The current EU funding period, and with it the period in which the state of Hesse first offered funding for innovation and cooperation projects in agriculture and rural areas, is coming to an end. After seven years of experience with the funding measure, Operational Groups (OG) and cooperations as well as interested stakeholders from practice, research, consultancy and politics met at the final event "7 years of innovation and cooperation in Hessen" on the implementation of EIP-Agri and cooperation projects on December 6, 2022, at the Technology and Conference Center in Marburg to look back on the findings and results of the first funding period with "Innovation and Cooperation". The hybrid event gave the approximately 50 participants on site as well as the 40 online participants the opportunity to get an insight into the diversity of the Hessian EIP-Agri and cooperation projects, to discuss possibilities of practice transfer and result dissemination in more detail and to exchange ideas.
After the welcome by State Secretary Oliver Conz, several Hessian projects presented themselves in more detail. Since 2015, 34 projects have been working on different issues within the framework of the European Innovation Partnership "Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-Agri) and five projects within the framework of cooperation. In the 39 Hessian projects currently being funded, with a total funding volume of more than 12 million euros, important future topics such as climate and resource protection, animal welfare and, in particular, the promotion of organic farming are being addressed. Questions and problems of practical agriculture are worked on together with partners from science, consulting, companies, clubs and associations in an equal process.
The closing event also focused on using the lessons learned from the first funding period in a targeted manner for the future. This is because the national CAP strategic plan aims to continue the "Innovation and Cooperation" funding measure in Hessen in the 2023-2027 funding period and thus continue to contribute to strengthening a competitive and sustainable agriculture and food industry and to promoting cooperation in rural areas. A total of around €26 million in funding has been earmarked for this purpose. The funding guidelines are currently being revised, and a first call for funding is planned for early 2023. Further information will be published shortly on the website of the granting agency (Regierungspräsidium Gießen).
As an innovation service provider, the IfLS advises, networks and supports the OGs and cooperations in Hessen in the implementation and planning of the projects. Interested project sponsors are already invited to contact the Hessian innovation service provider (eip-hessen[at]ifls.de) with their innovative ideas.
Contact persons at IfLS: Svea Thietje (thietje[at]ifls.de), Dr. Ulrich Gehrlein (gehrlein[at]ifls.de) and Oliver Müller (mueller[at]ifls.de)
