In the 2014-2022 funding period, the EIP-Agri "Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability" was introduced as part of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The aim of the instrument is to strengthen the innovative capacity of the agricultural, forestry and food sector. In addition, the practical suitability of the solutions developed is to be improved through problem-related cooperation between research, advisory services and practice.
In the meantime, according to State Secretary Andy Becht, the instrument for promoting innovation and strengthening cooperation has become very well established - in 28 operational groups with a funding volume of around 17 million euros, transdisciplinary teams are working on the current challenges of the sector such as animal welfare, resource protection/efficiency and climate protection/adaptation. Both the response and the budget of the funding instrument increased from funding call to funding call.
On 29 November 2022, the EIP-Agri information event “Experiences, Innovations and Perspectives” took place with 90 participants at Erbacher Hof in Mainz and online. The aim of the event was to look back on the successes of EIP-Agri in Rhineland-Palatinate and to derive insights for its improvement from the "teething troubles" of the still young instrument. The former was achieved in particular by the EIP project market, in which six exemplary projects illustrated the enormous thematic breadth and diversity of the fields of application. Their topics range from the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in viticulture, to the production of insect proteins for animal feed, to the cultivation of sustainable energy crops for biogas plants and biorefineries.
A new call for funding with a volume of 5 million euros will take place in spring. IfLS Beratung & Projekte GmbH is already advising on the suitability of project ideas: eip-rlp@ifls.de.
As an innovation service provider (IDL), IfLS Beratung & Projekte GmbH accompanies the preparation and implementation of the funding calls for EIP-Agri in Rhineland-Palatinate in the funding period 2023-2027.
Contact persons: Dr Ulrich Gehrlein (gehrlein[at]ifls.de), Oliver Müller (mueller[at]ifls.de) and Svea Thietje (thietje[at]ifls.de)
