, including IFOAM EU and ARC 2020.The Strategic Implementation Plan explicitly mentionsthat efforts for improving productivity must go hand inhand with sustainable consumption. It calls for innovativesolutions for the delivery of public goods, the sustainableuse of genetic resources and improvement of soilfertility. It also broadens the concept of innovation fromtechnological to include social.3 http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/eip/4 http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/eip/pdf/strategicimplementation-plan_en.pdf