On 30th of June 2020, French Institute of Wine (IFV) held a Cross-Exchange Visit online. 10 participants attended to this meeting, from 3 countries and from 9 H2020 projects.
The EURAKNOS cross-exchange visit, organised by Agricultural Research Centre (Estonia) aimed to compare the ways of presenting information about innovative projects. Special attention was given to the EIP-AGRI database and the Nordic-Baltic National Rural Network (NRN) support unit innovation projects databases (as they are also knowledge reservoirs and specific networks comparable to H2020 Thematic Networks).
The CEV started with introducing four project databases – EIP-AGRI Service Point; Dutch, Latvian and Estonian NSU databases – and continued with discussion.
During the discussion, two viewpoints were considered: that of the National Rural Network support units and of the end-users (innovation projects representatives, i.e. thematic networks (TNs), operational groups (OGs) and innovation clusters). The participants were encouraged to select one of the following topics to follow more closely during the presentations:
On 26 May 2020, IFOAM Organics Europe held a successful digital cross-exchange (CE). The meeting was originally planned to be held in Billund, Denmark, and to include field trips to various farms. Due to the Covid-19 situation, it was changed to an online event, which was attended by over 80 participants from different European countries, including members of topic-related Operational Groups and end users, in particular farmers and advisors dealing with these topics.
The first session focused on clover-grass protein for pigs and poultry, the production, feeding value, biogas production, and benefits related to the grass protein. Clover grass, a popular crop in organic farming, can produce more than 1 ton of protein concentrate per ha, containing a high level of methionine, and can therefore replace soybean protein in pig and poultry feed. The side-products can be used for cattle feed and biogas production. Furthermore, clover grass facilitates carbon sequestration in the soil, and the price of clover-grass protein is competitive to that of organic soybean protein.
Next, a Danish farmer shared his practical experiences of farmers, followed by a session of practical experiences of different farmers regarding new types of locally produced organic feed. The webinar ended with a presentation of online platform Organic Farm Knowledge.
To evaluate the online meeting and identify potential for improvement, they asked feedbacks on the form. In spite the cultural barrier, the organization was good.
One of the first tasks in EURAKNOS was to establish the Knowledge and Innovation Panel (KIP), a group representing the agricultural society in Europe.
EURAKNOS project is following by two groups : the SIB and the KIP. Representing the agricultural society, they have an advisory role. This article presents the Strategic Innovative Board.
EURAKNOS has recently developed the Thematic Network Explorers’ Guide, based on the best practices used by Thematic Networks (TNs) regarding the collection of knowledge, effective communication and dissemination strategies, and the multi-actor approach.
After the Annual meeting at Brugge, the Euraknos family took in consideration the advices of the SIB (Strategic Innovation Board). This newsletter presents these TNs : Legumes translated, Best4soil, Disarm and EuroDairy.
